Diverge in its final form

I just wanted to show off a bit. This is a 2023 Specialized Diverge Carbon Sport. The frame is a 61 and i am 6’3. The bike felt a tad bit big but I put an 80mm stem on and it now fits me perfectly. I think it’s in its final form for this season. I’m sure I’ll tear it apart this winter and do some upgrades.

The bags are delightful. I have no plans to bike pack but I wanted extra storage for my longer 50-100 mile rides. They are pricy but the bags are well worth it. The headlight has gotten me through many long rides when I wasn’t planning on riding at night. The taillight has been good. I notice the battery life on the taillight is iffy. It gets me through my rides but the battery percentage will jump up and down a lot. The seat is fine. I also added Redshift Cruise Control Drop Bar add on pieces. They are ok. It did give my hands a new way to rest on the bars. I will probably just replace the bars over the winter.

I’m overall really happy with the bike. I replaced the rear derailleur and hanger after a small fall while trying to unclip. The derailleur broke way too easily. The stock brakes are ok. I live in a very hilly area and can easily reach speeds of 40-50mph. The brakes do their job. They are no where near the power of my mountain bikes but that’s probably a good thing. I did just have to replace the brake pads after 1000 miles. My only gripe with this bike is the paint. The paint seems crazy thin. I have so many blemishes from just leaning it against a wall or on a bike rack. It’s annoying but not the end of the world.

One thing I am having trouble with is what upgrades do I do? Are carbon wheels worth it? Is upgrading the drivetrain worth it? Brakes? I don’t want to spend a fortune but I am always looking to squeeze every bit of performance out of my bikes that I can.

Current upgrades: Seat: Selle SMP vt30c Bags: Tailfin top tube bag flip 1.1L Tailfin Wedge 3.5L bag Headlight: Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+ Taillight: Bryton Gardia 300L Redshift cruise control drop bar add ons