For a few years in America, the model “Schwinn” was synonymous with the bicycle:
Nonetheless, because the 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 title. See, the title “Specialised” is hyper-focussed and so they have that offended “S” brand:
As for Cannondale, whereas the “-dale” half is kinda wimpy-sounding, the CANNON on that massive 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 peculiar hats that cowl your neck and individuals who carry massive heavy sticks for no cause:
Over time Trek tried to beat this by doing offers with Gary Fisher and Gary Klein and utilizing their names on bikes as a substitute, however this solely made issues worse, as a result of the one factor much less cool than the title Trek is the title Gary, and whereas Trek could sound all nature-nerdy, Fisher and Klein simply sounds just like the title of a regulation agency.
[Injured? Call the Law Firm of Fisher and Klein!]
So within the late Nineties, Trek determined to cease combating towards their nerdy picture and as a substitute 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 sensible thought of placing the emblem on its aspect:
And the Y-Foil was born:
As you understand, I’m at the moment in possession of not simply any Y-Foil, however George Plimpton’s Y-Foil:
On one hand, I respect the best way Trek explored the potential of carbon fiber by breaking with custom and attempting one thing new, however however the body form of makes it look much less like a motorcycle and extra like a bunch of elements that bought caught in a matrix of hardening slime:
So to be able to considerably mitigate its mucus-like look, I not too long ago modified the Tri Spokes for the Ralph wheels that got here with the LeMond (one other Trek, come to consider it):
It’s nonetheless exuberantly a Y-Foil, however a minimum of the truth that the wheels don’t make a helicopter sound as they beat the air makes me really feel extra like I’m using a standard bike. Plus, with the Ralphs I don’t have to fret about accessing the valve if I get a flat:
Notice 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 using I’m liable to get arrested for prison use of drug paraphernalia:
So sure, other than 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 provides a premium turn-of-the-century biking expertise:
In Paul’s description of the bike he says the Zero Gravity brakes don’t work nicely, 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 journey 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…
…other than the polarizing look, that’s. However even that’s extremely subjective, and perhaps as a substitute of combating it the reply is to lean into it:
You’ve bought to provide Trek credit score for boldly going the place no bike firm had gone earlier than, even when you’re form of relieved they haven’t been again since.
