Six wheels on my wagon
AN ENTHUSIASTIC gin-fuelled eBay bid sees me acquire a Giant Anthem X mountain bike. It’s a lovely bit of 29-inch-wheeled full-suspension kit, but my post-purchase enthusiasm is tempered somewhat when I realise the bike is in Bristol – a good six-hour round trip from my home near Chichester.
The Giant’s collection is a trip seemingly designed speciically to shine a light on Big Red’s very inest qualities. The Vauxhall’s long-legged gear ratios – an indicated 35mph per 1000rpm in eighth – and bountiful torque combine to deliver fast, relaxed cruising; the adaptive LED headlamps turn night into noon; the heated and low-slung driver’s seat cossets; the adaptive dampers cushion; and Walker Hayes is loud and clear through the Bose audio system.
Loading the Giant into the Vauxhall is equally painless. Toggling two buttons in the boot lips the rear seats forward to create a vast and regularly-shaped loadbay that swallows the Giant with ease, helped by the integrated sliding luggage tie-downs for securing the bike. So, a 292-mile trip in just over four and a half hours, returning me home in time for a late breakfast – life with this Insignia is just e¨ortless.
BEN WHITWORTH