The 2010 Fuel Ex-8 has been with us a couple of months now, and this years model has really stepped up the game for bikes in this category. With its new stiffer front end, and the addition of the DRCV shock it really is becoming the only bike you need if you pedal around trail centres in the UK. The DRCV shock is fantastic, I’ve had one on my bike for the last year, and the difference in feel over a standard air canister is night and day. The absolute proof of how good this shock performs is that the staff members at our shop ride the demo bike with the DRCV when they want a cheeky ride at lunchtime. We should be getting our new demo bikes soon, and once we’ve finalised what we’re getting we’ll let you all know.

The Trek mountain bike range has changed quite a bit this year, with the EX-8 getting a bit beefier (but not gaining any weight) and the new remedy also loosing a bit of travel, down to 150mm. The big news in the Remedy range is there’s going to be two carbon versions, the 9.8 and 9.9

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/remedy/

On the 9.9 you’ll notice it comes with a Crank Brothers Joplin height adjustable seat post, really setting this bike out as an all out racing machine.

You may be asking, why lower the travel on such a capable machine? Well, there’s a new model, the Scratch

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/#scratch

You may have seen spy shots of this bike last year calling it the Remedy SS (Slope style). What you’re here is a more laid back riding position to make the bike more stable downhill, but with the ability to climb, utilising a twin ring at the front. This could well be all the bike anyone would ever need if you tend towards more aggressive downhill and are not worried about your time riding up the hill. The bike further sets out its intentions by having two coil spring models and two air models, so you can select which model better suits your riding. I’m genuinely excited about a bike like this, especially living in Innerleithen, as pushing up big rigs is a tiring affair, and I get a bit of a kick out of cycling uphill as well.

Staff at the shop have got a ride camp coming up soon (Early February), so soon we’ll be able to assess what we think of all these new models for ourselves.

Rob
Alpine Bikes Innerleithen

Labels: Mountain Bike, Trek

posted by glenmore @ 11:32 AM  0 comments