Orange Clockwork 1998 - Rigid Fork Help

[Skinz]

I've just come into an Orange Clockwork frame (19"), which I'm planning to build up as a rigid. Having looked at loads of forks on the web, I'm a bit lost as to what length I should go for.

Pace RC31's look really ace and as my birthday is upcoming, I should be able to stretch to a set - it was looking at these, as they come in diff lengths, that my confusion started.

Has anyone got any experience of building up one of these frames as a rigid bike and what worked best for you?

Any help very much appreciated!

 

[Anthony]

Orange were quite slow to go over to suspension-adjusted geometry. I haven't got a picture of a rigid 98 Clockwork, but even if you look at this catalogue picture of a 1999 bike, that is a 39cm rigid fork (axle centre to base of steerer)

If you're staying rigid, I wouldn't recommend anything much longer than 39cm. But if you have to, the partial remedy is the longer the fork, the shorter the stem.

 

[brocklanders023]

Ooooo, did you win the green ebay one? Was in for that myself. Anthony knows his stuff so follow his advice.
I had Pace suspension forks in mind for the green frame and was told it'd take up to 80mm forks.

 

[Skinz]

Ooooo, did you win the green ebay one? Was in for that myself.

Yes indeedy. I had to constatntly keep watching the auction on my phone on Saturday as I don't have internet at home, which really annoyed my g/f, but hey it was worth it!

 

[Skinz]

Orange were quite slow to go over to suspension-adjusted geometry. I haven't got a picture of a rigid 98 Clockwork, but even if you look at this catalogue picture of a 1999 bike, that is a 39cm rigid fork (axle centre to base of steerer)

If you're staying rigid, I wouldn't recommend anything much longer than 39cm. But if you have to, the partial remedy is the longer the fork, the shorter the stem.

Thanks Anthony just the sort of advice I need!

I've not managed to find anything on fleabay less than 42mm, although I haven't looked very hard yet. The forks in that pic with the rear mounted brakes look ace....presumably that's an Orange specific fork that's probably rarer than hen's teeth now?

 

[Anthony]

The thing about Orange forks is that they had 1" steerers until 1997 I think, so I'm pretty sure you need a 1 1/8 for your 98 frame and most of the rigid Orange forks you see won't fit.

[you may be able to shim to a 1" headset in some way, but I personally have no knowledge of that]

I also have an idea that the reverse brake post fork in the picture was made of aluminium, even though the frame is steel. Again, I have no personal knowledge of whether their aluminium forks were good. But the previous steel forks were brilliant, so if the aluminium ones were better then .....

I think your best bet may be to find a period Pace rigid fork in 40cm length. They had replaceable steerers, so even if you find a 1" RC31, it has a 1" steerer plus shim in a 1 1/8 crown, so you should be able to swap steerers and fit a 1 1/8 steerer to it.

 

[Skinz]

I think your best bet may be to find a period Pace rigid fork in 40cm length. They had replaceable steerers, so even if you find a 1" RC31, it has a 1" steerer plus shim in a 1 1/8 crown, so you should be able to swap steerers and fit a 1 1/8 steerer to it.

OK - I'm officially on the lookout now.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[brocklanders023]

Think the forks in the pictures are Orange F8's so will be steel? Normal versions come up quite often but the reverse canti ones are pretty rare.

 

[stevet1]

I think your best bet may be to find a period Pace rigid fork in 40cm length. They had replaceable steerers, so even if you find a 1" RC31, it has a 1" steerer plus shim in a 1 1/8 crown, so you should be able to swap steerers and fit a 1 1/8 steerer to it.

Just to clarify - RC31's are the carbon leg forks and don't have replaceable steerers. Very few were made in 400mm length - most are 440 or 420.
RC30s are the steel legged forks which do have replaceable steerers and come in 395mm and 420mm versions.