Additional to yesterday’s submit about Peak Gravel, having lived by way of Peak Fixie–which, in case you’re fortunate sufficient to have missed it, appeared like this…:

[Unlike the frog in the boiling water, I can assure you that everybody knew how ridiculous this was even as it was happening.]

…I can let you know that one of many surest indicators we have been attending to Peak Fixie was when the so-called “fixie conversion” began appearing in every single place you appeared:

The recipe was easy: take a body, ideally a pleasant outdated street bike with horizontal dropouts (or, , a Softride), after which destroy it* by sticking a observe wheel within the again and a Trispoke, Spinergy Rev-X, or Aerospoke within the entrance.

*[Converting a Softride into a fixie does not destroy it, as you cannot destroy that which is already destroyed.]

After all Sheldon Brown had been a proponent of fixed-gear conversions lengthy earlier than it was cool:

And naturally a fixed-gear or singlespeed conversion is a superbly good use for an outdated body. Like most tendencies, it began innocently sufficient–observe bikes have been costly, however somebody excited by exploring fixed-gear driving might flip an outdated 10-speed right into a fixie for concerning the value of a rear wheel and a cog. Nevertheless, by the point I began this weblog in 2007, fixed-gear conversions had turn into a illness, with deranged individuals in every single place defiling completely good Colnagos in what was maybe the darkest interval biking has ever seen:

At the moment, the equal of the fixed-gear conversion is the gravel conversion, and it’s a time period so oft-G**gled that there are video tutorials and search engine-optimized, AI-generated articles about it in every single place you look:

Simply because the fixie or singlespeed conversion was a superbly affordable factor to do in loads of instances, so too is a gravel conversion, since changing the tires and including wider bars with extra hand positions to an outdated mountain bike can significantly improve its rideability. On the identical time, it could actually additionally go too far–or, within the case of the lazy gravel conversion, not far sufficient–and it’s when this occurs that you’re getting near Peak Gravel. And till at any time when the following Ultraromance trip is, the most effective place to evaluate the present state of gravel bike conversions is the place the rubber hits the street the supple tire hits the gravel, and that’s Craigslist. So let’s have a look, and fee them in response to the Bike Snob NYC Gravel Market Index:

Let’s begin with New York. There are few if any gravel conversions listed inside the metropolis limits, which both means we’re not at Peak Gravel but, or we’re approach past Peak Gravel. In any case, a lot of the conversions present up beneath the “extra from close by areas” heading. First, now we have this:

Delusional pricing is the surest signal of Peak [Insert Trend Here], although on this case the value is pretty affordable, at the very least by Craigslist requirements. At this identical time, this can be a pretty lazy conversion, because the curator hasn’t modified the tires for tanwalls, and even eliminated the reflectors, a lot much less fitted it with 650b wheels. A hastily-assembled flip like that is typically an indication of an overheated market, so I’d put that at a couple of 75 on the BSNYCGMI scale.

Then there’s this:

Some precise effort went into this one, each in sourcing an older body with some type, and in making an attempt to implement a coherent aesthetic theme. The pricing is a bit formidable since all the cash clearly went into that Brooks, and the usage of each a threaded-to-threadless adapter and the cloying time period “retromod” detract from what’s in any other case an honest bicycle. I’d put this one no greater than 70, although up to now it’s positively a front-runner for a JBAR Award.

*[The Just Buy A Rivendell Award is given to any rider who should just buy a Rivendell already.]

On the lookout for one thing extra upscale? Right here you go:

“Covid venture?” Crust fork? This has “bubble” written throughout it. Additionally, there’s completely nothing “gravel” about these handlebars, and general this feels extra like a basket bike that wants a basket. (We’re most likely at or near Peak Basket Bike too, however that’s past the purview of this explicit market evaluation.) Worth is excessive, although maybe warranted for the title recognition issue. That is an 88 on the size.

Subsequent up is one thing from Trek:

This isn’t a “restomod,” this can be a refurbished bicycle. Additionally, the outline says “you’ll be able to entertain gravel and tremendous extensive tires sooner or later,” which is definitely true, so long as you don’t use this bicycle. Rampant hypothesis and flagrant use of buzzwords for a decidedly non-gravelly bicycle. 98 on the size.

Issues are loads higher within the Bay Space, at the very least if this is any indication:

It’s an outdated Jamis with drop bars. It’s low cost. No annoying buzzwords. The bar tape picks up the yellow accents on the body. This bike is… worth?!? 40 on the size!

However then…

Not solely does the advert point out each Rivendell and Crust and make liberal use of buzzwords, however the vendor can also be asking $750 for an outdated hybrid, which is certainly a hefty price ticket. And in contrast to the endearing Jamis with the yellow bar tape, these bars aren’t taped in any respect:

Sure, the vendor says he’ll tape the bars earlier than buy, however too little too late. That is at the very least a 90.

And at last, to Portland.

Again once I began this weblog, Portland was a bellwether for all issues biking, so I figured I’d see what the gravel conversion state of affairs was on the market–however as an alternative of gravel conversions I discovered individuals promoting all their bikes:

I assume it’s over for Portland–and never only for gravel, however for bikes. And that’s not signal. 100 on the size.

Taking all these in mixture yeilds a nationwide BSNYCGMI of 80.1428571429.

Get out whilst you can, and go lengthy on late ’90s/early ’00s street bikes.