Awesome weekend, awesome company, awesome riding and MAX AWESOME Bike.
I’m talking about the long weekend spent with the Batemans Bay Cycles Crew in Wagga at the Gears & Beers Festival of course!!!!
Let’s start with my pony of choice…the new and very glittery 2019 Specialized Women’s Diverge Comp.
Course of choice was the Filthy 50 gravel grind…PERFECT
All I can say is WOW!!! The specs looked good on paper (so to speak) and reviews were all very positive BUT this bike does more than deliver…it made my ride enjoyable and fun and handled like a dream (as well as being spectacularly visual)
So with only 5kms of test riding this beauty I rolled out of Wagga onto the first climb AND I was enjoying climbing the extra low gears (11/34 cassette & 48/32 chain rings) were ideal for me.
Once we hit the open trail which was mainly dirt but some bitumen sections the Sawtooth 2Bliss Ready 38’s made for an overall smooth and fast ride (unlike my dual suspension mtb which I normally would use on this type of surface) It felt like it was hugging the road and just rolling on both surfaces.
I was amazed at the lack of jolting on the hands, arms and shoulders as it adsorbed lumps bumps and corrugations. The Future Shock system in the stem and flared bars really worked for me…for the first time in a few years my arms and hands weren’t numb from holding on for dear life and my lower back was happy which I’m sure is part to do with the overall geometry but in particular the Cobble Gobbler seat post.
My only change on this bike was the seat which I swapped for my favourite Specialized Power Comp Saddle.
OK I admit to a new favourite bike…it shines in more ways than one…now where’s the next ride?!!!
Cheers to good Beers
Thanks Lesley for your review