WOW! The @RideGiantBicycles Reign E+ 2 is REALLY fun! So fun in fact, that I don't want to give it back. Settle in and get my take on this sweet ride! Please drop any questions or comments below.
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So, a few months back I did an ORBB on the Giant Trance E+ 1 down at Spider Mtn. It was a really fun bike, but I didn't get that much time on it and I was riding it on unfamiliar trails. I was pretty stoked when Giant heeded my call to get on one of these bad boys and they sent one to local NWA dealer Lewis and Clark.
I'll be honest, I was a bit bummed out when I rolled in to see a 2 spec instead of a 0 or even a 1. That quickly dissipated once I got on it! Now, let me preface with the fact that I have VERY little E bike experience. The Trance E was the only E bike i'd ever ridden on the trail.
First Impression: HEAVY!! I tried to lift it into the van and about threw my back out! I was also a bit concerned with the suspension package and how it would handle my...ummm, "spirited" riding. That concern abated soon after I got familiar with this beast on the closest trail to my house, Ravine Trail. It's a fun and flowing trail with some cool rollers that can be doubled up here and there. I ripped in with this thing and thought "why the hell not!" Let me tell you, jumping a nearly 50 pound bike is a trip!
Here's the breakdown: This was a size Large and it felt great for my 5'10 frame AND for someone that it is used to riding longer bikes. It took me a a bit to get acclimated to this thing because it's also quite a bit slacker than anything I've ridden lately. I know it says "one ride" bike breakdown, but let's be honest, I'm riding these bikes more than once if possible. Second ride in and I made that weight my friend and became a full on slacker! It quickly provides a ton of confidence because it's so low and can help you rip through turns and provide some solid stability.
It felt like a Reign, a bit heavier, but still a Reign. I rode nearly everything that I'd ride on a normal basis around here and it was awesome!! I've been on it for the last four days and I really don't want to ride any of the other bikes in my garage.
The ergonomics of the control unit are great. I found myself toggling up and down through the five power settings to try to maximize battery life and I was impressed. Leaving my house with a fully charged battery, I was out for well over two hours, riding pretty hard, and it still had half a batt left when I got back home. It also charges pretty quickly.
Another thing to note is that I was worked when I got back! It was just as much of a workout, if not more, than an "acoustic" bike. I think this is the piece that very few people realize. I had just as much fun, got a better workout, and went nearly three times as far! I'd call that a win.
The only area that caused a bit of concern was a section called Apple Turnover. It was a narrow, chunky, off camber trail that is always wet and slick. The "bottom bracket" of this bikes sits a bit low and it made it a bit more difficult to navigate. It was also unique for me in this setting because I'm used to pedal pausing and ratcheting through technical sections and you can't do that as easily on this bike. Now, I did start to acclimate a bit and the power delivery once you are back on the pedals is almost instantaneous.
The RideControl One unit is pretty sweet and easy to use. I dropped it into Auto Mode for a bit and dug it. It's sets the power in the middle and it's basically a "set and forget" feature. I also tried the Walk Mode on the chunky stuff and it's a great addition for those situations where you're trying to push this beast up a hill or tight spot.
And, as I've stated above, I had ZERO issue with the 2 spec. It performed well and didn't leave me wanting anything more. However, I'd sure as hell like to take a rip on a 0 model and see what ol Josh Carlson is working with ;)
To sum it up: KICK ASS BIKE!! I loved it and I'm excited to be able to hang onto it for awhile and get you some longer term feedback.
BIKE: www.giant-bicy... #howto #richdrew #mountainbike #bentonville
15 окт 2024
