Orange Clockwork Prototype

[sjcprojects]

I'm pretty sure this is a 98 Clockwork, based on the 'Clockwork' decal (ChatGPT is wrong about the blocky font being from 94/95). I used to have a blue one. They were only available in blue or green, so the yellow colour does point to it being a pre-production sample (meaning it could have actually been made in 97, I guess?).

 

[FluffyChicken]

I can imagine 97ish being about right, I might have had it around 2 years before moving away at the beginning of 1999.

But you couldn't have had that rear mech until the end of 1999.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I'm pretty sure this is a 98 Clockwork, based on the 'Clockwork' decal (ChatGPT is wrong about the blocky font being from 94/95). I used to have a blue one. They were only available in blue or green, so the yellow colour does point to it being a pre-production sample (meaning it could have actually been made in 97, I guess?).

View attachment 989856

It's a mixture of era, I did put the frame decals to model year 1998, rear mech to 2000, seat post to 1997 ...
It's great

 

[adyifauk]

But you couldn't have had that rear mech until the end of 1999.

I have been racking my brains trying to remember which year I got the bike, then realised - it is the year my company gave me a P reg 214 Rover.

We had to wait for the new reg to come out, which runs from August 1996 and I met the client shortly after this, so late 1996. I dont know anything about mechs/dates but it all the components (including the tyres) are original, it hasn't had any work done - just ridden and put in the garage - so maybe the picture of the rear mech is a bit misleading.

The chap at the bike shop showed me a 'new old stock' version, so I'll ask him for details.

Cheers

 

[adyifauk]

I'm pretty sure this is a 98 Clockwork, based on the 'Clockwork' decal (ChatGPT is wrong about the blocky font being from 94/95). I used to have a blue one. They were only available in blue or green, so the yellow colour does point to it being a pre-production sample (meaning it could have actually been made in 97, I guess?).

View attachment 989856

The designer said 'prototype' when he gave it to me. Does anyone know the name of the person who designed the bike? I'm tempted to track him down to show him the bike once it's done. My family still live in Halifax, so I do pop up every few months.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I have been racking my brains trying to remember which year I got the bike, then realised - it is the year my company gave me a P reg 214 Rover.

We had to wait for the new reg to come out, which runs from August 1996 and I met the client shortly after this, so late 1996. I dont know anything about mechs/dates but it all the components (including the tyres) are original, it hasn't had any work done - just ridden and put in the garage - so maybe the picture of the rear mech is a bit misleading.

The chap at the bike shop showed me a 'new old stock' version, so I'll ask him for details.

Cheers

As a history lesson, just for fun and info and to say it cannot have been earlier than later 1999 unless they had pre-release in mid 99 which seems unlikely as that mech has hardly been used at all.

The mech is an RD-M510 (it'll be stamped on the back).
The DEORE (no other name) groupset was new for the year 2000 dropping in just under Deore LX as part of the Mega-9 series (aka 9 speed setup)







Mega-9 itself was new for 1999 models, for the top range XTR, XT, LX (no Deore this year)

 

[adyifauk]

I'm completely stumped by this because it was on my bike when he gave it to me and I moved away in February 1999. It's never had any work done on it either, so it could not have been added afterwards etc because it hasn't seen daylight for over 26 years.

Totally see what you're saying with this though and wonder whether Orange managed to get hold of some earlier?

 

[jonnyboy666]

it was quite normal to see this, GT used to do it as well, the 9 speed mechs worked fine on the 8 speed gear set, it's normal for compaines to build a bike with most of one groupset and then fit the next model up rear mech, it gives the impression the bike is higher specced as most people judge a bikes spec from the rear mech.

 

[FluffyChicken]

it was quite normal to see this, GT used to do it as well, the 9 speed mechs worked fine on the 8 speed gear set, it's normal for compaines to build a bike with most of one groupset and then fit the next model up rear mech, it gives the impression the bike is higher specced as most people judge a bikes spec from the rear mech.

They where advertised as working fine in the documents.

That's not the problem here though.

It is how has a mech from a future time been fitted to the bike based on all the time lines provided (more intriguing than any else)

That's without checking the other components as we cannot see them.

@adyifauk If you do get to look, the Shimano parts have date stamps on them. Steerer might have a date on it as might the seatpost.
It might make the impossible even more impossible

 

[adyifauk]

They where advertised as working fine in the documents.

That's not the problem here though.

It is how has a mech from a future time been fitted to the bike based on all the time lines provided (more intriguing than any else)

That's without checking the other components as we cannot see them.

@adyifauk If you do get to look, the Shimano parts have date stamps on them. Steerer might have a date on it as might the seatpost.
It might make the impossible even more impossible

Hi, do you know whereabouts the date will be stamped on the Shimano bit and the seat post? I'll have a look and let you know.

Cheers