The Quiver Killer

The Diverge is Specialized’s answer to riders looking for a bike that is as quick on dirt as it is on the road.

Following in the slipstream of Specialized’s rough-roadbusting Roubaix endurance bike, the Diverge has received a makeover for 2018, making it a more capable all-round package. But given the progressive Future Shock, bigger tyre clearance, lower BB, and dropper-post compatibility, Specialized have focused on the Diverge’s offroad capabilities for dramatic improvements.

Last year there was a lot of hype around the 2017 Roubaix losing its iconic Zertz inserts in favour of Specialized’s new ‘Future Shock’ damping system, positioned between the stem and the top of the head tube.

For 2018 the Diverge gets a similar treatment; its Future Shock’s elastomer claims to offer tuning specifically engineered for mixed-terrain riding, with a progressive spring that irons out bigger hits than its road cousin does.

Another update from the Roubaix is a frame-mounted SWAT box, which takes the hassle out of storing your spares.

Bicycling feels the Diverge’s increased tyre clearance will make the biggest real-world improvement to its off-road performance. All the carbon models are built with capacity for 700x42C or 650bx47C tyres, with the Expert model featured here coming standard with a pair of Specialized’s 700x38C Trigger tyres. Alloy versions will take a maximum of 700x38C.