Originally Posted by
Slick Madone
What do call making the better mousetrap? Isn't that innovation? Everything evolves to improve.
Yes, but the FS has a higher failure rate compared to a conventional steerer on Roubaix and Diverge predecessors.
What you seem to miss is...no everything doesn't evolve to improve. Specialized carbon OSBB aka narrow PF30 that they sold as 'an upgrade' was the opposite. It was a failure that customers suffered with until Specialized discontinued it. Unless Spesh can add reliability to the FS, it will follow the same fate. Marketing aka perception can be used as a ploy to sell more bikes because of a 'change' which isn't necessarily better. Even if a FS is perceived to be an improvement which is debatable depending on bike usage...Tarmac doesn't have one...its reliability reduces it effectiveness.
I won't want FS even if I needed the compliancy which I don't. I would simply buy last year's Diverge and install 32mm tires with a lower psi if I needed the compliancy. When is more compliancy needed? On rough road when wider tires with larger footprint improve control. There is a reason why FS hasn't been brought to market sooner. It is a problem in search of a solution. Simply buy a Diverge without future shock and run wider tires at lower pressure. Then you have cake and eat it too.