The Diverge Pro 4 is happiest when the road gets ugly. On a yearly trip to Denver, Specialized provided its new gravel bike, the Diverge Pro 4, to test on rough trails. Unlike the Turbo Creo 2, it's strictly human-powered. Priced at $8,249, it's designed for rough trails and technical descents. On a descent in Douglas County, Colorado, the bike handled admirably.

The standout feature is Future Shock 3.3, Specialized's suspension system between the head tube and stem. It isolates the rider from high-frequency impacts without changing steering geometry or causing brake dive. The fork, head tube, and front wheel remain rigidly connected, while the stem and handlebars move vertically. Hydraulic damping controls the spring, converting energy into heat to prevent bouncy rebound.

Future Shock offers 20 mm of travel, not for big hits but to reduce smaller impacts. Specialized claims up to 53 percent reduction in peak impact at the bars. After long rides, I felt less arm and upper-body fatigue. Compression damping is adjustable via a dial; I left it fully open on nearly every surface.

The Diverge Pro 4 also has a FACT 9r carbon frame with reworked geometry for longer reach.