Specialized Diverge Elite A1
 

My LBS, which I trust, has just acquired a Specialized Diverge Elite A1 as a trade in. I have been quoted a "very good" price and wanted to see what folks think of the bike itself. I am an older (70) rider and have been riding an entry level KHS for a while, and this gives me a chance to step up a bit without spending too much money. I do about 70 - 80 miles a week now, but hope to increase with the weather getting better.

Go for it.

That one would be on my short list. If it fits, buy it.

SP
OC, OR

As long as you are someone who doesn't mind drop bars, you should love that bike. :)

The bike is very well reviewed: Specialized Diverge Elite A1 review - Cycling Weekly

If they've quoted you a good price, and you'd like a bike with the versatility to perform well on the road but cope with some rougher stuff, I'd say yes, absolutely.

Definitely go after this bike, as long as it fits you properly this is a winner for you. Pretty much everything you would need for having a stone reliable, well engineered bicycle, at a sensible price. Not too heavy, good components outfitted, not real minuses that I can see. Best of luck with this acquisition, some pictures of the new ride, if you do that kind of thing.

Bill

having legal fun that helps keep you fit and healthy at a reasonable price... don't see the negative in that.

Thanks, folks. The deal is done and will be riding the stealth paint job this Saturday morning

the fit was right. LBS owner knows me and fitted me with my previous ride, so he said when this one came in he thought of me first. Went back yesterday and closed the deal. Today is not a riding day for me, but I will be giving it a good run tomorrow morning with our LBS group.

In the fall of 2014, I was a fifty year smoker at about 210-215 lbs. Just got up one morning and quit. Went to the LBS that Saturday, and here we are two and a half years later, I have a new addiction, but this one has wheels. Next to marrying the brunette I sleep with, it is the best damned thing I have ever done.

Congrats on the new bike and the new 'addiction'. Great to hear.

Nice bike- enjoy....

Not to disparage this bike in any way, I'm a "specialized guy" so to speak..... but I can't remember ever reading a professional review of a bike that wasn't basically a positive review. I'm sure they are out there, but I don't recall ever seeing one.

Leadrunner, you are an addict amongst addicted friends. True happiness comes when riding a bike.

Very nice bike, especially if you can get a great price on it. Otherwise I'd go for the 2016 version with the SmartWeld frame and the newer Tiagra components.

They're almost always polite, but not uniformly enthusiastic. It's pretty easy to decode between the "great bike" and the "not as bad as we expected" reviews in Cycling Weekly, Bikeradar and so on.

This one has the Tiagra components. Rode with LBS group this morning. 18 - 20 mph wind was a bear. These 70 year old legs were screaming by the time we finished.

I kind of thought the same thing, so that is why I went to the guys that have their butts on the saddles. Writers are like fishermen, they lie.

I do have one other question. Was trying to post a pic, but can't seem to be able to get it to work. Any suggestions?

One additional thought regarding riding this new bike for the first time. It has a brand new Brooks leather saddle, and despite the great rep, I was not a happy camper. My butt still hurts, and it has a lot of bike miles on it.

Personally I like them, but they don't suit everyone. They're pretty slippery when new, and it isn't uncommon to find people sliding forward so the nose of the saddle, and their perineum, is taking the weight instead of their sitbones. If that sounds familiar, try setting the saddle fractionally nose-up. Counterintuitive but often works.

Apart from that, do all the usual stuff to make sure it's in the right position for you. But it's always possible, of course, that you don't have a Brooks backside.