Retrospec Amok

The Retrospec Amok is a flat-bar steel cyclocross bike, which I purchased online in March 2015. I bought it because I’d always wanted a ‘cross bike, and this one was available at a great price. The “flat bar road bike” thing was kind of intriguing, too. My thinking was that this could handle a bunch of duties — gravel bike, utility bike, light touring, even some mild singletrack.

Here are the specs for what Retrospec calls the Amok-9 UrbanCross Bike:

Frameset:

  • Hand-Built 4130 Chromoly Frame and Fork
  • Water Bottle Braze Ons
  • 130mm Rear Horizontal Drop Out with Hanger

Drivetrain:

  • microSHIFT 9 Speed Shifter
  • Forged Alloy Crank with 42T 3/32″ Chainring
  • 1/2×1/8″ Chain
  • Bottom Bracket: VP Sealed Cartridge 68×110.5mm
  • Nine-Speed 11/25 Shimano Cassette

Wheelset:

  • 700C Double Wall Stars Rims
  • Retrospec Sealed Bearing High Flange Hubs with Rear Cassette Hub
  • Kenda Small Block 8 Pro Cyclocross Tires, 700x35c

Components:

  • NECO  Headset
  • Front & Rear Promax Center Pull Cantilever Brakes
  • Promax 90mm Stem
  • Alloy Flat Sweepback Handlebars
  • Soft Rubber Grips
  • Alloy Seatpost, 26.4
  • KMC Z99 Chain
  • Chain Protector
  • VP Components 9/16″ Low Profile Platform Pedals
  • 28.6mm Seat Clamp

I ran the bike pretty much stock to begin with. I did change the grips, add bar-ends, change the saddle and pedals. Added bags and lights and accessories, of course.

In summer 2015, I took the bike on a self-supported 1000-mile tour. The bike performed well, with the exception of gearing — 1×9 just wasn’t enough for loaded touring in hilly areas.

It’s been a really good bike for me. I’m ambivalent about the flat bars; thinking of swapping them over to drops. The tires are limited to about 42mm; wider would have been nicer. Other than that, it’s been a solid performer.

Retrospec Amok Stats

  • Mileage: ~10,200 miles
  • Eddington Miles: 51 miles
  • Eddington Minutes: 120 minutes

Stats thru the end of 2018

Retrospec Amok Photos