Hey bud i live in Ilfracombe theres not a great deal of public footpaths except over the torrs and The woods going down to lee Bay. I have just started going over Exmoor which is amazing bike country just loads of routes over there in easy access areas. There is a bike park at the big sheep abbotsham which has dirt and north shore burms and jumps at different levels. Ive not ridden anything between bideford and bude but i bet theres plenty try the coast path or look for a path following a river for more gental slopes. But welcome to North Devon im usually about for a few weeks at a time as i work on the rigs so if you want to hit Exmoor or you find any good routes send a message cheers, Matt

Just brought my 5 year old son a mini burner from ebay blue and yellow it was my 1st ever bike. He loves it

nice leather sofas on indigo furniture 0% interest vie got 2. Ive got an ikea chair and its done well. Thats enough soft furnishings talk im off to chop wood and lick oil sumps to man up a bit ha ha ha

You Can get the lifts up a lot of it there all set up for bikes in the summer, plenty of people offering guides out there. I would like to do it that way next time and do some real long singletrack.

In my experience as soon as you stop becoming the path of least resistance they move on to mug someone else off. Gloves off stop playing ball they wont respect the official way of doing it.

I have the FUEL EX 9 2011 it almost the same, I’m not going to lie to you I love it. Lovely neutral riding position nice width on the bars I shortened the stem length and changed the saddle and definitely change the tires they are the things that kill the confidence on this bike just get them to take them off in the shop. Loads of settings on the suspension so you can dial it in to you preference and the shock are super easy to set up.

I had my heart set on the ex8 but when balls out for the 9 because I would not have to up grade anything but on reflection I don’t think it really matters but I’m a marketing mans dream ha ha ha.

I take my bike mainly over Exmoor and wales its so comfortable and easy to ride its super lite and smashes up the hills and down them .

Hope this helps in you decision I was in the same boat 4 months ago and with that much money at steak and all the info available its pretty overwhelming

I love the bike but I would also consider the canyon Nerve they look identical but cheaper

I Hired a Bike and smashed down the chavannes in Let Gets that rekindled my love of mountain biking and here I am 3 million bike reviews later and a trek fuel ex 9 and no money ha ha ha.

I did get a bit cocky out there and landed wrong and cracked my hip but apart from that it was an amazing experience, I like the way it forces you to ride properly and put in to practice everything you’ve been taught or know. I came away technically a lot better and more confident learning that speed and balls are your friend over the obsticals where as before I had never had the confidence.

I cant wait to get back out, I bet you’ll have a brilliant time