Hi guys - total emtb newbie here so forgive the ignorance.
I was on the verge of pulling the trigger on either a Fuel Exe or a Rise before coming across this forum and reading some of the comments. Now, I am unsure which bike to go for or, even if an emtb is the right thing to buy.
I'd describe my fitness state as reasonable. I'm 6ft 3ins and about 190lbs. I ride road, gravel and MTB, maybe about 100 miles a week. On the MTB I'll average about 14s on a 30 to 40 mile ride over mixed terrain...road, fire road and singletrack. (The only thing missing is hills.....there are none where I live.) I don't feel the need for any mechanical assistance over these distances but reasonably frequently, I'll ride an hour to the local trail centre, blast around there for a bit and then ride another hour home. I can do this fine on an ordinary bike but ideally, I'd like to spend more time on the middle bit and still feel fresh enough to have fun on the way home!
I enjoy time in the saddle and the trails on the way out can be a blast so I wouldn't want to miss them by simply loading the bike in the car and driving out.
Also....as I am of an age now where I can work a four day week, I often want to sneak in an extra few hours on the bike on my day off....just for fun, not for fitness or anything else. This would probably be where I find most use for an emtb, as my legs are usually quite tired on my 'off days'. I'd probably expect to ride for about two hours.
Finally, I have extended family in Wales and an emtb would have an obvious application there, especially for a flatlander.
So, as I see it, I'd need a lighter bike with an XC slant that will support me on longer rides, short blasts and the occasional stint in the hills. With the terrain here being pretty benign, even SL emtbs can seem like overkill so that's a potential issue too.
Am I after the moon on a stick or is there something out there that will cover at least some of the above? Would either of the bikes I have on my shortlist be suitable?
I was on the verge of pulling the trigger on either a Fuel Exe or a Rise before coming across this forum and reading some of the comments. Now, I am unsure which bike to go for or, even if an emtb is the right thing to buy.
I'd describe my fitness state as reasonable. I'm 6ft 3ins and about 190lbs. I ride road, gravel and MTB, maybe about 100 miles a week. On the MTB I'll average about 14s on a 30 to 40 mile ride over mixed terrain...road, fire road and singletrack. (The only thing missing is hills.....there are none where I live.) I don't feel the need for any mechanical assistance over these distances but reasonably frequently, I'll ride an hour to the local trail centre, blast around there for a bit and then ride another hour home. I can do this fine on an ordinary bike but ideally, I'd like to spend more time on the middle bit and still feel fresh enough to have fun on the way home!
I enjoy time in the saddle and the trails on the way out can be a blast so I wouldn't want to miss them by simply loading the bike in the car and driving out.
Also....as I am of an age now where I can work a four day week, I often want to sneak in an extra few hours on the bike on my day off....just for fun, not for fitness or anything else. This would probably be where I find most use for an emtb, as my legs are usually quite tired on my 'off days'. I'd probably expect to ride for about two hours.
Finally, I have extended family in Wales and an emtb would have an obvious application there, especially for a flatlander.
So, as I see it, I'd need a lighter bike with an XC slant that will support me on longer rides, short blasts and the occasional stint in the hills. With the terrain here being pretty benign, even SL emtbs can seem like overkill so that's a potential issue too.
Am I after the moon on a stick or is there something out there that will cover at least some of the above? Would either of the bikes I have on my shortlist be suitable?
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That's funny!
