Orange Aluminium Elite

[D_XZ]

I've just stripped down my 1992 Orange Alu Elite. It's a gold anodised colour and looking a bit faded. I was hoping to re-paint it a matt black and turn it into a urban city bike with new forks and components. However, now I've actually stripped it I've noticed the tubing is thin and the headset is oversized (the opposite of new bikes), the seat post is oversize and is an Orange Stalk, the headset and stem are not Aheadset and the CQP crankset and bb was seized solid so we had to hacksaw it off. I need to know can I fit a modern pair of suspension forks, aheadset headset and stem and what size components will fit. Also a friend told me becasue it's anodised I can't paint it or re-spray it? Any help advice or suggestions would be greatly received.

Modern forks are much taller than 10 year old forks with the same amount of travel - and modern frames are adjusted to work with them. If you fit modern forks onto your Elite it will raise the front end and slacken the head angle. Basically your weight will get kicked more onto the back wheel making pedalling harder work, the front will have a lack of traction and steering will get sloppy.

 

[clockworkgazz]

great work boy o boy looking very nice, I know how much work goes into a shine like that


Bad news is- you need to repeat the process after just a few months :evil: Mine is pretty marked now but I'm not the best at cleaning my bikes after a ride, if you do I think the shine stays a while longer.

 

[christiankay]

Thanks

Thank you everyone for your great feedback - I'm so glad I joined retrobike. why can't you guys all live near me.

I'll post some pics of my frame as soon as my broadband connection allows me - but my frame is no way near as shiny as Boy O Boys - that's seriously well buffed.

 

[christiankay]

Pics?

If anybody knows the secret of uploading a normal photo to the forum please let me know.

All I get is file too big, if I resize it - it says BMP file not allowed

Boy O Boy how did you post those massive pics?

I have some nice photos ready to upload ...

 

[christiankay]

Pics?

If anybody knows the secret of uploading a normal photo to the forum please let me know.

All I get is file too big, if I resize it - it says BMP file not allowed

Boy O Boy how did you post those massive pics?

I have some nice photos ready to upload ...

 

[clockworkgazz]

get an account with photobucket and upload your photo's. Once they are uploaded you will see a link specificly for forums and websites then all you have to do is post the link in your message and hey presto super big pictures.

 

[christiankay]

Pics

Picture upload test ...

 

[clockworkgazz]

whooooooooo modern bike alert :twisted:

 

[christiankay]

Photobucket

oops sorry ... just a picture test

Thanks Gaz I've got myself a Photobucket account - I love it - but may take some time to master. So far I think I can post a URL link on here that will take people to my Photobucket album but now I've got to work out how to get a photo to this retrobike forum ... I can see upload icon links to Facebook and other stuff but not retrobike ...

God I hate being a computer failure more than being a bike maintenance failure!

 

[christiankay]

Orange frame pic link

Here is an external link to my Photobucket album - I've uploaded one photo of the frame with forks resting against a wall.

http://photobucket.com/christiankay

I think my picture resolution kb etc is way too big but my irfanview reduction tool converts to bmp files not jpg - once I've mastered Photobucket I should be able to post uplaod anything.