No sooner had I tossed yesterday’s put up into the barren wasteland that was as soon as the “blogosphere” than I hopped on the AMP-ersand and made for the closest filth 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 folks can clearly inform the distinction, however to the layperson little question they’re just about indistinguishable.
For offroad driving, the Outdated Croton Aqueduct is type of my “trunk route,” and there are numerous little spurs that result in discreet trails if you recognize the place to look:
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The decrease portion that runs by way of Yonkers appears to be like roughly like this:
Although sections of it are fairly trash-strewn, and there are one or two spots that lately have change into residence to a roughly everlasting inhabitants of loiterers and unsavory varieties who interact within the consumption of varied intoxicants. For that reason I more and more keep away from the worst components altogether. However on this explicit event I used to be decided to experience as a lot filth as doable, and so I made a decision to run the junkie gauntlet, so to talk.
As I handed one such character, he picked up what gave the impression to be a tree bough, and appeared like he was making ready to strike me with it. Whether or not he was merely pretending so as 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 at all times experience with the v-brakes unhooked; amongst discriminating road folks, driving with fixed brakes merely isn’t executed.) 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Going ahead I suppose I’ll not be becoming a member of the Outdated Croton Aqueduct till no less than part F, if not Part E, by which level you’re safely within the Lululemon Zone:
In any case, as I continued northward, the largest menace I confronted was from middle-aged ladies with costly canines on the lookout for any excuse to yell at me for not ringing my bell as I approached. (I had not outfitted the AMP with a bell.) The nascent spring was additionally so contemporary and very important that it appeared as if the flora was blooming as I rode:
As for the bike, whereas it definitely 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 way in which, somebody requested video of the fork in motion, and I did my finest to oblige:
Sorry, that’s one of the best I may do holding my telephone as much as the fork whereas driving over some bumps with one hand, however I believe you could possibly see it transfer a couple of times:
Oh, and that Avid brake feels implausible.
Talking of which, having solely simply obtained the bike, I used to be nonetheless noticing issues as I rode, equivalent to this water bottle cage that appears prefer it was do-it-yourself from a chunk of sheet metallic:
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 possibly can even regulate how tightly it grips the bottle, fairly nifty.
Finally, 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 usually experience right here. Definitely as a mountain bike it felt extra succesful and extra comfy than the American M-16:
And the suspension was excellent for stuff like this:
However on stuff like this it was a unique 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 roughly this manner, and also you’ve bought to make some tight turns and choose your means by way of 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 steady 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 pleasurable in the identical means I nonetheless discover getting on an overgeared highway bike with 23mm tires pleasurable:
I sit up for attending to comprehend it higher.
