As a balance to my job as a photographer, I prefer to go on long tours in the Alps with a lot of metres in altitude. No tour falls below the 1000 metre altitude mark. For this tough job, I used to prefer marathon fullys, but this time I chose an All Mountain Sport, the Trek Fuel EX.
Over the course of two seasons, I collected 64455 metres in altitude. I have never shied away from difficult descents and have always seen them as a challenge. But with the Trek Fuel EX they are simply more fun. The rear suspension and fork worked reliably and absorbed every bump sensitively. The Fox fork is by far the best fork I've ever ridden. The rear suspension with Fox Pro Pedal shock also worked efficiently and bob-free on the climbs. I never missed a lockout function. The riding position of the Fuel is upright and comfortable, the handling is neutral. This made me feel very comfortable in tight and technical passages. But even uphill, with the fork lowered, the balanced geometry left nothing to be desired. I would have liked a more ergonomic lever to lower the fork.
The downer: the brakes. Despite several attempts to adjust the front brakes, I couldn't get them to stop squeaking. In the wet, it screeched unbearably loudly. The rear brake could often be pulled through to the handlebars. But not due to overheating, but mostly at the start of a descent. Towards the end of the endurance test, I often had to pump the brake lever several times before the brakes finally started to work. This sometimes made me break out in a cold sweat.
The Fuel EX is a fun machine with a wide range of uses, which has no weaknesses apart from the brakes.
Change:
- Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres fitted: Significantly more grip than the original tyres
- Screw grips and Fizik Aliante saddle: more safety and better ergonomics
Web: www.trekbikes.com
Photos: C. Stewart, marathon-photos.com, D. Simon
