In the market for an ultra-lightweight hardtail designed for UK conditions? Then check out this 10lb Orange mountain bike, if you can fit on it.
Orange bikes have released their most lightweight mountain bike to date, and at just 10lbs it’s significantly lighter than most of the UK designed hardtails we see launch each Autumn. Then again, this isn’t your typical Orange, as the Peeler has no brakes, no suspension and no gears, it doesn’t even have pedals!
That’s right, the Peeler is Orange’s first-ever balance bike and as well as being light it’s also the most affordable Orange at just £150 which is sure to make it popular in the play area.
Orange makes a bunch of child-specific bikes all featuring neatly welded alloy frames, and the Peeler is no different. The slender little Peeler has a nice low standover for little riders to feel confident on and once toddlers are happy to balance, there are small grip covered platforms for their feet.
Good looking and well thought out balance bikes are nothing new, but the Orange Peeler does trump most with a few standout features that mountain biking mums and dads will greatly appreciate. First up is the Orange Strange branded saddle with integrated carry handle, this might not sound like a big deal but anyone with young kids will tell you that most ‘rides’ result in more carrying than biking.
Once your little rider has the confidence to balance and roll then you’ll be able to upgrade the Peeler with a rear disc brake. Both wheels are built using disc hubs and the front and rear wheels can be swapped around, but only the rear of the frame has disc brake tabs.
But what about the geometry? Is the Peeler long and slack enough? Well, I can’t be certain of that but I can tell you that the reach is 180mm, the head tube angle is 69-degrees while the seat angle is 71.8 degrees. Orange will only offer the Peeler in one size with 12in wheels, but riders can choose from either Orange Soda or Back to the Fuchsia for the colour.
For more details head on over to the Orange website, or get in touch with your local Orange dealer to see one in the flesh.
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thats got to be the lightest fat bike.
I once did a national student XC champs… about 28 years ago… and it was so wet and muddy… and slow… spinning and slogging and sliding out… That we figured a good cross country runner with a kids bike lashed to camelbak could of won the race.
Am I alone in thinking disc brakes on balance bikes are a idiotic idea? Seems unnecessarily finger slicey.
@timmys my daughter still has all of her fingers after riding a balance bike with a disc brake.
Echoing Charlie, there’s been some StrathPuffers where I reckon I would get more laps running carrying a bike – looks like Orange have made one for the job. 🙂
@timmys , yes you are the only one thinking that. They will be flying about at 5 mph if they are lucky and whats the chances of sticking their wee fingers in the wheels.
Reach of 180mm with a 69* head angle? That’s not very modern. Not LLS enough for my kid.
That’s cool. Disc brake, aside it looks like a Hotwalk…but I guess there isn’t much room for expression on a balance bike 😉
Disc brake (or a hydro rim brake) makes sense on balance bike. Need a light lever and lots of power due to not a lot of hand strength
The Hotwalk is an awesome bike – our two had full use of the one we bought, and it’s been through three other toddlers too – currently residing in the attic for the next toddler and/or general misty eyed reminiscing over. But I think Orange has done one better.
The biggest confuser for our two when they went on to their next bikes was getting used to pedals *and* brakes at the same time – it took about an hour of concerted trying and toddler head-scratching. If we’d been able to put a brake on the Hotwalk once the children were used to balancing, it would have been a good next move to give them a brake to try out and get used to doing epic powerslides with.
“Disc brake (or a hydro rim brake) makes sense on balance bike. Need a light lever and lots of power due to not a lot of hand strength” exactly this, my lad can absolutely belt it on his pedal bike but doesn’t have the strength in his hands to properly drop anchor when he needs it with cable rim brakes and I’ve spent ages tuning them.
On the subject of racing with a bike on your back I seem to remember a guy racing SSWC at Durango with a tiny BMX on his back which he had made a special back pack for that held it by the handlebars with a quick release so he could ride it for the descents.
I’d love to know how to get hold of one for my nephew, they seem to be out of stock on Orange’s website, and unlisted on their retailers… Those big tyres on it look wicked!
I’m not sure a disc brake is actually needed to stop a balance bike. My little girl has a Wiggins Pau balance bike that has a rear v brake (tektro). The lever has basic reach adjust so I’ve set it close to the bar so she can reach it – she’s quite petite but has no problem locking the rear wheel for long skids (which she loves). I think it’s a good idea to get kids used to some kind of brake on a balance bike – hoping when she gets her pedal bike for Christmas at least she’s got some idea of what brakes are for / how to use them as she’ll suddenly be going faster than ever. Especially as she already puts her feet up and coasts quite a way on the Wiggins.