Trek Bikes
I rediscovered my bike after a number of weeks in lockdown. At first, I simply pedaled my low cost, steel-framed bike across the neighborhood. After a number of rides, It dawned on me that this was a mountain bike! So I took it to my closest path.
That first exhilarating experience is ceaselessly etched into my reminiscence. The early morning solar breaking between the bushes as deer darted away, the sound of tires on packed earth, and the silly grin on my face as I rode quick, flirting on the fringe of catastrophe—or no less than ache—with my inexperience on trails. I used to be hooked to the purpose of using bike into the bottom, taking a perverse pleasure each time one thing broke and I upgraded it. I finally upgraded to a Trek Gas EX 7, and I find it irresistible.
The Gas EX is Trek’s full-suspension path mountain bike household supposed for numerous terrains, from flowy to techie. Like each mannequin in Trek’s lineup, it is available in a wide variety of trim ranges, together with aluminum and carbon frames. (My EX 7 has an alloy body.)
At present, the EXe model is just out there for the highest-specced 9.x bikes with carbon frames, however it’s hoped that there can be an aluminum body choice within the close to future.
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Trek’s wealthy gearhead historical past displayed at its Company workplaces in Waterloo, Wis.
Sheldon Waite -
Trek owns miles of enjoyable flowy trails that they use to check bikes and as a perk for workers to make use of.
Sheldon Waite
Getting my palms on the Gas EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS concerned a two-hour drive to Trek HQ in Waterloo, Wisconsin. There, I not solely had an opportunity to talk with members of the workforce that developed the Trek Gas EXe, I additionally acquired to experience Trek’s non-public trails.
With the Gas Exe, Trek is concentrating on the single-track mountain biker who rides for enjoyable, health, and the out of doors expertise. To realize the look, really feel, and even sound of a conventional mountain bike, Trek partnered with German expertise firm TQ. TQ’s patented harmonic pin-ring drive can ship 50 Nm of torque in a tiny bundle that matches neatly behind the chainring.
The motor gives this torque at a low RPM because it achieves a big gear discount in a single step. Its motion is akin to a Wankel rotary engine. With the battery pack hiding within the down tube and minimalistic controls, your complete battery-motor combo provides simply 8.6 lbs to the load—an impressively low-weight addition in trade for some actual energy. My EX 7 weighs slightly below 32 lb; the EXe is available in at 38.5 lb. Pedal help tops out at 20 mph.
The digital options are well-integrated into the EXe. The show is easy and simple to learn at a fast look whereas on the path. Its handlebar controls are easy and intuitive whereas permitting for fast biking between the three help modes, Eco, Mid, and Excessive.
Customization is finished by means of Trek’s new telephone app, which gives customization of the three e-bike modes by tailoring max energy, help degree, and pedal response. The app defaults for these modes shift every up by means of Eco, Mid, Excessive. A few weeks into my time with the EXe, I tweaked the Mid settings to present me all the ability with a mid-high help, however in a gradual and managed approach. With these settings, I discovered my experience expertise to imitate my analog bike very carefully—simply simpler.
