As the season winds down I’m looking to try my hand at gravel riding. I currently ride a Specialized Tarmac SL 7 size 54 and was looking at the Diverge. The Stack and Reach numbers are a bit different so I didn’t know if this was typical or if the numbers are too wide apart (specifically the Stack). Of course I will go to the store to try them out but I’m in the research portion of my search (which to me may be the most fun part of bike shopping). Thanks in advance.
Tarmac S/R (534/387)
Diverge S/R (592/392)
Diverge STR (593/383)
I would drop the number into one of those sites that visualize the two bikes against one another.
My gravel bike has similar reach but higher stack than my road. But… the position is similar. MTB shoes add stack and saddle height, plus frame stack is measured from the BB which is 12mm lower on my gravel bike.
My gravel bike is an old hybrid frame I built up, same nominal size as my road bike. When I first built my bike up, I tried to duplicate my road geometry and position, but I found that wasn’t working for me. Speed and aero positioning are not a priority for me on gravel roads and rail trails. Comfort on long rides and stability in sketchy gravel sections are my priority. I use a shorter stem and a more upright riding posture on gravel.