For many years in America, the brand Schwinn was synonymous with the bicycle:However, since the 1980s, the big domestic names have been Specialized, Cannondale, and Trek.Of those, Trek has always been the nerdiestnot because of their offerings, but because of their name. See, the name Specialized is hyper-focussed and they have that angry S logo:As for Cannondale, while the -dale part is kinda wimpy-sounding, the CANNON on that big fat downtube makes you think of cannons:But the word Trek just makes you think of trekking, which then makes you think of hiking, which in turn makes you think of stuff like Tevas and trail mix and weird hats that cover your neck and people who carry large heavy sticks for no reason:Over the years Trek tried to overcome this by doing deals with Gary Fisher and Gary Klein and using their names on bikes instead, but this only made things worse, because the only thing less cool than the name Trek is the name Gary, and while Trek may sound all nature-nerdy, Fisher and Klein just sounds like the name of a law firm.[Injured? Call the Law Firm of Fisher and Klein!]So in the late 1990s, Trek decided to stop fighting against their nerdy image and instead decided to capture 100% of the dorky cycling market. How would they do this? By creating a rideable Star Trek symbol:[Uh, its not the Star Trek logo, its the emblem of Starfleet.A Giant Dork, probably]Early attempts were unsuccessful:But in 1998 engineers finally hit upon the brilliant idea of putting the logo on its side:And the Y-Foil was born:As you know, I am currently in possession of not just any Y-Foil, but George Plimptons Y-Foil:On one hand, I appreciate the way Trek explored the potential of carbon fiber by breaking with tradition and trying something new, but on the other hand the frame kind of makes it look less like a bike and more like a bunch of parts that got stuck in a matrix of hardening slime:So in order to somewhat mitigate its mucus-like appearance, I recently changed the Tri Spokes for the Ralph wheels that came with the LeMond (another Trek, come to think of it):Its still exuberantly a Y-Foil, but at least the fact that the wheels dont make a helicopter sound as they beat the air makes me feel more like Im riding a normal bike. Plus, with the Ralphs I dont have to worry about accessing the valve if I get a flat:Note how it sits beatifically in its crabon recess like a Virgin Mary lawn statue:Oh, sure, Paul included the adapter, but depending on where Im riding Im liable to get arrested for criminal use of drug paraphernalia:So yes, apart from the fact you can only carry one small water bottle (which if Im to be honest is usually all I carry anyway) the Y-Foil very much offers a premium turn-of-the-century cycling experience:In Pauls description of the bike he says the Zero Gravity brakes dont work well, but I havent found that to be the case at all:Then again after all the classic bikes hes sent me to ride over the years my expectations in the stopping department are admittedly quite low.But yes, between the subtle suspension effect of the frame and the 7700 components, theres not much to dislikeapart from the polarizing appearance, that is. But even that is highly subjective, and maybe instead of fighting it the answer is to lean into it:Youve got to give Trek credit for boldly going where no bike company had gone before, even if youre kind of relieved they havent been back since.

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The day following the Clsica San Sebastin, racing in the Basque Country continues. The Circuito de Getxo will take place on the 11th of August and features an explosive profile with lots of short and steep climbs and the iconic finale in the town of Getxo right by Bilbao. We take a look at it's pr...

Tom Pidcock stunned the world with his audacious victory in the Paris 2024 Olympic Mountain Bike Cross-Country, but what are the marginal gains to his equipment that helped him to that second gold medal? His mechanic spills the beans to BikePerfect's Paul Brett...ELANCOURT, FRANCE - JULY 29: Gold medalist Thomas Pidcock of Team Great Britain poses for a photograph with his bike after the Men's Cross-Country on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Elancourt Hill on July 29, 2024 in Elancourt, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Tom Pidcocks fight back from a puncture and last lap inside line move to take the Gold medal was surely Continue reading

The Minnesota River Valley is a unique and vital part of Minnesotas natural and cultural heritage, offering a mix of scenic landscapes, ecological diversity, and historical significance. Riders will explore areas along the river, which flows through a valley carved by the Glacial River Warrena massive river that drained glacial Lake Agassiz at the end []The post Minnesota River Ramble appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Whilst many eyes were drawn to the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic in the horrific crash at the Itzulia Basque Country earlier this year, Jay Vine's wife Bre was scanning the TV images of the strewn riders for her husband. Sadly, the UAE Team Emirates man was indeed one...

