No sooner had I tossed yesterday’s publish into the barren wasteland that was as soon as the “blogosphere” than I hopped on the AMP-ersand and made for the closest dust highway out of city:
In 1994 the AMP Analysis B-3 screamed “high-tech race machine,” however within the ensuing years its look and perspective have been assumed by the lowly division retailer bike:
Bike individuals can clearly inform the distinction, however to the layperson little question they’re nearly indistinguishable.
For offroad using, the Outdated Croton Aqueduct is kind of my “trunk route,” and there are numerous little spurs that result in discreet trails if the place to look:
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The decrease portion that runs by Yonkers appears to be like kind of like this:
Although sections of it are fairly trash-strewn, and there are one or two spots that lately have change into dwelling to a kind of everlasting inhabitants of loiterers and unsavory varieties who interact within the consumption of assorted intoxicants. Because of this I more and more keep away from the worst elements altogether. However on this specific event I used to be decided to experience as a lot dust as attainable, and so I made a decision to run the junkie gauntlet, so to talk.
As I handed one such character, he picked up what seemed to be a tree bough, and appeared like he was getting ready to strike me with it. Whether or not he was merely pretending as a way to amuse himself or he actually did imply to knock me out and steal my pockets or my bike was unclear. It may very nicely have been that final one, for as I discussed, to the untrained eye the AMP appears to be like like a division retailer bike, and loiterers and unsavory varieties love nothing greater than division retailer bikes. Certainly, it’s their most popular mode of transportation, and little question after clobbering me unconscious he’d have unhooked the v-brakes and ridden off to his subsequent appointment. (Loiterers and unsavory varieties all the time experience with the v-brakes unhooked; amongst discriminating road individuals, using with fixed brakes merely isn’t performed.) No matter his intent, the AMP is a precision race bike, not a Goal particular with a fork put in backwards, and so with a burst of acceleration I positioned myself safely out of vary.
Going ahead I suppose I’ll now not be becoming a member of the Outdated Croton Aqueduct till at the very least part F, if not Part E, by which level you’re safely within the Lululemon Zone:
In any case, as I continued northward, the most important risk I confronted was from middle-aged ladies with costly canines in search of any excuse to yell at me for not ringing my bell as I approached. (I had not geared up the AMP with a bell.) The nascent spring was additionally so contemporary and important that it appeared as if the flora was blooming as I rode:
As for the bike, whereas it actually wasn’t as comfy as my Rivendae or my Jones, it felt playful and quick and I used to be having fun with it very a lot, particularly since I hadn’t actually ridden offroad in awhile:
By the best way, somebody requested video of the fork in motion, and I did my greatest to oblige:
Sorry, that’s the perfect I may do holding my cellphone as much as the fork whereas using over some bumps with one hand, however I feel you could possibly see it transfer a few times:
Oh, and that Avid brake feels implausible.
Talking of which, having solely simply acquired the bike, I used to be nonetheless noticing issues as I rode, akin to this water bottle cage that appears prefer it was do-it-yourself from a bit of sheet steel:
I’m positive somebody will inform me, “That’s a [blahblahblah] cage. What, you’ve by no means seen one earlier than?” In that case, what can I say? It additionally appears to be like like you’ll be able to even regulate how tightly it grips the bottle, fairly nifty.
Ultimately, I made it to the little curlicue of singletrack I had in thoughts:
The place it was simply me and the deer:
Regardless of the suspension, the AMP was nowhere close to as confidence-inspiring because the Jones, which is what I sometimes experience right here. Definitely as a mountain bike it felt extra succesful and extra comfy than the American M-16:
And the suspension was good for stuff like this:
However on stuff like this it was a distinct story:
And no, I’m not “sending it” off that ledge; if I have to ship something I stroll slowly and punctiliously to the mailbox and look each methods earlier than crossing the road. I even use two stamps simply in case. No, what I imply is the path goes kind of this manner, and also you’ve acquired to make some tight turns and decide your means by some rocks:
Suspension however, the small wheels, slim bars, and steep fork angle of the AMP means it requires fairly a bit extra consideration to the preternaturally secure and voluminously-tired Jones.
That’s to not say the bike isn’t enjoyable to experience. It’s enjoyable to experience. Very enjoyable certainly. It’s mild (surprisingly so) and it’s nimble, and the suspension facilitates scuttling over roots and rocks. Sure, it’s a decidedly dicier affair than it’s on the Jones, however that’s a part of the enjoyable, and I discover it pleasing in the identical means I nonetheless discover getting on an overgeared highway bike with 23mm tires pleasing:
I look ahead to attending to understand it higher.
