When I started the Something Something Spirit Of Gravel Lube Contest, little did I know Id be facing one of the most difficult decisions of my entire life. See, the caliber of the entries Ive received to date is beyond what I could have possibly imagined, and picking a winner (or two) is like choosing a favorite child, or standing before the self-serve soda fountain at Chipotle and deciding on a beverage. Consider this submission, which I present to you in slideshow form:And this is but one example! Whom will I anoint with the sacred Dumonde?!? Dear Lob, I pray for your guidance.Then again, Im no stranger to difficult decision-making. For example, each day I must choose which of my [intern, go count the bikes] bicycles to ride, and I can assure you its not easy. In fact, as much as I detest the weather were currently experiencing, its been a relief not to have think about which bicycle to ride every daybecause theres only one choice, and its the bike with the fenders:Since first receiving the Homer nearly six years ago now, it has evolved from something of a twee fop chariotinto a true workhorse:To be sure, its fundamental character is as refined as ever, but just because a bike has pretty paint and curlicue lugs does not mean it wants to be coddled. Bicycle selection will also be a bit easier once the weather improves, for after something like a year and a half I am finally returning George Plimptons Y-Foil to Classic Cycle:That bike also evolved a bit during its time with me. The photo above is what it looked like when it first arrived. However, riding a Y-Foil made me feel self-conscious enough, and the Tri Spokes were too much for me, so I changed them for a set of normal wheelsand you know a bikes ridiculous when you consider Rolfs normal:Then of course Paul sent me the Rock Shox fork for which the Y-Foil was designed:Obviously what endeared me most to the Y-Foil was the Plimpton connection:But as an inveterate contrarian I began to take pleasure in riding a bike so many people actively revile. Plus, its quite fast, and the beam really does soften the ride. Add a suspension fork and its like riding a head-(and arguably stomach-) turning vortex of velocity and comfort. In fact, if it werent George Plimptons bike Id probably have named it the Velvet Tornado:Thats the AIs take on The Velvet Tornado, and its as vaginal as anything Georgia OKeeffe ever painted.I even wrote about it for Outside:Anyway, the smooth-rolling, wind-cheating, breakfast-regurgitating Y-Foil remains a testament to the extreme engineering lengths late-20th century bicycle makers were willing to go to achieve the same effect as simply putting a pair of 30mm tires on a normal road bike.Farewell, Y-Foil. We salute you.Well, I do, anyway.And soon to follow the Y-Foil on its journey westward will be the AMP Research B3:Or, if you prefer, the precursor to the Trek CheckOUT:The AMP is a lot of fun to rideits light and its nimble, and in some alternate reality where I didnt have too many bicycles Id even keep it as my representative vintage mountain bike, because I really enjoy riding it on the Trails Behind The Mall. But I do, and so I wont. However, it is for sale, so if you want it let me know now and Ill direct the box to you instead of Classic Cycle.It may be an old mountain bike, but as a gravel bike its positively cutting edge.