How do you "objectively" rate your Diverge Roady? I note it is probably a little heavier than most standard carbon bikes, but do you notice any difference in speed/climbing?
I have the go-ahead to buy a new bike. It will be my first bike buying experience where I actually have a little knowledge so keen to make it count. I only have space for one bike so whilst in an ideal world I’d have a plush summer bike and a winter hack, in the real world of a terraced 2 bed house I will have to stick with 1 and 1 preferably with discs and mudguard eyelets.
I’ve got a budget of around £2-2.5k, but that really doesn’t actually provide an awful lot of options. I have narrowed it down to the Trek Domane and Cannondale Synapse (2018 addition), but I am now looking at the possibility of at least test riding an adventure bike, hence the Diverge question!!
For me the Diverge 2015/16 (like mine) is that bike, but in retrospect the current Domane would be an equally good fit, I was actually looking at them before Specialized axed the price on the Diverge to clear old stock. The current 2017 Diverge is not that bike, it's almost purely an Adventure/touring bike, sacrificing a little more speed than mine with a more of a relaxed geometry and low off-road/gravel gearing with wider clearances. The Roubaix would probably be a more equal comparison currently, it's more of a Disc Road Adventure Bike, the current Diverge is an Off-Road Gravel & Trail Adventure Bike.
My Diverge is heavy (11.2kg), no doubt about it, but equally that weight is generally the wheels (3.1kg) and guards (1.2kg), not the frameset. Lighter wheels would bring it alive but for what I'm using it for it's been perfect. I don't feel sluggish on the weekend club rides but then again I'm generally one of the stronger riders. I did dig out my aluminium Defy, with some light-ish Carbon/alu wheels (Shimano RS81) it weighed 10kg without any guards and with aerobars. The ride was loads rougher and not just because of 25mm tyres at 85/90PSI compared to 28mm at 65/70PSI. The carbon Diverge frame felt even more fantastic afterwards!
Now I've ridden a carbon frame I can't imagine me going back to aluminium, the only reason for me would be a crit/race bike, or a bike I was travelling with and only riding perfect holiday roads on!
'Living' with the Diverge has been a pleasure, full guards and 28mm's. Even the Specialized tyres it came with are superb. The Specialized 'Plug n Play' guards are firm, stable and provide good coverage. The Praxis works chainset is not particularly light, but it's well made and robust (better than FSA Gossamer and probably on par with 105).
The only real 'design' issues I've had have been BB related - grit/dirt getting between the BB sleeve and frame, I bought the specific Praxis tool to remove and refit the BB and it's been an ok 'maintenance' job removing, cleaning & refitting it every 3-4 months on average (I guess). My other slight issue was due to the OSBB meaning my Powertap C1 chainrings where very tight to the frame, yet by adding a shim I added too much tension to the BB bearings increasing wear and introducing a noise. I've lived with the tight clearance since (and a very tight 'window' of adjustment to avoid chainrub) and it's not caused any issues, have got my chain stuck between rings and frame only once.
The only major gripe with mine I have is something I was aware of before buying and is an education you need to have done your research on first - SCS (Short Chain Stay). Basically a propietary endcapped 135mm hub at the rear. A 135mm hub (MTB) is too small. A 142mm rear hub is too large. There are various ways around it, my current is a 'non-scs hanger' with a TA hub with a 135 endcap 1 side (to align disc) with a 142 endcap on the other side to retain size and keeping the wheel as close to centre as possible (it'll be under 2mm out).
think I hit about 1200 TSS in Majorca and subsequently hit a few power PR's out there too but it soon catches up with you 
