Having lived by means of the Nice Fastened-Gear Increase-Bust Cycle Of The Early twenty first Century, I’d wish to say I emerged stronger because of this, however sadly this isn’t true. If something the expertise has deeply traumatized me, as a result of I do know all too nicely that regardless of how excessive we could also be flying we are able to come crashing down once more at any second. That’s why as everybody else runs round fortunately graveling as if the great occasions won’t ever finish I can’t assist feeling as if this entire factor has “bubble” written throughout it:
I requested the AI to generate a picture for “This Entire Gravel Factor Has Bubble Written All Over It” and that’s what I received. Nice, gravel with bubbles in it. Is there even a tread sample for that? Fast, anyone ask Jan Heine!
However sure, there are indicators that the gravel bubble is about to burst. For instance, tastemaker Ultraromance (broadly acknowledged because the Warren Buffet of Jorts) is now providing a bespoke mid-reach brake street bike:
Hey, a few of us had been driving mid-reach street bikes earlier than they had been cool:
However, clearly the medium-reach street bike is poised to change into the brand new gravel bike.
However to essentially know the place gravel stands that you must go the place the rubber meets the street–or the gravel, or the bubble-infused gravel–and that’s Craigslist. See, the bike business and its mouthpieces within the media inform you solely what they need you to imagine, nevertheless it’s on Craigslist the place you get to see what’s actually taking place. That’s why I created the BSNYC GMI:
So what’s been taking place since then? With spring across the nook, are riders growing their gravel holdings, or are they divesting? Properly, a easy seek for “gravel” on the New York Metropolis Craigslist is sort of revealing. For instance, it yields this Pinarello Dyodo:
Significantly, Pinarello made an electrical gravel bike, and so they named it the “Dyodo?”
Huh, I had no concept that’s what “Raphus cucullatus” meant. If I needed to guess, I’d have thought it was Latin for “The Crotch of the Rapha:”
[Two Raphi cucullati side by side.]
Anyway, I wished to study extra concerning the Pinarello Dodo, so I discovered a assessment:
I assume they discovered it heavy:
As a Rivendell rider I’m aghast that anybody would take into account 28lbs hefty in any respect, not to mention too hefty to trip with no motor. Hey, right here’s an concept for Pinarello: what a few bike that weighs underneath 20lbs and has no motor in any respect? I wager that will be tremendous quick!
Anyone ought to look into that.
Anyway, in response to the assessment the Dodo price $8,000 when it was new, and this one’s listed for $4,150. That’s practically a 50% haircut, and with driving season imminent no much less! And that’s not the one e-gravel bike on Craigslist, both:
Be mindful a brand new Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon EVO (I’m out of breath simply typing that) prices over $7,000:
Which will appear excessive, however take note it’s not solely a Turbo, but in addition an SL and an EVO! Specialised are actually going all-in on the car-inspired phrase salad naming conventions, aren’t they? Regardless, that is one other assisted bike supplied at a steep low cost, so clearly the underside is falling out of the electro-gravel market.
However what concerning the different finish of the spectrum? How are metal gravel bikes with mechanical shifting going? Properly right here’s a Velo Orange Cross Hunter:
It was constructed by Bernie!
Apparently I’m purported to know who that’s. In fact I do know who Velo Orange is, however in case you don’t they’re the Bizarro Soma:
And right here’s one other Cross Hunter, constructed in a different way however equally priced:
When analyzing the market, it’s essential to think about why persons are promoting, and on this case the proprietor needs better tire clearance:
I can see that the vendor is on the fence, and if I had been his advisor I’d inform him to carry. Tires are getting too large, and the approaching medium-reach brake development is a transparent indicator that the marketplace for large tires is about to contract. Issues have been getting too large for too lengthy, and I think the entire large tire factor is quickly going to blow fully off the rim and depart buyers lined in sealant, economically talking.
As for the gravel conversion market, the state of it’s at all times an essential indicator, and presently indicators are usually not good:
The vendor notes that “inquiries asking whether or not that is nonetheless out there might be ignored,” which suggests he’s irritated that he’s nonetheless received it, which suggests the market is clearly stagnant.
Additionally, is there anyplace on this planet the place an aluminum Trek is uncommon?
And talking of Treks…
…it’s “gravel bike prepared:”
Is there any bike that’s not gravel prepared at this level? Actually classic tobacco collaboration (tobacollabo?) bikes are:
See?
And so are classic automotollabo bikes:
See?
Gravel mania already and we’re barely into March. Get out whilst you nonetheless can!
