Thanks to the Future Shock (and the seatpost flex) I could run the tyres much harder for the road sections with the damping locked out, so I could zing along with road bike performance and – as soon as the gravel appeared – get back to full comfort mode with a quick twist of the dial. On bigger rides where longterm comfort was more of a concern, I ...

Like many brands, Specialized uses differing grades of carbon fibre in their frame construction to create a balance of stiffness, weight and cost. The top-end S-Works Diverge gets the lightest and stiffest 11r frame, while the entry-level Base Carbon Diverge uses the 8r. The Expert Carbon sits in the middle with 9r. As I've said in the ride section...

Available in seven sizes, the Diverge has the most progressive geometry that Specialized has ever created for a drop bar bike – says Specialized – with the goal of creating a capable, stable bike in the dirt that still feels responsive and nimble on the road. As you can tell from the first section of the review, I think they have done a very good j...