Specialized Diverge 2018 - 56 or 58cm for 6'?

[comehome]

Hi all,

30 yo male here, 6' / 183cm tall, regular proportions (as in, not particularly long torso or legs). Looking for a recreational / commuter bike

Test rode the new Specialized Diverge (Alloy - E5 Comp) a few days ago in 54cm (only size at shop) and felt good but way too small. Tried a Roubaix in 56cm (was told similar geometry) and felt better suited size-wise. Should I bother to seek out a ride on a 58cm model? Some of the Specialized sizing charts on the internet indicate I'd be best suited to 58cm (although also at the top end of the 56cm):

https://www.spectrumbike.cz/user/docume ... alized.pdf

For reference I ride an old 56cm Malvern Star Oppy road bike which feel pretty good.. although I did have to reduce the stem length and bar width to get this fit. Not quite sure how the geometry stacks up with the Diverge, however.. presumably slightly more aggressive. Should I compare effective any particularly dimensions?

Any help would be appreciated. Cheers

[10speedsemiracer]

I'd be leaning toward the 56cm. It's usually easier to make a slightly small-ish bike fit a rider than the reverse. I'm same height, 83cm inseam, but a fraction older...I now ride a 56 having messed around with sizes over the last few months due to an injury (spinal). I will qualify this by saying that my bike is significantly older than what you are contemplating :

and also that there is some variance between brands. So a 56cm Specialized Diverge may be incrementally different to say a 56cm Giant Toughroad or AnyRoad, and different again to something like a 56cm Marin Gestalt. Ideal scenario would be to ride both 56 and 58 for prolonged distance or for a good hard sprint, but in lieu of that, I'd go 56cm and adjust accordingly.

[Calvin27]

I am the same height and ride a 54 spesh (diverge predecessor called the secteur) and 56 cannondale. I prefer smaller geometries but I did try the 58 and I rekon don't bother unless you have freakishly long arms.

[Ivanerrol]

I'm 6'2" - 188.
I have a Specialized Allez Roadie 58 - It's just a tad smallish for me.
Also have a Specilaized 2010 Sirrus comp flat bar which shares the Roubaix frame - it's a 60/61 XXL - I find it just right. (I've fitted drops to this bike) - This is an extremely comfortable bike.
Also have a 59 XL XDS RX580 falt bar roadie - it's just right.

Diverge is almost cyclocross while the Roubaix is more road.

There are some 2017 Diverge's going for a very good discount at the moment. Check on Bike Exchange.

[comehome]

managed to hunt down a size 58cm today and gave it a quick spin (unfortunately couldn't ride the 56 side by side). interestingly enough, despite being 6' tall, both guys at the specialized shop eyeballed me as a 56. given they only had a 58 in stock, can't knock them for their honesty !

that aside, the 58 definitely didn't feel 'too big' as i was expecting.. the cockpit felt good but i did feel markedly more upright. certainly more than i'm used to. not sure how i feel about this. i'm no expert but i believe the geometry of the diverge is already quite relaxed (by road standards at least) so wondering if the larger size doesn't mean i'm a little too upright

i am leaning towards the 56 but the OCD in me doesn't like the fact that for my height, i'm on the very outer range for this size. any advice is appreciated. cheers

size chart for reference here:

https://i.redd.it/2g9f8w9b4j711.png

[RobertL]

If you're on the borderline between two sizes, go for the smaller one. It's the "pro" thing to do

[10speedsemiracer]

managed to hunt down a size 58cm today and gave it a quick spin (unfortunately couldn't ride the 56 side by side). interestingly enough, despite being 6' tall, both guys at the specialized shop eyeballed me as a 56. given they only had a 58 in stock, can't knock them for their honesty !

that aside, the 58 definitely didn't feel 'too big' as i was expecting.. the cockpit felt good but i did feel markedly more upright. certainly more than i'm used to. not sure how i feel about this. i'm no expert but i believe the geometry of the diverge is already quite relaxed (by road standards at least) so wondering if the larger size doesn't mean i'm a little too upright

i am leaning towards the 56 but the OCD in me doesn't like the fact that for my height, i'm on the very outer range for this size. any advice is appreciated. cheers

size chart for reference here:

https://i.redd.it/2g9f8w9b4j711.png

The "too upright" thing on a 58cm is actually a bit of a concern. Would have thought with the longer tt that you would have been a bit more horizontal. Silly question, but have you tried anything other than the Spesh Diverge? Maybe this geometry set isn't right for you....

