CHRIS’S TREK FUEL EX 8 XT £2,800

Chris is experimenting with a new style of riding on the Trek

My nearest manmade trails are about 15 miles away, which would have constituted a punishing all-dayer if I’d ridden there and back under lockdown, while the technicality of the descents would’ve put me at unnecessary risk and too far away from assistance. On the other hand, the best singletrack and rocky bridleways I can reach from my house require just a couple of miles of spinning along country roads. So I’ve been experimenting with the Fuel EX to see how roadworthy I can get a burly 29er trail bike. The results have been so good that I’ve actually done a fair few rides along tarmac lanes.

Both the Fox Rhythm fork and Float DPS shock have lockouts, letting me firm up the suspension on the fly. Reaching the fork’s low-speed

compression dial is easy, and while it’s more of a stretch to toggle the shock’s lever, it’s still doable while on the move. I’ve also put more air in the tyres than normal. These simple changes have done a lot more than I’d expected. Riding around on the roads in full MTB kit (minus pads) on a full-sus 29er has got me a few puzzled looks from the abundant neon-Lycra-clad roadies, but when I’m racing along at a good lick, the Fuel EX isn’t holding me back.

I’m now riding every day, however, which has created some wear-andtear issues. The cockpit’s developed a creaky rattle – likely cable-related – and a couple of mid-range gears aren’t shifting smoothly. I’ll take a look next time there’s a rainy day. www.trekbikes.com