2020 Specialized Diverge Expert Road Bike - Shop Soiled 56cm

As this is not a brand new bike, it may not feature the full original technical specification and is subject to change.

There's just as much fun to be had where the road ends as there is on smooth tarmac but you need a bike that will get you there too.

Whether you're commuting to work, enjoying weekend rides or taking on your local sportive, you need one bike that shreds flowy singletrack, gravel, and traditional roads with equal authority. A more capable road bike won’t cut it, nor will a more road-worthy 'cross bike for that matter. You need a dedicated gravel bike like the Diverge. It's fun and always down for a good time, but with a progressively-tuned Future Shock, a fast and stable Open Road Geometry, and plenty of tyre clearance, it redefines the possibilities for adventure on a drop-bar bike.

With a name like “Diverge Expert” Specialized figured that anyone interested in this bike will be, well, kind of an expert. Specialized always aim to satisfy, which is why it is spec'd with a no-compromise build that includes a SRAM Force 1 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, as well as a lightweight Praxis Zayante carbon crankset. Your posterior will be happy over even the bumpiest of terrain with the fan-favourite Power Expert saddle. You’ll also be rolling on stupid-fast carbon fibre wheels and tyres courtesy of a Roval C 38 Disc wheelset wrapped with 700x38mm Pathfinder Pro tyres.

The Diverge Expert offers clearance for either 700x42mm or 650b x 47mm tyres, three water bottle mounts, mounts for racks and mudguards, and a Road SWAT™ kit. The Diverge not only has everything you need for pretty much any pedal-powered adventure—whether it's gravel racing, bikepacking, or weekend shredding, and does so at a frame weight that's close to today's high-end road bikes. You might be thinking more plaid flannel than Polka Dot Jersey, but you'll thank Specialized on your next dirt climb.

Think of the Diverge's geometry as a road version of a modern trail bike. It provides playful handling and predictable steering for endless dirt skids and mid-corner drifts, but keeps stiffness up to snuff for your inner-racer. Along with a bottom bracket that's over a half-centimetre lower than the previous Diverge, Specialized also slacked-out the head tube angle, shortened the chainstays, and made a shorter wheelbase. The result is a bike that performs equally well over both the dirt and road.

There's only so much that wider tyres with lower pressures can absorb when it comes to bumps, but this is where Future Shock comes into play. It not only soaks up bumps with ease, but it also adds the benefit of extremely predictable handling. That's because the wheelbase isn't lengthening when you hit a bump, so when you dive hard into a turn, you won't be surprised by under-steer or sloppy handling. The Diverge's version also gets a special treatment featuring a progressive spring that makes this technology more suitable for off-road applications, where stiffer suspension is often needed to soak-up larger bumps and obstacles.