Last week, Tom Pidcock secured himself Olympic gold on the mountain bike for the second successive games, proving once again his incredible, multi-discipline capabilities.Now back home from Paris and in the UK, the Team GB superstar was a guest on ITV talk show, Good Morning Britain to discuss his...

Spurcycle, the premium bicycle bell manufacturer (and my favorite bicycle bell), has announced its new line of rear-view mirrors. These new mirrors come in four different models, the C50, C70, R35, and R50. They attach to the end of your bar and help you get an eye on the happenings behind you. More than just a typical mirror though, the Spurcycle mirrors are designed with style that wont look out of place on your high-end ride. (Photos / Spurcycle)Why Ride with a Mirror?Youre probably reading this thinking Why should I ride with a mirror? Well, mirrors, like bells, will provide a safer environment while riding your bike, especially on the road. Riding with a mirror offers the reassuring feeling of being aware of your surroundings. It can keep you from twisting your neck and taking your eyes off of the road and terrain.Plus, if you ride with your kiddos in tow, Its important to be able to check in on them. Using a mirror is a smart, safe way to keep an eye on your muchkins. Spurcycle C Series MirrorsC50 and C70 MirrorRetail: $34 The C and the numbers 50, and 70 signify two different things on the C Series Mirrors. The C means that the C Series Mirrors are designed for City bikes, and not for use with drop bars. The 50 and 70 signifies the size of the mirror. The C50 has a mirror that is 50mm in diameter, whereas the C70 has a 70mm diameter. Just like their Original Bell, the C Series Mirrors are a perfect blending of form and function. Theyve been slimmed down to fit through doorways and get through tight traffic. Durable enough to handle the hustle and bustle of busy city activity.Even though the sizes of the mirrors are different, they offer the same refined, quality view, with a bit more field of view in the larger mirror. Both mirrors use tempered glass to ensure optical clarity. They also sport a robust, and rigid arm that minimizes image vibration.The secure ball & socket offer smooth, adjustable tension. These mirrors offer symmetric mounting so they can be used on either side of the bars. They are rebuildable and come with Spurcycles Lifetime Guarantee.Retail: $34SpecificationsMaterials:composite nylon with glass mirrorMirror size:50mm or 70mmWeight:73g C50 / 97g C70Origin:Made in China,Guaranteed for LifeFit:handlebar I.D. 14-21mmSpurcycle R Series MirrorsR35 and R50Retail: $30Like the C Series Mirrors, the numbers and letters have the same meaning. The R means these mirrors were designed for drop bars or road bikes. The numbers 35 and 50 are the sizes of the two options. Spurcycle says that they consider the R35 to be their pro (vanity) mirror, and the R50 their everyday touring model.The R Series Mirrors are designed for the modern drop bar bicycle and are not compatible with bars that have extreme geometry, or positions. Some ENVE bars without standard bar plugs may not work. If you have questions you can email photos of your setup and Spurcycle will help you out. The R Series Mirrors offer the same maximum utility from minimum form as all of Spurcycles products. Again, the same refined, quality view is available on either size, with the smaller size just being a smaller view. Tempered glass offers optimal clarity. These R Series Mirrors offer the same symmetric mounting as the C Series, so they can be used on either side of the bars. They are also rebuildable and come with Spurcycles Lifetime Guarantee.SpurCycle.comThe post Spurcycle Adds New Line of Mirrors as Classy as Their Bells appeared first on Bikerumor.

There was golden joy for the USA last weekend as Kristen Faulkner upset the likes of Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky to take the victory in the women's road race at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.The first American gold medallist in the women's road race since all the way back in 1984 when Connie Carp...

"One More Lap Around the World" is a new video from Tailfin that introduces Vedangi Kulkarni and provides some behind-the-scenes perspective on her latest attempt to set the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle. Watch it here...The post One More Lap Around The World (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.