E-Substance Aluminium Apex (Fazua)

On asphalt, it's mainly a question of resistance and efficiency, and that's what the score summarizes. That's why it's better suited to relaxed riding than pushing fast splits. It ends up here thanks to a heavier build, very wide tires that create extra drag, and a more budget-friendly drivetrain that focuses on value. The effect is most noticeable when you're chasing a faster average speed or riding into wind.

Uphill performance score: 5.1/10. Within e-road bikes, it lands around the middle. The easiest gear leans spin-friendly when it tilts up. Your easiest gear lands around 24.4 gear inches. On the ‘easier low gear’ scale, it sits around ~76% versus similar bikes. “Gear inches” sounds nerdy, but it’s just a quick way to describe how easy your lowest gear is to turn uphill. Lower usually means easier. Weight is around 15.3 kg, which you notice more on longer or slower climbs. Being an e-bike helps on climbs because the assist adds steady push when you need it. It won’t be the absolute best climber, but it won’t hold you back on most climbs either. Real-world feel depends on setup and size, and some details aren’t always listed, so this is best seen as a well-informed estimate.

Looking at it as a gravel setup, sitting at 4.7/10 for aero, it aims for usable speed without big trade-offs so you get some benefit when the wind matters. In everyday language, it’s a balanced middle ground: some streamlining, but not an extreme aero setup. A more integrated front end usually reduces minor drag points around the cockpit. Specs can vary by market and model year, so the summary follows the strongest published signals. That typically means solid everyday speed without forcing an aggressive position or race-only parts.

Balanced fit - a versatile position for long rides and faster efforts. You get this posture because the cockpit sits 95 mm below the saddle (a large drop), and the cockpit stretches you forward by ~561 mm (long). Plan for roughly 38 degrees of lean.

Overall, it falls into Adjustable. A modular front-end gives more freedom to change stem length or bar width, Hidden cables usually add a little friction when you swap bars or stems. At the same time, Seatpost info looks fairly neutral, so most fit change comes from cockpit choices. This mainly reflects how easy it is to adjust or swap key fit parts over time.

Ride comfort is 6.7/10 — on a real ride it feels comfortable. So it’s tagged Balanced overall. It’s running about 47 mm tires on 700c wheels, and extra tire volume helps mute vibration and small bumps on rough lanes and gravel patches. The posture is neutral (posture 6/10, torso ~38°), which keeps things neutral and easy to live with.

This sits around the normal range for similar bikes. Value is scored 1–10: higher is better value, lower means you’re paying more than similar bikes. Uses MSRP as a baseline; real-world prices can be lower (discounts can change the value). Based on the spec estimate, it’s about 13% above the typical level for similar builds. Among comparable bikes, it sits around the middle on price (cheaper than about 49% of listings). To anchor it: price €4.618 versus an estimated €4.103 for a similar build. Overall, it sits in the expected range for the category.

This setup is built for mixed rides where gravel is a normal part of the route. The tire size is unknown in this entry, so the surface range is based on the clearest available signals. Overall, the setup matches this surface range well.