The new Specialized Diverge gravel bike is here, almost exactly 30 years after the first of its ‘forebears’ was released. How has the geometry changed in all those years and can the Diverge be both the perfect getaway vehicle and Haribo transporter? During our first ride review, we flogged it across the gravel tracks around Girona!

It’s been roughly 14 years since the first Dirty Kanza gravel race in Kansas. A diminutive number of 34 gravel fanatics showed up at the start line to ride their bikes through the punishing Flint Hills. Since then, the number of participants has ballooned to 3,400 and the gravel boom continues to grow. But is gravel really a brand new genre of riding? Of course not! It’s been more than 30 years ago since the Specialized RockCombo 1989 first saw the light of day. A steel frame, 40 mm wide 26″ tires and a drop bar marked the birth of the first ATB (All Terrain Bike). Sound familiar? The concept seems all the more relevant in 2020 and while the name might have changed, we’re still riding similar knobbly-tired, drop bar machines. One thing should be obvious. Whether it’s called gravel or ATB, the name and definition of a category should be irrelevant because in reality, now, like then, it’s all about the joy of riding a bike with a grin on your face!

But who are “we”? Before developing a bike, designers have to figure out who they are building it for and where it will be used. What kind of gravel bike should it be? What does gravel mean exactly? Who rides gravel and where do they ride? Question upon question that in the end, according to Specialized themselves, played a subordinate role in the development of the new Diverge. Instead, the American brand took a slightly different stance. Why do we actually ride bikes? What spurs us on? For Specialized, the answer was obvious. It’s in our nature to investigate, explore and discover new things. We want to get away from the mechanisation of cars, away from overstimulating cities and instead launch ourselves into adventure! We want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life! Specialized’s answer is two wheels attached to what they see as the ultimate getaway vehicle – the brand new Specialized Diverge!

What’s new on the Specialized Diverge 2021?

Specialized have subscribed to the notion that a certain degree of suspension and comfort result in more speed overall. What use is a bike that is stiff and aerodynamic if you can’t ride in the drops for more than 10 minutes? The adjustable Future Shock 2.0 system allows you to tailor comfort during your ride, letting you cover even rough terrain at high speeds. Unfortunately, the adjustable damping is only available on the top-end models. The Future Shock 2.0 system is claimed to be more efficient than a suspension fork, which would affect handling and be slower. Instead, it’s not the wheels that are suspended, but the rider themselves on top of the bike.