Orange C16R - Replace or Upgrade?
edgriffiths
Posts: 2
I'm back in the saddle after ten years out and have been bitten by the bug again!! Got my old rigid Orange back from the shop following a rebuild and am now feeling the effects of yesterday's ten mile ride!!
The bike felt brilliant and I want to keep it rather than shell out for a more up to date one. Having had a good look round the forum and a few shop websites, there seem to be quite a few areas to look at...
1. Forks - the Orange F7 rigid forks are pretty good but I think some front shocks are in order. Will the old frame geometry restrict the type of fork I could replace them with?
2. Brakes - I've got old cantilever brakes on it - on a couple of descents they felt pretty unresponsive!! Is it possible to upgrade to disc brakes on a machine of this age - if so, what sort of cost are we looking at?
3. Stem - when I used to ride, I was never particularly good at getting the bike in the air - yesterday I felt quite overstretched and low down. It's a 21" and I'm 6'3" with an inside leg of 35" - what sort of stem length/rise would improve this? Or do I just need to get some upper body strength?!! I realise it might help to measure the current one - I'll check the length when I go out to the bike tomorrow...
4. Bars - similarly, the bike has a flat bar on it - would I get more control and response out of a bar with a sweep?
I think that's it for now unless anyone can think of any other areas that things could be improved? Or is it a case of writing off this relic and getting something completely up to date and new?
First post of many methinks!!
The bike felt brilliant and I want to keep it rather than shell out for a more up to date one. Having had a good look round the forum and a few shop websites, there seem to be quite a few areas to look at...
1. Forks - the Orange F7 rigid forks are pretty good but I think some front shocks are in order. Will the old frame geometry restrict the type of fork I could replace them with?
2. Brakes - I've got old cantilever brakes on it - on a couple of descents they felt pretty unresponsive!! Is it possible to upgrade to disc brakes on a machine of this age - if so, what sort of cost are we looking at?
3. Stem - when I used to ride, I was never particularly good at getting the bike in the air - yesterday I felt quite overstretched and low down. It's a 21" and I'm 6'3" with an inside leg of 35" - what sort of stem length/rise would improve this? Or do I just need to get some upper body strength?!! I realise it might help to measure the current one - I'll check the length when I go out to the bike tomorrow...
4. Bars - similarly, the bike has a flat bar on it - would I get more control and response out of a bar with a sweep?
I think that's it for now unless anyone can think of any other areas that things could be improved? Or is it a case of writing off this relic and getting something completely up to date and new?
First post of many methinks!!
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Comments
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Hi,
Was a nice steel rigid in its day, still is, but the fittings are dated.
1) The frame should be ok with 80mm forks, max. 60mm wouldl be better. What headset do you have? Is it for 1 inch threaded forks? That will restrict choicce heavily.
2) Cant put a disc on this frame, no mounts. Would need new wheels too! Could with a new fork though, just for the front.
3 and 4) The bars closer to you would quicken the steering and of course reduce stretch, Wider bars are a bit less twitchy. For now I'd just get a riser bar, which will have more sweep. See how you get on.
As for new bike, well, its an option! 400 quid will get you an alu framed bike with 100mm damped fork, hydrauilic discs and 24 gears with sealed bearings... Could always keep the Orange as a back up.0
