Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes??

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

I like them.

Never owned one except nearly in 1994 (the silver and turquoise clockwork).

I popped up there and did a feature on them a few months back, should you be interested (and you should ) you can read it in this month's Switchback magazine (available in bigger WH Smiths any day now.

preview here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=255304


There's even a little piece on Retrobike in there too.

G

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

I guess that in the end, what is really nice on this forum is that everyone has their own favourites, for whatever reason. And they are passionate about them too!
If we all liked only one brand of bike it would be rather boring!

Personally, I love Orange bikes, X1 included.

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

secret_squirrel":2mb7h5jt said:

Just sitting on my prestige makes me grin from ear to ear

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Even with the saddle?

Like Pace frames, Orange are mainly a Brit thing.

I don't reckon they are over rated, but like most things history is either kind or not, especially once people have used higher end bikes.

They were flexy?

Compared to what other light-ish steel bikes in the same price range of the era?

Now Kleins are definitely over rated!

The rep they have now is vastly exaggerated thanks to all the fan boys.

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

highlandsflyer":2nuja8d8 said:

secret_squirrel":2nuja8d8 said:

Just sitting on my prestige makes me grin from ear to ear

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Even with the saddle?

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Wouldn't know as mine was bought as frame and forks and quickly had a San Marco added. For me the supple flexy frame is part of the fun.

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

I love my 23 year old Clockwork. I bought the frame with nickel F7 forks all for £175 and built the bike up myself. It's tight, very responsive, and faster than most hipsters or roadies 'pootling' through London today. Some stop and stare like "WTF!" at this unfamiliar bike out smokin' them. I've been commuting an average of 165 miles per week on it for 2-3 years across 4 zones of London through most seasons. It gets me to the allotment and back at weekends with a rack on the back. And it can shred it up like a loon out in the hills and woods. It's survived 2 bad crashes, has no rust issues and is seemingly indestructible. For an old steel frame it's not heavy, and since being stripped and resprayed recently, seems even lighter. There might be slight niggles - it would be ideal with a long sloping top tube with modern seat tube clamping (particularly for a less obscure seat post diameter). There are other bikes. But I would hate to be parted from my old Orange. For some Orange riders from up North like me, the bikes may embody their Northerner roots. This might explain the irrational love for Orange Bikes.

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

groovyblueshed":qpkit0dq said:

I love my 23 year old Clockwork. It's tight, very responsive, and faster than most hipsters or roadies 'pootling' through London today. Some stop and stare like "WTF!" at this unfamiliar bike out smokin' them. I've been commuting an average of 165 miles per week on it for 2-3 years across 4 zones of London through most seasons. It gets me to the allotment and back at weekends with a rack on the back. And it can shred it up like a goodun out in the hills and woods. It's survived 2 bad crashes, has no rust issues and is seemingly indestructible. There might be slight niggles. There are other bikes. But I would hate to be parted from my old Orange. For some Orange riders from up North like me, the bikes may embody their Northerner roots. This might explain the irrational love for Orange Bikes.

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Just about sums it up for me. Could be improved slightly if they were across the border in Lancashire though;-)!

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

azaro":3a2o8kng said:

groovyblueshed":3a2o8kng said:

I love my 23 year old Clockwork. It's tight, very responsive, and faster than most hipsters or roadies 'pootling' through London today. Some stop and stare like "WTF!" at this unfamiliar bike out smokin' them. I've been commuting an average of 165 miles per week on it for 2-3 years across 4 zones of London through most seasons. It gets me to the allotment and back at weekends with a rack on the back. And it can shred it up like a goodun out in the hills and woods. It's survived 2 bad crashes, has no rust issues and is seemingly indestructible. There might be slight niggles. There are other bikes. But I would hate to be parted from my old Orange. For some Orange riders from up North like me, the bikes may embody their Northerner roots. This might explain the irrational love for Orange Bikes.

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Just about sums it up for me. Could be improved slightly if they were across the border in Lancashire though;-)!

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They did start off based in Cumbria didn't they?

In some ways, the modern On One's have a similar edge to them like early days Orange, because of the Northern element – perhaps...

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

I had a ~92 Prestige, it was damn light at the time (XTR, Alu forks etc.)
Very nice bike, but my '91 RM Altitude replaced it and there was a world of difference.

I then in ~1994/5 got a '92 clockwork. It worked, it was nice to commute on and doss around on.. It had horrible forks (them PACE rigids), the frame was solid but dead and altogether was shite offroad, not a patch on the Prestige I had.

Of course I was quite light back then (10 stone give or take 1/2 stone), very fit as well.

I guess it just didn't work for me at the time.

The best thing they did was sell pretty cheap frames and let you fit what you liked on it.

I must say the Alu-O is also pretty shite in the scheme of things.


It's the Early 90's version of On-One in my opinion (the style of company and setup)

They are both companies doing very well as far as I can see, which is not bad going for a UK company.

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

FluffyChicken":qwooz44r said:

I had a ~92 Prestige, it was damn light at the time (XTR, Alu forks etc.)
Very nice bike, but my '91 RM Altitude replaced it and there was a world of difference.

I then in ~1994/5 got a '92 clockwork. It worked, it was nice to commute on and doss around on.. It had horrible forks (them PACE rigids), the frame was solid but dead and altogether was shite offroad, not a patch on the Prestige I had.

Of course I was quite light back then (10 stone give or take 1/2 stone), very fit as well.

I guess it just didn't work for me at the time.

The best thing they did was sell pretty cheap frames and let you fit what you liked on it.

I must say the Alu-O is also pretty shite in the scheme of things.


It's the Early 90's version of On-One in my opinion (the style of company and setup)

They are both companies doing very well as far as I can see, which is not bad going for a UK company.

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Hey! On my old rigid "shite framed" Clockwork, I substantially out-smoked a modern Fat Scandal Inbred Rascal On-One (29er, front sus), on my long commute home last night. This was on a long badly maintained road through North London with speed humps, long gradients up and descents. Plus dodging maniac drivers. Not bad for an old clunker.

I agree on your opinion of On-Ones.

H

Re: Can't find it, But who said Oranges were overrated bikes

Pace -> Orange, only because Pace's are MUCH nicer looking frames imo.