It’s mid-November, which implies we’re already approaching the summit of 2024, earlier than you realize it we’ll collectively zip up our jerseys and descend into 2025.
Within the meantime, I discover myself trying over my shoulder on the yr we’re abandoning and the bikes which have carried me by means of it. So which ones can be the “Bike Of The Yr?” The place would I even start? Searching for a rubric, I turned to the mainstream biking media:
Listed below are one of the best highway bikes in numerous classes, although as you possibly can see they’re all just about the identical bike:
However wait, there’s extra!
That’s some finely-sliced categorization:
I’m wondering if in the future somebody will determine learn how to make a highway bike that mixes a lot of the above attributes–you realize, one climbs nicely and sprints nicely and is made from metallic and can also be comfy over longer distances.
Nah, it’ll by no means occur.
Oh, wait, sorry, I neglected extra highway bike classes:
“Finest efficiency highway?” Is efficiency not an inexpensive expectation with the others? And why does “Italian” get its personal class? It’s 2024! Aside from the names, there’s nothing inherently particular about Italian highway bikes anymore. To paraphrase the 4 Questions, why is an Italian bike completely different from all different bikes? Think about Bianchi, which in 2024 is basically nothing greater than a shade:
And what about gravel bikes?
Not less than there’s not a class for “Finest Italian Gravel bike.”
Oh, wait, sure there’s:
“I’m out there for an Italian gravel bike” is a phrase you hear solely barely extra typically than “I’m on the lookout for a Saudi Arabian microbrew.” And when the hell did cyclocross get folded into gravel?!? That’s simply insulting. Cyclocross bikes are your entire purpose gravel bikes exist. Folks generally say that gravel bikes are simply ’90s mountain bikes, however they’re actually simply cyclocross bikes that acquired dumbed down with disc brakes. However now after all the cyclocross bikes have disc brakes too, so it’s all mainly meaningless.
And I’m not even going to handle mountain bikes, as a result of I don’t contemplate these bikes anymore:
I’m sorry, the place’s the “regular bike and not using a bunch of shit on it” class? That is simply miserable. For those who’re going to divide mountain bikes into eleven (!) completely different classes (sure, eleven, considered one of them acquired lower off within the screenshot) and also you’re not going embrace a Jones in any considered one of them, then I’ve no alternative however to utterly disregard your entire enterprise.
As for BSNYC/RTMS/Tan Tenovo Enterprises, Ltd. Bike of the Yr for 2024, at this level I’d slim it down to 3 finalists. I’m not saying they’re the “finest,” however they’re the bikes which have most captured my creativeness and using time over the previous yr. (They’re additionally the bikes which have come to me most not too long ago, which can have one thing to do with it.) Right here they’re:
Finest Highway Bike That’s Additionally a Gravel Bike That’s A Singlespeed However You Can Additionally Set It Up As A Double Or A Triple And Additionally It’s Actually Snug And It’s Metal And It Has Lugs
I’m actually not saying you need to be previous to like this bike, however I’m saying that is the proper bike for the getting old singlespeeder. Positive, I suppose placing a triple crank in your singlespeed is a bit like placing a bunch of handrails within the rest room. However what’s cooler? Sustaining these “clear strains?” Or with the ability to get off the bathroom?
Finest Over-The-High Early 21th Century Highway Bike From A “Boutique” Model That’s Actually Simply One other Bike From A Big Bike Firm
Whereas I embrace and espouse the basic metal ethos, as a recovering roadie of a sure age, there’s an simple pleasure in using the unique bikes that had been nicely past your attain once you had been in your “prime.” It seems like I’ve lastly arrived–20 years later, and at a spot the place no person else desires to be anymore, however higher late than by no means, proper?
Finest Bike I All the time Dismissed As A Rolling Joke However Is Truly Surprisingly Enjoyable And Fascinating
I’m nonetheless ready for Exterior to publish my newest column during which I share what I discovered from one of many Trek engineers who designed this factor. (I actually ought to begin a weblog the place I can publish stuff every time I need.) However what I’ll say concerning the Y-Ferl is that, whereas superficially it’s the antithesis of every little thing I stand for, it’s also one of many few bikes that takes true benefit of The Crabon, and for that it has earned my respect. The LeMond is half-crabon, however other than being a bit lighter and looking out cool (for those who’re into that form of factor) there’s actually no purpose for the crabon–and even the titanium for that matter, and I believe I’d take pleasure in using considered one of its metal contemporaries simply as a lot. The Y-Foil nevertheless makes use of crabon to create a really distinctive body that might be kind of not possible in another materials and nets the rider not solely aero advantages however a delicate suspension impact that I need to admit is fairly enchanting. In fact you may get a lot the identical impact from a pair of higher-volume tires, and today I don’t experience almost quick sufficient to appreciate any of the aero advantages, however within the context of a late-90s race bike I give Trek credit score for pulling off what it got down to do, and it’s a enjoyable bike to experience simply so long as you’re ready to just accept the power to hold just one water bottle, in addition to the truth that if it’s even a bit moist out that water bottle might be completely lined in highway grit as a result of lack of a seat tube.
So which is able to win? I dunno, however I’m going to move out for a experience on considered one of them now, which is able to hopefully carry me nearer to a closing determination.
