For a few years in America, the model “Schwinn” was synonymous with the bicycle:
Nevertheless, for the reason that Eighties, the massive home names have been Specialised, Cannondale, and Trek.
Of these, Trek has all the time been the nerdiest–not due to their choices, however due to their identify. See, the identify “Specialised” is hyper-focussed and so they have that offended “S” emblem:
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 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 have been unsuccessful:
However in 1998 engineers lastly come across the sensible thought of placing the emblem on its facet:
And the Y-Foil was born:
As you already know, I’m presently 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 type of makes it look much less like a motorbike and extra like a bunch of elements that acquired caught in a matrix of hardening slime:
So with a view 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 consider it):
It’s nonetheless exuberantly a Y-Foil, however at the very 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 traditional bike. Plus, with the Ralphs I don’t have to fret about accessing the valve if I get a flat:
Observe the way it sits beatifically in its crabon recess like a Virgin Mary garden statue:
Oh, positive, 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, other than the very fact you may solely carry one small water bottle (which if I’m to be trustworthy is normally 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 effectively, however I haven’t discovered that to be the case in any respect:
Then once more after all of the traditional bikes he’s despatched me to experience over time my expectations within the stopping division are admittedly fairly low.
However sure, between the delicate 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 possibly as an alternative of preventing it the reply is to lean into it:
You’ve acquired to present Trek credit score for boldly going the place no bike firm had gone earlier than, even for those who’re type of relieved they haven’t been again since.
