Wooded Wednesdays

When one thing works, you keep it up. For instance, final Wednesday I stole off for a noon all-terrain bicycle trip, and it was relatively satisfying. And so yesterday I did the identical factor once more:

Nonetheless, in contrast to final week, this time I rode the Jones:

Right here’s one other shot of it leaning jauntily on its kickstand:

That’s only a clamp-on kickstand, however the newer model of the truly has a kickstand plate. If the concept of a kickstand bothers you, attempt leaning a Jones (or actually any bike with broad, swept-back bars) in opposition to a wall. Your opinion will quickly change, because it’s like a drunk making an attempt to prop himself up in opposition to a lamppost at a bus cease.

Arguably there’s no higher place to be on a bicycle right now of 12 months than the woods–nature’s cathedral–the place the leaves coloration the sunshine like stained glass:

Sure, the forbidding Trails Behind The Mall have just a little little bit of every part, from clean:

To rocky:

To clean and rocky:

This was my first time driving the Jones and the AMP roughly back-to-back, which I’d been which means to do ever since taking supply of the latter:

The AMP is a late twentieth century racing bike and it’s a whole lot of enjoyable to trip. It’s very mild, it’s very clean, and it feels very quick, even on pavement. In the meantime, getting on the Jones after driving the AMP is like consuming the “Eat Me” cake in “Alice in Wonderland.” It’s as if you grew to an infinite measurement and what have been as soon as giant obstacles at the moment are merely minor floor irregularities. Specifically, the types of steep, rocky descents which might be nerve-wracking on the AMP barely register on the Jones–and but, regardless of having monumental wheels and tires that eclipse those on the AMP, the Jones is definitely simpler to trip up tight, twisty trails. It’s additionally very steady, together with at gradual speeds. Like when the going will get tough you may cease and sit there for a second or two with out placing your foot down whereas you determine what to do subsequent.

However the factor I seen most of all was how good my again felt. Positive, I’m getting outdated, however even once I was younger my decrease again would at all times get sore after awhile from the mountain bicycling–one thing of which I used to be reminded on my current AMP-scursions. However not on the Jones. (Jeff Jones can clarify how and why his bikes trip the way in which they do a lot better than I can.)

And whereas the drivetrain of the Jones could also be dirty and a bit rusty (very similar to its rider) this trip confirmed it’s nonetheless working fairly properly and so I see no motive to alter it:

If I would like thumb shifters and a number of chainrings I’ll simply pop some ibuprofen and hop on the AMP.

There’s actually just one factor concerning the Jones that preys on my thoughts, and it’s the tires. Particularly, I set them up tubeless once I first obtained the bike again in 2019, and since then I’ve dumped some sealant in there every now and then in case the outdated sealant dried out. That’s it. This makes me surprise…how a lot sealant is in these enormous tires at this level? Clearly I’m not the type of one that may be bothered to take away his tires every now and then and clear out the outdated sealant, nor am I the type of one that bothers to measure the sealant earlier than I put it in there. So have I added a number of kilos to the bike? Am I affected by sub-optimal rolling resistance? Subsequent time I am going to prime off the sealant will it simply dribble proper out of the valve as a result of the tires are lastly filled with coagulated latex? I preserve telling myself I’ll simply take care of it once I exchange them however are you aware how lengthy it takes to wear down a 3″ tire? At this level I received’t want new ones for like 20 years.

And sure, I do know lengthy intervals of uninterrupted flat-free operation is among the most important advantages of tubeless, however that is ridiculous.

***Bonus Tech Nerd Quiz***

I used to be puzzled by this and needed to seek the advice of Paul of Traditional Cycle, however are you able to dorks determine it out by yourself?

The AMP has a 7-speed rear hub:

With an 8-speed Hyperglide cassette:

However as an alternative of a lockring holding it on there’s this:

So what’s occurring?