Y foil

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by skypest
Does anybody know anything about the Trek "Y" foil road bike? Performance, durability, etc? Thanks in advance.

No personal experience with it, but this site offers some opinions.
http://chainreaction.com/Y-Foil.htm
I think it was banned by the UCI though, so no racing with it (triathlons are okay I believe)

Hey thanks Bigfloppy. I appreciate the info very much. Take care. Skypest

I've been riding one for the last year and a half. Superb ride, and quite a bargain for a carbon frame these days. Stiff on the sprints, yet easy on the rear end. Don't know if it's the frame or the Rolf wheels, but mine is fast as a thief on downhills.

The UCI banned beam frames in 2000 as an 'unfair advantage' (translation: invented in the US) so Trek shut down production. A pity, Race Across America 2003 was won on a Foil.

Unusual looking, too. Not your ordinary cycle.

I've blogged my Foil experience at:

http://johno.myiglou.com/yfoil.html

ebay is about the only reliable source for frames these days. Expect to pay $500-700 for a new/never built frameset, depending on size and color, the larger frames tend to bring more. Get the gold frame if you can, it's spectacular in strong sunlight.

Johno, thank you very much for the link, I've bookmarked it and that means something. Now, another question for anyone interested. I'm a commercial pilot so I realize the importance of aerodynamics. Whatever... but what's more important guys, the weight of a frame or the aerodynamics of the frame? Thx in advance. Skypest

Just my opinion, but framesets benefit first from stiffness, then weight, then aerodynamics. Remember that you have a very limited power source to work with...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by skypest
Johno, thank you very much for the link, I've bookmarked it and that means something. Now, another question for anyone interested. I'm a commercial pilot so I realize the importance of aerodynamics. Whatever... but what's more important guys, the weight of a frame or the aerodynamics of the frame? Thx in advance. Skypest

I'm no expert and I'm not familiar with the complex equations that govern this subject, but here's a little leyperson babble. Weight and aerodynamics affect performance in different ways. Weight poses an inertia issue; that's poundage you need to overcome when making a big move or bolting from a stop. Additionally, of course, you're working against weight when you climb.

Good aerodynamics positively affect your speed and efficiency increasingly as you attain higher speeds, as when cruising on flats and rolling terrain, or shooting downhill. Aerodynamics pose little advantage at all where low weight does -- when you're pulling your butt to the top of a steep mountain at 8 mph.

Wheelsets illustrate these tradeoffs best -- unless you're spending well over $1000 for a set, high-performance wheels tend to come with box-section lightweight rims (often marketed as climbing wheels) or heavier deep-section rims (promising aerodynamic advantages). Spend more and more, and the weight/aero ratio closes up.

So, you've got to figure your riding style into the kind of equipment you favor. Do you consider yourself a big climber? A cruiser? Are you more of a time trialist or a mountain specialist? Or a little of both? Most enthusiasts can probably get away with any wheelset or frame that's appropriate for their body weight and wallet. You want an aero frame? Go for it. You want 1100g climbing wheels? Lay off the twinkies and go for it!