THE DIVERGE, A VERSATILE AND COMFORTABLE BIKE

In French, "diverge" translates to "fork in the road." And that's exactly what the designers of the Specialized Diverge had in mind, as, by their own admission, this bike is designed for 80% road use and 20% unpaved path use. This makes it the ideal bike for those looking for a versatile and comfortable ride. In its entry-level versions, it could also be a perfect choice for those who want a solid, quality bike for bike touring and for winter riding !

TWO WORDS: ROBUSTNESS AND COMFORT

With its endurance geometry designed to provide maximum comfort during long rides, the Diverge is not afraid of small dirt or gravel roads and will take you anywhere, far and for a long time. Its sloping top tube makes the bike easier to mount. Its high head tube offers a comfortable riding position and good visibility. In addition to its geometry designed for maximum comfort, Zertz inserts equip all forks and seatstays, except for the A1 models. But what sets the Diverge apart from others? Imagine you're on the road and you come across a dirt path that you can't see the end of, and curiosity gets the better of you...

Compared to a road bike , the Diverge is not afraid of trails or mud. You can equip it with Specialized's "Plug and Play" mudguard kit. Sold with 30mm tires for aluminum models and 32mm for carbon ones, the Diverge's rims can accommodate tires up to 35mm to suit your needs. It can also be equipped with pannier racks.

Inspired by the Roubaix and Crux series, this bike offers the comfort of the former and the robustness of the latter!

DISC BRAKES ON ALL MODELS

Regarding braking, aluminum models are equipped with Tektro Spyre mechanical disc brakes, with the exception of the Comp Smartweld which, like the carbon models, is sold with Shimano 785 hydraulic brakes for progressive and powerful braking regardless of weather conditions.

Although slightly heavier than rim brakes, disc brakes offer certain advantages. The braking quality is the same, regardless of weather conditions (rain, mud, snow). Their effectiveness comes from the fact that they are not in contact with the rim, which protects them from dirt or water that can stagnate and freeze on the rim in winter. The brakes are therefore cleaner.

Also, discs are less likely to be warped than rims, which provides more consistent braking. In addition, the holes in the disc promote water drainage. For these reasons, disc brakes are effective in both wet and dry weather.

SHIMANO GROUPSET ACROSS THE RANGE

For 2015, all Diverge models are equipped with a Shimano groupset: Claris 8-speed, Sora 9-speed, and Tiagra 10-speed for the A1, Sport A1, and Elite A1 versions respectively, and 105 11-speed for the Comp Smartweld and Comp Carbon versions, Ultegra 11-speed for the Expert, and Ultegra Di2 for the Carbon Di2.

As for the crankset, aluminum models feature a crankset matching their respective groupset, while Comp Smartweld and Carbon models come with a Praxis Works crankset, and the Expert with an FSA carbon crankset, all compact 50/34. The Carbon Di2, however, is equipped with an S-Works mid-compact 52/36 crankset.

AXIS DISC WHEELS FOR MOST MODELS

With the exception of the Carbon Di2 model equipped with Roval Control SL CX carbon wheels, the other versions come with Axis 4.0 wheels for the Expert and Comp Carbon, 3.0 for the Comp Smartweld, and Axis Classic for the other aluminum models. A new feature for these wheels is their thru-axle to offer a better stiffness-to-strength ratio.

CHOOSING YOUR DIVERGE

The Carbon Di2 model, with its Roval carbon wheels, Di2 electronic groupset, and S-Works crankset, is a high-performance, high-end model. At $8799, however, it's not within everyone's budget...

Priced at $1199, $1349, and $1499, the A1, Sport A1, and Elite A1 versions are excellent choices for the beginner cyclist, for those who want to switch from a hybrid to a versatile road model without sacrificing comfort, or for the four-season cyclist. The Expert and Comp models offer the same 1090-gram carbon frame as the Carbon Di2 but at a lower price, $4399 and $3799 respectively.

At $2849, the Comp Smartweld is an excellent choice with its 1400-gram aluminum frame, Shimano 105-11 speed groupset, Axis 3.0 wheels, and hydraulic disc brakes. If carbon is not an essential condition for you, this offers excellent value for money!

Regardless of your choice, the Diverge will take you wherever you want, whenever you want, for as long as you want on the roads of Quebec..., paved or not!