At a sure level in life you simply surrender. For instance, I’ve lengthy given up on attempting to remain present with highway bicycle know-how, which is why this relic is at present my most “leading edge” bike:

As soon as-futuristic supplies, proprietary wheels with too-few spokes, built-in shifters…that’s about as “superior” as I have to be.

However let’s say you haven’t given up but, and also you need a highway bike that embodies all the newest tech while nonetheless evoking the spirit the classics. What must you get? Effectively, how about a hand-painted Specialised Aethos?

It’s a plastic bike with electrical shifters however…I dunno, one thing about Mike Sinyard and his groovy van?

Consider it or not, I’m not even attempting to be essential–I’m certain it weighs like 9lbs, rides superbly, and by no means misses a shift. (Except you neglect to cost it, through which case it would miss all of the shifts.) Nonetheless, inform me it’s attainable to take a look at the next with out seeing the phrase “handjob:”

Additionally, what the hell is “marmoreal?”

With out trying it up, I’m going to say it’s a pearlescent end that evokes the milky discharge of a mammary.

Now I’m going to look it up:

Yikes, I used to be manner off.

However sure, in case you’re trying to find the proper highway bike, look no additional than Specialised’s new mammarial handjob bike.

In the meantime, in additional pedestrian information, as famous in yesterday’s quiz, Surly is discontinuing the venerable Cross-Examine:

Whereas it’s tempting to muse over what this implies to the way forward for easy inexpensive metal rim-brake bikes, such pontification is totally pointless, since the way forward for such bikes is that there isn’t any future–it’s all about discs and electrical shifting and that’s that. No, the vital query is whether or not the Cross-Examine will improve in worth as the results of this information. Consulting a preferred web site that hosts a lot of categorized adverts, up to now the reply seems to be “no,” although availability as of now’s restricted–so restricted {that a} search in New York solely turns up two, considered one of which is in New York’s annoying little cousin, Philadelphia:

There are significantly extra to be discovered on a preferred Web public sale web site, together with the fabled Vacationers Examine, which was only a Cross-Examine with S&S couplers:

I used to be the proprietor of simply such a bicycle, with which I actually traveled the world:

Again in these days I used to be nonetheless related, and as such I needed to go locations to do e-book signings and stuff, so I traded Surly a banner advert for the body–it was a bit too small, however it was the closest factor to my dimension that they had on the time, and I figured I’d make it work. I additionally commuted on it sometimes, and it was as soon as molested by a whole stranger as I watched helplessly via a window:

I had utterly forgotten about that till now, however I’m upset about it over again.

So will the common-or-garden Cross-Examine ever develop into a collectible? In any case, there’s a wealthy historical past of unremarkable bikes which have gone on to command extraordinarily excessive costs, such because the GT GTB, which was simply an off-the-rack observe bike that went on to develop into a cult merchandise due to just like the triple triangle or one thing:

[Pic via here.]

So may the Cross-Examine get there too? Arguably rim brake bikes that may clear “gravel” tires are the brand new fixie, however it may very well be that over nearly 1 / 4 of a century there have been just too lots of them produced for perceived shortage to be an element.

In the interim anyway, I’d charge this bike a “maintain.”

However I’ll let you realize if there’s any vital value motion.