On a more positive note we now have ISCG 05 mounts, RockShox Reverb Stealth and a significant amount of internal cable routing that all adds up to a stunning looking bike. It’s just a shame that when you drop down a price point in carbon you are left with a standard seatpost. Hit the top end ali version and you have a normal Reverb – good – but not anywhere near as tidy.
Shorter chainstays give a livelier ride, lightweight, a snappy climber. I tried the largest bike in the range, a 21.5”, with a 50mm stem but found my timing out of sync, the 19.5” probably being a better option for six–foot riders. But massive thanks for offering tall riders a bike with a low standover (Trek making the great decision to keep the top tube/seat tube interface low and thin).
Many talk about the superb balance in terms of riding when on the Fuel yet possibly Trek’s greatest strength is their expression of carbon forming which has enabled the Wisconsin crew to create a beautifully proportioned and colour co–ordinated bike – a good day at the office for the industrial designers brush that’s for certain.
In the past five or six years they have cleaned up the cabling given the bike some colour, this just has to be one of the best looking trail bikes you can buy. It matters, because the alternative trail bike option, the Rumblefish, looks like a tank in comparison, an ugly fast and balanced bike needing a lot more love.
Therein lies the problem facing riders. The Fuel is a marvellous example of getting it right in (apart from the fork) every department. Trek has unquestionably taken this bike to a first class place. But walk into a shop and you are confronted with that other option, the 29” Rumblefish. Its bigger wheels means it’s more balanced and quicker almost everywhere. But in comparison to the Fuel on visual, well…it’s a dog in many people’s eyes.
In the ragged Dolomites I had immense fun riding the Fuel on the scudding cut–through singletracks. I might not even have been looking at the bike whilst doing so. The Fuel offers great trail sensitivity, its behaviour fully in tune with the ripping of the foot wide railroad.
I’d buy this bike on looks alone, somehow I feel many riders will also want to buy it on wheel size.
Spec
| Frame | Trek Fuel OCLV Mountain Carbon main frame and seatstay, aluminium chainstay, 130mm travel |
| Fork | Fox Performance Series 32 Float w/DRCV, 130mm travel |
| Rear Shock | Fox Performance Series Float w/DRCV |
| Wheels | Bontrager Rhythm Elite Tubeless |
| Tyres | Bontrager XR3 Expert, 26×2.20″ |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore XT, 10 speed |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus |
| Crank | Shimano Deore XT, 42/32/24 |
| Cassette | Shimano XT 11–36, 10 speed |
| Saddle | Bontrager Evoke 3, titanium rails |
| Seatpost | RockShox Reverb Stealth |
| Handlebar | Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon Low Riser |
| Stem | Bontrager Race X Lite |
| Headset | Cane Creek IS-3 |
| Brakeset | Shimano XT hydraulic disc |
| Grips | Bontrager Race Lite, lock–on |
| Size | 15.5”, 17.5”, 18.5”, 19.5” and 21.5” |
| Colour | Blue Smoke/True Blue |
Price: £4000
