I was recently sent a brand new Diamondback Ranger 1.0 electric mountain bike to reivew AND  i love it.  

Straight out of the box, all i needed to do was put on some pedals and turn the bars round.  On the first look i thought it would be way too big for me, i’m 5ft 2″, but soon as i got on it felt great.   The only thing i’ve changed is to a shorter stem as it gives me a more relaxed reach.

It really could not be easier.  You just pedal and turn on the power if you want it.  You don’t have to have the power on but i choose to.  It has 3 speed options, eco, trail and boost.  Basically you pedal normally and just click on the power button and it powers you along faster.   There are controls under the left handlebar to engage it up and down for speed and the gears are under the right handlebar.

Massive smiles all round and means you can ride further, for longer and get more fun packed into your day.  However where this bike really comes into its own is uphill, but more about that in the next update.

Dimandback Ranger 1.0 FS electric mountain bike

Last Saturday i went for a low key ride just to get used to it and didnt really take it off road, as in no South Downs.  Myself and my riding buddy rode along a coastal path on the hunt for a good coffee shop and September sun, checking in to the SUP centre on the way there and then chilling out at Coast Cafe, Worthing. There is a cycle path along the coast in West Sussex and its pretty wide so an enjoyable ride, taking in sea views all the way.

This is the entry level EMTB in the Ranger range and i initially thought that may mean it would be too heavy, but i was genuinely surprised with how easy it was to handle and i felt super comfy and in control, not forgetting my size.  Something else i was interested in was to test it against was the wind.   Where i live it can be really windy, hence the abundance of famous windsurfers and kiteboarder who live here.  If you’re riding East on a windy day, its awesome with the free wind feed but riding back can be an eye-watering experience.  Not so much now, i have electric power to boost my steed home.

Of course you don’t need a full suspension bike for a ride like that, we saved the South Downs for the following day.  More to come on that on the next post..

Kit?

It was a lovely sunny day, but its changeable this time of year, with clouds in and out so wanted to pack light but to be able to keep warm went the sun went in.  So wore one of my fave FOX tri sport vest tops, good for wicking away moisture and then my amazing FINDRA merino wool cowl neck top, this is amazing.  So light, long sleeves to keep my wrists cosy, cowl neck to stop draughts but it is merion so icredibly warm too.   Sunglasses are from the Summer SPY range and of course captured some film footage on my OLFI one.five action camera @ £149 it packs a huge amount of tech in for the money…

The Diamondback Ranger 1.0 27+ FS EMTB

• 27+ Alloy 6061 frame, featuring 140mm VPP link suspension, BOOST spacing and built in motor guard
• ROCKSHOX Sektor Silver TK 27+ 140mm travel suspension forks deliver a smooth ride on varying terrain
• Shimano XT STEPS E8000 centre mount motor with 500wh Battery
• Shimano SLX 11-speed derailleurs for smooth gear shifting
• Shimano M-315 Hydraulic brakes, offer a powerful and controlled braking actions
• WTB RANGER 2.8″ tyres with light, fast, and consistent handling

Check out DIAMONDBACK for more info about the range..