As a gravel cycling enthusiast, the significance of mountain biking became evident soon after I transitioned from the road to gravel. Gravel routes that included rock gardens, rooted sections, and sketchy crossings required a technical aptitude that I had yet to master. To get better, the answer seemed simple—ride more.
My quest to improve led me to a scandium and aluminum bike that was well suited for some cases but not most. Some attempts left me exhausted beyond measure due to a debilitating muscular condition that affects my neck and shoulders. The fear of getting stranded after venturing beyond my limits was ever-present. Trying to bridge the gap between my aspirations and ability led me to the REI's Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1.
The highly rated DRT e3.1 can be especially helpful for people who are unable to ride a conventional bike for any number of reasons, have physical limitations—like me, or want to ride longer distances without reaching a point of exhaustion.
The DRT e3.1 comes equipped with a 625-watt-hour battery, which means it can carry up to 300 pounds—rider and cargo weight combined—for about 25 to 40 miles on a full charge. Powered by a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, the full suspension Class 1 e-MTB tops out at 20 miles per hour with pedal-assist while the SRAM X1 34T crankset and 12-speed Sram SX Eagle allows riders to focus on the path ahead rather than gearing. Ride comfort is boosted by dropper seat post, RockShox Recon Silver RL Solo Air fork with 140 mm of travel and RockShox Deluxe Select Plus RT rear shock with 130 mm of travel, and 2.6-inch tubeless-ready tires, which require much lower tire pressure, thereby enabling more tire tread to connect with the ground while minimizing flats.
The Riser handlebar positions the on-off button, dropper post lever, Bosch motor power modes: green–eco, blue–tour, purple–sport, and red–turbo, and battery status are situated on the left side. The accompanying Bosch Flow app, which can track rides without opening the app, records everything from mileage and riding time to average speed and more. Data from the Flow app can sync with Strava, Komoot, Apple Health, and Apple Watch for heart rate data. The gearing and the mounted bell are on the right side of the handlebar.
With the bike's specifications addressed, everyone wants to know how it rides.
Riding from my home to the local trail, the bike felt sluggish on the pavement. Engaging the pedal assist made light work of the usual energy-zapping task. Once the bike hits the trails, its weight—55 pounds—comes into play. Riding over rock sections, tree roots, and a smaller rock garden felt almost effortless on my first attempt. The motor's assist allowed me to focus on the route ahead instead of overanalyzing the immediate path and risk getting stuck between a rock and a hard place. Riding uphill, even on slightly loose terrain, felt manageable but not exhausting. After summiting, the first few descents were tricky on descents due to the bike's weight. After a few switchbacks, my confidence grew, and I released the brake lever slowly but surely.
I was ecstatic at the end of the loop, which usually exhausted me. Feeling accomplished, I took the second loop slightly faster in some sections, dialed down the assist as the mileage increased, and settled into a comfortable cadence. Dreaded exhaustion never reared its ugly head, and my sense of accomplishment skyrocketed.
Several rides later, I decided to venture out on a longer trail. My bike rack is rated for 50 pounds—five pounds less than the DRT e3.1. After removing the battery, which weighs around eight pounds, I was still concerned about the bike rack's capability. Erring on the side of caution, I rolled the DRT e3.1 into the back of my minivan–battery still attached.
I tested the DRT e3.1 on the pump track at the new trail before my ride. The moderate 20-mile loop offered a little bit of everything: undulating trails, flowy switchbacks, rocky sections, and a few water crossings. The first climb–approximately one mile long–felt relatively easy in sport mode. After the third climb, which was more technical but shorter than the first climb, I was surprised that my average heart rate was still in zone two, and neither my arms nor legs felt depleted. Downhills and flatter sections of the trail were a breeze. Powering through sections wasn't just doable; it was fun. An unexpected muddy section threw me for a curve as I didn't take the best line and was in too hard of a gear. I was stranded, but only for a moment.
As my ride time on the DRT e3.1 increased, my confidence on mountain biking trails and gravel roads improved. The varying power assist levels allowed me to put in harder efforts on some days while recovering on others on the same terrain—a challenge on my conventional bike. Over several weeks, my mileage increased. After 38.5 miles, the battery still had one-fifth of its power. The bike enabled me to ride more consistently as I could ride farther and beat early sunset, even as winter lingered on.
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