LazyTrailRider

Jeepers, even more than the R4k of the CG-R...

I got mine from www.custombikes.co.za, also received it within 2 or 3 days.

Yeah yeah, I know

I have only ordered one item from them - an Espresso LS top - and although it fits my arms perfectly, it’s super short around the torso, to the point that it keeps annoyingly hiking up whenever I lift my arms up ????

There was a spare one floating around that I could grab.

Yes, I had to slam it right to the front and still need to deal with a setup that’s now 10mm further back. Took it for an 18km ride with a little bit of everything (including my first sideways drifting on this bike) this afternoon, I think my previous setup may have been slightly too forward so it’s worked out well for me. I realise it won’t for everyone though...

So I’ve added a CG-R seatpost (20mm “travel”) to the Diverge, first impressions are very positive for someone who was reminded yesterday of just how plush the 140mm on my Stumpy really is...

Not for everyone. I chase Strava segments and the enjoyment of being in nature. I haven't attended an organised event for quite some time and also haven't seen the point of it for quite some time...

I use an ANGI on my helmet, which gives my wife live-tracking while I ride via the app on my phone, as well as an SMS alert with GPS coordinates to ICE contacts if it detects a crash. It works really well, but these days I'm more worried about hijackings than crashing...

In my experience, significant. My flared bars are also wider at the tops to start with, but I went from twitchy on the hoods and just as twitchy but lower in the drops, to comfortable in the hoods and stable AF in the drops. The 25deg flare gives me an additional 200mm in the drops, which makes a very noticeable difference.

Here you go. Since the upgrades, I’ve taken it for 2 rides. One road, another primarily road with a bit of gravel thrown in. The GRX 1x (40t with 11-34 cassette), shorter 80mm stem, Vibrocore 460/25deg bar and 38c Pathfinders (setup tubeless) *completely* transform this bike. Granted, I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time fiddling with setup, but I can’t remember when last I had a bike which just feels so right. It rolls quickly enough, the riding position is just perfect (with hand movements feeling so natural on this bar), there is enough compliance to smooth out the kind of roads I put my miles in on, and it costs less than half what my Stumpy does. Amazing!

I have been known to wear them twice if I've only done a quick 30/45min morning ride....

I have a pair of Spez Merino socks which cost R320. They are *amazing*, but I honestly can't justify owning more than one pair... Actually, let me quickly tally my usual riding outfit at current retail value for ****s and giggles: SWAT mountain liner bib: R1250Atlas Pro shorts: R1700Merino jersey: R900Merino socks: R3202FO Cliplite shoes: R4000Ambush helmet with ANGI: R3000Grail LF gloves: R690Oakley Sutro glasses: R1700Camelbak Podium Dirt bottle: R200Yikes...

The Diverge now sports GRX 1x and a 460mm/25deg Spank Vibrocore bar with some fresh new S-Wrap Roubaix tape. I've also sourced a set of Pathfinder 38c tanwall rubber which still needs to go on, and then need to take it out for its first post-upgrade ride (my Stumpy got the ride attention this weekend)...

I didn't ever really think about owning one. Then I had one, and now I have an Expert level bike and a Comp level alloy bike. Was the S-Works nice? Obviously. Was it worth +-50% more than the Expert? Pffft, no way. In Spez's line-up, Expert is where it's at. 90% of the awesomeness for 70% of the cost.

Here's my 2020 Diverge E5, taken for its first off-tar ride (yes, I know I'm walking ) yesterday. Got it from Freewheel Cycology just before lockdown, Have already swopped the 100mm stem for a 80mm Lyne (and flipped it up). Running the FutureShock with its firmest spring to prevent bottoming. On order are some goodies in the form of a GRX 812 rear derailleur and GRX 40t single crankset. I'm also very tempted to slap on some of these to replace the 35c slicks. Any ideas where I can find some nice 460mm flared alloy bars? All the usual online suspects seem to only have either 420mm or carbon versions of stuff in stock.

TLDR: So it sounds like it's worth spending R5k on my 2019 150mm Pike RC?

I love Lyne products. Got a shorter stem for my Diverge from them on Monday, and have been running an AMP35 combo on my Stumpy since October, their bang for buck is hard to beat!

Duidelik leef ek ook in 'n ander tyd as jy, my ritte is so eenmaal elke twee weke saam met enigiemand behalwe myself...

Spot on.

In response to some of the frankly stupid comments on the Facebook post: 1) The time limit is in place to minimise exposure time. The longer you're out there (regardless of whether you think you're an exception to the rule) the more potential there is for being infected or infecting someone. 2) The 20km guideline is in place to minimise range of infection. Based on the previous point I don't think it's necessary to explain this. Do a few loops within a 20km range, feel better, come back and get off your high horse. Like my wife and I discussed this morning: "Let's hope that it won't be a case of just having our freedom and then some roadie assholes riding in bunches give cyclists a bad rep again like they've always done." Be lekker, guys.

Offense totally intended, there are a bunch of entitled muppets around here. We should be grateful for whatever is offered to us at this point. From a larger societal perspective, very specific guidelines such as these make complete sense. You're not special, you're a small part of a larger population which needs to be managed. Deal with it.

...and sensibly specced.

Thanks! Let's hit Jonkers yes. Both younger brothers are far from retired, the older one even has more than one bike these days! Don't believe the neatness, I cleaned the Stumpy right before the shoot!

Next up: My 2020 Diverge E5 Comp. Status: Practically unridden. I picked it up the afternoon of the lockdown and only managed to ride 100m down the road and back after getting pedals onto it, so the only action it's seen has been trackstands and wheelies in the driveway (it wheelies pretty easily, turns out...) Completely stock, mainly Shimano 105 R7000, with a Praxis Alba crankset and Specialized finishing kit.