Trek Fuel EXe. We’ve talked about the specs and the thinking behind it. We’ve tried it out at our local trails centre, Dalby Forest, but we haven’t had the chance to really… REALLY get under the skin of this game-changer from Trek. Until now.
Our Alistair took a Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 into Dalby Forest on Sunday and threw everything at it on his own for three hours. When he came back - later than if he’d gone out on his acoustic Trek Fuel EX 9.7 - he was absolutely sold on the concept of “just the right amount of assist”. We spoke to Alistair and this time focussed on the ride and the feel, rather than a detailed componentry geek-out.
It pretty much sold me the bike. I absolutely loved it.
I took out the mid-range Trek Fuel EXe 9.7. It has a big suspension upgrade from the 9.5, moving from the entry level RockShox to Fox 36 front fork and Fox Float X rear shock. It also has a Shimano XT drivetrain and powerful SRAM Code R disc brakes. Suspension, drivetrain and brakes are the main upgrades from the Fuel EXe 9.5.
I did 30 miles in three hours, up and down Dalby’s riggs and dales, not on any of the flat trails. Dalby naturally has these very short, steep valleys with a lot of steep, punchy climbs up the side of the valleys. I basically did this back to back for three hours. At the end of the ride I was absolutely knackered. I rode around Dalby Forest and did everything I wanted to do.
I would say it was more of a workout because I wasn’t stopping after each hill; I just kept going and my average heart rate was quite high for the whole ride. When I go out with my mates, we pedal up to the top and stop for a chat for 5 minutes for a breather.
I was keeping it in lower power mode on the way up so I still had to work and when I got to the top I didn’t have to stop and just went and did the descent. It was also more of an upper body workout too because your arms and core are constantly working.
No. I didn’t notice I was riding an e-bike. When I was chucking it off and over stuff, it didn’t feel heavy; it felt playful and poppy and I wasn’t expecting that. The first couple of tracks it was a foreign feeling bike but after a while I forgot I was riding an e-bike. It just felt really nice and comfortable.
I thought to myself many times on this ride that they’ve absolutely nailed what an e-bike should be. Everything about it; the right amount of assistance, no bump from the power surging. I felt I was putting in the same effort as usual but I was going up hills a bit faster.
I could do everything I would do on a normal bike. It felt like it could handle everything.
Compared to the Fuel EX, it felt a bit more planted, which felt nice. When you do a jump, that added weight gives you a bit more confidence and stability. Also, I rode from Pickering to Thornton le Dale on the road with no power and it felt easy, just like riding my normal bike.
Going out into Dalby for a good session really did sell me this bike. I want one. It totally makes sense, just so you can do more of what you enjoy. It inspires you to do more, even when you’re tired, and you won’t sacrifice the downhill enjoyment by carrying too much weight. Why wouldn’t you want one?
Come and see Alistair and the rest of our expert team in store in Southgate, Pickering, to find out what's so great about Trek Fuel EXe and to have a test ride in our spacious car park.
