For a few years in America, the model “Schwinn” was synonymous with the bicycle:
Nevertheless, for the reason that Nineteen Eighties, the large home names have been Specialised, Cannondale, and Trek.
Of these, Trek has at all times been the nerdiest–not due to their choices, however due to their identify. See, the identify “Specialised” is hyper-focussed they usually have that indignant “S” emblem:
As for Cannondale, whereas the “-dale” half is kinda wimpy-sounding, the CANNON on that large fats downtube makes you consider cannons:
However the phrase “Trek” simply makes you consider trekking, which then makes you consider mountain climbing, which in flip makes you consider stuff like Tevas and path combine and bizarre hats that cowl your neck and individuals who carry massive heavy sticks for no cause:
Through the years Trek tried to beat this by doing offers with Gary Fisher and Gary Klein and utilizing their names on bikes as an alternative, however this solely made issues worse, as a result of the one factor much less cool than the identify Trek is the identify Gary, and whereas Trek could sound all nature-nerdy, Fisher and Klein simply sounds just like the identify of a regulation agency.
[Injured? Call the Law Firm of Fisher and Klein!]
So within the late Nineteen Nineties, Trek determined to cease preventing in opposition to their nerdy picture and as an alternative determined to seize 100% of the dorky biking market. How would they do that? By making a rideable Star Trek image:
[“Uh, it’s not the ‘Star Trek logo,’ it’s the emblem of Starfleet.”–A Giant Dork, probably]
Early makes an attempt had been unsuccessful:
However in 1998 engineers lastly stumble on the good concept of placing the emblem on its facet:
And the Y-Foil was born:
As , I’m at the moment in possession of not simply any Y-Foil, however George Plimpton’s Y-Foil:
On one hand, I admire the way in which Trek explored the potential of carbon fiber by breaking with custom and making an attempt one thing new, however then again the body form of makes it look much less like a motorcycle and extra like a bunch of components that received caught in a matrix of hardening slime:
So so as to considerably mitigate its mucus-like look, I lately modified the Tri Spokes for the Ralph wheels that got here with the LeMond (one other Trek, come to think about it):
It’s nonetheless exuberantly a Y-Foil, however at the least the truth that the wheels don’t make a helicopter sound as they beat the air makes me really feel extra like I’m driving a standard bike. Plus, with the Ralphs I don’t have to fret about accessing the valve if I get a flat:
Be aware the way it sits beatifically in its crabon recess like a Virgin Mary garden statue:
Oh, certain, Paul included the adapter, however relying on the place I’m driving I’m liable to get arrested for prison use of drug paraphernalia:
So sure, aside from the actual fact you possibly can solely carry one small water bottle (which if I’m to be sincere is often all I carry anyway) the Y-Foil very a lot presents a premium turn-of-the-century biking expertise:
In Paul’s description of the bike he says the Zero Gravity brakes don’t work effectively, however I haven’t discovered that to be the case in any respect:
Then once more after all of the basic bikes he’s despatched me to trip through the years my expectations within the stopping division are admittedly fairly low.
However sure, between the refined suspension impact of the body and the 7700 elements, there’s not a lot to dislike…
…aside from the polarizing look, that’s. However even that’s extremely subjective, and possibly as an alternative of preventing it the reply is to lean into it:
You’ve received to offer Trek credit score for boldly going the place no bike firm had gone earlier than, even in the event you’re form of relieved they haven’t been again since.