Orange build underway....! - FINISHED!

miss notax

Hello

Well, my new bike is currently being built by my lovely friend.... A few problems getting everything to fit but I think it's almost there and should be ready next week!

I am a bit worried that I have messed up massively with the frame size though I got a 2007 Diva (female specific) frame which came in one size only in that year - 14" frame. I think in latter years it's been split into a long and short frame, but the 2007 frame size sits between those. Now I am only 5ft 4 and am pretty petite, and ride a small frame Superlight (17") on which I do feel a bit 'stretched' - so I thought that the Orange would seem to be a ok fit for me?

Apparently the new bike is tiny!!! I know i'll never know until I ride it, but am worried that a) i'll end up with a pimped up bike for extremely vertically challenged midgets, b) i've put my poor friend to all this effort for something that will be too small for me

Any (helpful!) thoughts would be appreciated! And here's a pic of it so far....

blister pus

laid back seat post and stem / bar finagling are the usual compensation tricks for an 'on the small side' frame. but if it really is too small then you're better off cutting your losses and recouping some money and starting again using the remainder of the parts left.

have to try it it first really, lookin' good so far though.

miss notax

I'm feeling a bit better about it now - have been re-reading some of the bumf on-line and I *think* it'll be ok (well, hopefully it'll be bloody amazing!)

The problem is that you can try other peoples bikes, demo bikes etc but when it comes to your own you can only take an educated guess and wait :?

I'll post proper pics when it's all done but i'm liking the look of it so far!

blister pus

Ideally you find the right sized bike for you and get the key geometry numbers down, like top tube length is pretty crucial, too long and you're stretched out too much, too short and you have the opposite problem. i knew the exact TT length that worked for me and worked around that number and stuck to it and everything else got narrowed down after and around that. worked out fine but still no substitute for sitting and trying, I reckon.

paul.skibum

A small superlight would be a 15" wouldnt it? I am 5'6" and ride a small Heckler which looks really small and short reach but I find it pretty comfy and the small size makes it very chuckable. Try it out - give it a good run and see how you feel - worse case the frame will sell for what you paid for it or there abouts and you pick up a small frame 5.

miss notax

Yeah, very true

Thanks for applying a bit of logic - I have no excuse other than i'm a girl and it's a slow-work-day, therefore I am occupying my time by panicking

miss notax

Got the bike yesterday, and here she is.....

Orange 5 frame
Fox Float 140 forks
Formula K24 Oro brakes
XT gears
SLX chainset

First ride tonight and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

The Rookie

Now you just need to change your Sig!

Enjoy.......

Simon

x-isle

Good choice! Not heard much about the Diva, be interested to know how it rides.

Have fun on your new steed, she'll keep you amused for years!

*AJ*

im 6 foot 2 and 16 stone and i ride a 15" bike, mainly for 4X BMX track, but its also my daily comuter, you'll get used to it! smaller bikes are great fun!

Trek820

Very nice

miss notax

Had my first 'proper' blast on the 5 last night and she is GORGEOUS! Rode over a particularly rocky / rooty / bumpy bit and the difference compared to the SL was amazing! I didn't notice any bad points - but doing our usual ride tonight and it will be interesting to see how she copes with the technical climbs (well - I think (hope!))!

Might look at changing the handlebars (Easton 50 high rise) to carbon bars, but plenty of time to worry about the finer details like that!

All in all I am VERY pleased

jay12

i don't really like it but it has a very good spec and as long as you like it, it's fine

The Northern Monkey

damn thats an odd colour! hehe.

Looks good though, glad you like it!
Could easily pass for a 2010/11 frame... they really haven't changed

miss notax

Awww, I like it!! :oops:

The Big Cheese

I *generally* do not like Orange frames, however I really like this one for some reason, lovely colour, cracking spec - you must be happy as larry with it!!! 8)

Dubzy

The Big Cheese wrote:

I you must be happy as larry with it!!! 8)

Hi, I'm Larry and I'm very happy.

Looks the business - lovin' the colour.