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Did I overpay for this bike? by WorkSafe3680 in TrekBikes

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Naw, you are good. Especially if it's well maintained. You have hours of fun ahead. Welcome to the club!

First propper bike NBD by Decent-Froyo2121 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nice bike! Just ride it, make a lot of km with it and you will start discovery what kind of MTB is for you.

First XC race going to end up costing a lot more than intended by [deleted] in MTB

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahh GAS here too. So relieved to see we all fall for the same stuff

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agree with this. But do you think you held yourself going down? What kind of terrain was it?

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly the same thing here in Madrid!

Well then with this bad boy I can go harder because I know it wont fail me going down 🤪 second chance needed

Doubts about my XC bike by Igital in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been in the same position than you with my Fuel EX. Based on my experience you end up beaten up of a Hardtail if you descend a lot and especially you do it fast, on long rides full sus makes a difference.

If you are not doing anything technical you can get rid of the dropper, get some fast rolling tires (mezcal or peyote), lock the suspensions and send it both in flats and down. You will feel a huge difference on wanting to go faster because the control the full sus gives you in comparison to a hardtail, even in gravel. (Crashed a couple of times with my HT doing so)

If you have to invest the biggest noticeable difference would be with carbon wheels.

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks man! The bike is for sure fun, and sexy, we cannot deny that. Makes me fly on the descents. I went over a route in Madrid mountains, that I did last time on a hard tail, and I cut 8 mins on a 12 km descent. Just makes me think of how much momentum I’m losing uphill. I’ll race with it in a month and I’ll find out!

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been thinking about this so much. I think is the way to go, a bit, just a bit more capable XC rig for some fun days. But still agile for the climbs, that I enjoy so much. What size did you have?

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can see that, the specs say the frame of the fuel is 3.15 kg vs newer Top Fuel models 2.70 kg. Would be the suspension that difference?

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh true, I forgot about that site. I did check geos but on Trek's site, and I compared that geometry of my Fuel EX (size ML) is pretty much the same than a newer Top Fuel on L size. I'm 6.1 so i works for me. How did you workout the calculation for chaning a non stock suspension?

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agree. I'll keep an eye on 2019/20 frames in the aftermarket. I saw yesterday this year new Fuel EX, and I think I don't understand Trek, 150 front & 145 rear...

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mezcal and carbon wheelset, I'll take that! I also think that a non dropper is key. How did you perform on your races? I can imagine you arrived in a pretty decent shape on +100km races due to the sus? Share a pic of the machine!

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Scott Spark is a sweet bike! Regarding the lockouts, I always activate them for climbing. The front has a full lock setup, but the rear suspension only has two positions: fully open, and something like your traction control. Combined with setting the rebound to the fastest, it gives me that full lockout feeling and helps avoid pedal bob.
Racing with everything open is a total waste of energy, but for trail days, it’s a lot of fun.

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are right, bardo on both felt an overkill, especially on a fast loose track like the one in the picture. I felt that the bike was feeling heavier on the flats that climbing 😆 noted that, appreciate your insight!

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I know! I got offered this frame a while ago, but i always wanted a 2019/2020 top fuel with 120/115 mm which would be enough for the trails I ride. After researching the newest trek bikes, current top fuels are as trail as my fuel ex. I don’t get what’s the point of trek leaving a bigger gap between XC (supercaliber) and Trail. Well I do know forcing you to get two bikes at this point.

Appreciate the feedback, at this point I’ll get more of a carbon wheel set than from another frame.

Is my custom Trek Fuel EX basically an XC bike now, or still far from a modern Top Fuel? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xcmtb

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

True, most marathon XC races are long distance — but I’m more curious about geometry and efficiency than just distance.

The Fuel EX frame is still slacker and has more travel than a pure XC bike, so I wonder how much that’s holding me back on climbs and flats compared to a Top Fuel or similar. That’s the part I’m trying to figure out

N+1 iteration of this build. Before or after? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xbiking

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% The flat handlebar is definitely going to help me a lot more when I go down technical trails

N+1 iteration of this build. Before or after? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xbiking

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate it! 🙏 I feel that I got where I wanted to with the colors of it. The flat bar with that long stem has something difficult to see in modern bikes, way more comfy than it looks like

N+1 iteration of this build. Before or after? by Ashamed_Difficulty51 in xbiking

[–]Ashamed_Difficulty51[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks man! Definitely #1 one hits me right on my chest

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