(Just thinking, but would hate for you to buy the wrong bike)

[comehome]

^ thanks. but i believe the 58 has like +30mm stack over the 56 and negligible additional reach.. which would explain the more upright position.. could be wrong though? i'm no expert

[10speedsemiracer]

^ thanks. but i believe the 58 has like +30mm stack over the 56 and negligible additional reach.. which would explain the more upright position.. could be wrong though? i'm no expert

No that sounds about right, I should have had a look at the geometry charts...

[TheWall]

I would say 56cm.

I am 191cm (6'3ish) and ride a 58cm Roubaix and Tarmac.

[Calvin27]

i am leaning towards the 56 but the OCD in me doesn't like the fact that for my height, i'm on the very outer range for this size. any advice is appreciated. cheers

The height is only one aspect don't dwell on that too much. I am the same height as you but have dinosaur arms. I ride the spesh in 54 and the other bike in 56. People of the same height have varying limb lengths.

Generally I preference the reach dimension on bikes. If you feel like the stack is too high and not able to be completely slammed to suit your needs then you will probably have to go for a more aggressive geometry bike.

[comehome]

thanks for the responses thus far

it is worth nothing that the reach on all sizes seems to be really small, and the stack relatively tall (by road bike standards at least)..

not sure if these are the critical dimensions but the 56 has a reach / stack of 379mm / 613mm whereas the 58 has only slightly more reach (+6mm) but a fair chunk more stack (+26mm). assuming i ride both with 110mm stem (the 56 comes with 100mm and the 58 110mm), i should feel markedly less upright on the lower frame, correct? i suppose there are other critical dimensions i am missing but this alone is making me feel more comfortable with the 56cm. thoughts?

[Calvin27]

thoughts?

I based my ideal geometries from a bike fit. Like I said, height is only one dimension and you could have varying short/long arms and or legs. Everyone is different.

[RonK]

it is worth nothing that the reach on all sizes seems to be really small, and the stack relatively tall (by road bike standards at least).

The Diverge is not a road bike - it's a gravel grinder. A more relaxed, upright position is exactly what buyers of this type of bike are looking for. A taller stack is a given.
If you want a more sportive position a Roubaix (or perhaps a cx bike) would be a better choice.
I'm 182cm myself, in my experience 56cm is the right size.

[cyclotaur]

Late to this thread but I’m 5’9” (1.75m) and of regular body shape and have ridden 54(M) in all bikes until I bought my Diverge E5 last year - the exact bike you are talking about. I needed to go up a size to 56 and side by side with my CAADX 54(M) it’s still slightly more compact I feel.

At your height I’d definitely go for the 58.

[foo on patrol]

I'm 182cm and my old race frames where 60cm square. I made the mistake of buying a 56cm frame when getting back into Track racing and hated it. All bunched up, even with a 130mm stem. Got rid of it and went a 58cm and straight away was comfortable. Both of my road frames are also 58cm square. Everyone kept telling me that the trend these days was to go smaller in the frame sizes, well that line of thinking was ruled out after that, mistake with the track frame. I will never get smaller than a 58cm again.

Foo

[TheDotProd]

I was between sizes when I got my bike, but when in the store they pointed out I had short legs and a longer body.

I went for the smaller frame which is great for stopping and starting at traffic lights, as I'm not squashing the jewels on the top tube all the time. But I do find once settled in I tend to slide back on my seat a lot to give myself more of a stretched out feel in the cockpit.

Good luck deciding

[colinmc400]

I am @181cm and have owned 3 x Roubaix's, all 56cm with 100mm stems. I had the chance to buy a new/old stock S Works Tarmac in a 58cm and spent months deciding whether to build it or not. I finally did and other than a 90mm stem, did nothing different on the sizing, but boy am I glad I did. It just seems more comfortable all round and opens up the cockpit/knee/elbow relationship. I am now on my 3rd Tarmac and bought all 58's. Yes I have reduced the spacers under the stem, on the most recent frame, to get a bit more sporty, but it does not feel much less uncomfortable than my original bike (which I still own and ride regularly). It might just be that the stack and head tube lengths are longer on the 58 and that gives the impression of space. But it seems to work for me. I perhaps have slightly longer arms, but std length legs for a 181cm body.