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Rob Warner was pushing the Cube rumours again today but then he is a massive wind up merchant.
Will Danny fit a floating brake arm to the 22-whatever-it's-called-now?
Or will Orange design a bike fit for the 21st century?
Or will Orange design a bike fit for the 21st century?
Out of 20th century materials...
I think there's a fair few alloy bikes on the race scene. In fact, doesn't Gwin race an alloy bike?
The timing of the announcement is perfect too, Tuesday after the last race, time for Danny to drive his motor home back up north and rip any stickers off it!
In fact, doesn’t Gwin race an alloy bike?
Only while it's a prototype. Gwin and Neko are both riding slightly different bikes but I'm sure the production version of whatever they settle on will be plastic.
Some other teams have gone back to alloy with the riders claiming they prefer the feel like Spesh and Mondraker.
Frame material would be the least of my concerns with an Orange. Almost every other DH bike on the market is more desirable.
I have to admit that what I saw today it looked like Danny had almost given up in the same way Vettal has
He's not gonna be going to Orange. Really.
I dunno if it's fair to say he's given up, but he seems to be lacking a bit of his usual sharpness on the bike.
But then so do a few other big riders.
Hope he clicks with the Cube and that he can come back next year and give Matt walker a run for his money as top UK rider.
If the deal is already done for next year he’s likely in the mindset of ‘why risk smashing yourself up for a team that’s just shat on you?’.
I guess others would have gone the other way and tried to win to stick 2 fingers up at the team.
Really can’t see him going to Orange. You’re only allowed 32kg for a bike on a flight so he’d be unable to race half the rounds.
Genuine question, but is there any reason Orange couldn't produce a world class DH bike? I mean, I know their bike line up looks the same and it's part of their 'thing' to stick with the single pivot, but they've done linkage bikes before.
So is it basically impossible for Orange to do anything different due to manufacturing processes and a stated commitment to in-house etc, or could they go all Hope HB on something?
They could but it would be the equivalent of Morgan building a rival for the Gordon Murray T50.
I can’t see him going to orange. Why would you want to race a bike that locks its rear Suspension as soon as you use the brake
If the deal is already done for next year he’s likely in the mindset of ‘why risk smashing yourself up for a team that’s just shat on you?’.
Because he’s a professional rider being paid to do a job.
Lots of us have been crapped on by our management but are still professional enough to get on with the job in hand.
Why would you want to race a bike that locks its rear Suspension as soon as you use the brake
Is that not the way round in this thing? You brake, you lose. Simple as... 😉
Cheers!
I.
Why would you want to race a bike that locks its rear Suspension as soon as you use the brake
I suggested that Oranges do this on another thread a while ago and I was quickly informed that I was full of shit or couldn't ride a bike properly, or both, by about a dozen Orange owners. I didn't mention that I'd owned 3 of them myself and had just borrowed the current model Five for a weekend.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Danny on one. We might not like the bike but they're not about to write any of us a fat cheque to ride it. I'd ride anything if it came with a garage full of free bikes and a 6 figure pay day.
If the deal is already done for next year he’s likely in the mindset of ‘why risk smashing yourself up for a team that’s just shat on you?’.
He's a well paid professional athlete still under contract to do a job. He also has a new team to impress and convince they have made the right decision.
The braking issue is only half of it. One of their employees used to race DH (might still do) and was happily informing people that it performed better with the chain off 🙂
You can also safely assume that any rider with Danny's clout will have some pretty spicy win bonuses written into their contract that will still very much apply whether he's staying or leaving at the end of the season.
The commencal is also a single pivot, doesn’t appear to hinder the riders on it.
Idler wheel is the latest fashion, Orange would be in a better position than most to change the frame
with Danny’s clout
Does he have actual "clout" though? While I'm sure he probably earns enough that he doesn't have to worry about the grocery bill, and a healthy social media following; there's a very obvious "changing of the guard" going on in men's DH right now, and he's at the wrong end of the age and cost bracket. There was 3 non sponsored riders in the top 20 in the the last race, and the Saracen no.2 rider came second and leads the overall. For all his riding skill, and even if he wasn't changing teams, hand on heart would anyone have bet money on Danny be overall leader right now? And Walker rides a stock frame, and doesn't seem to need, or want, the floating brake arm (which the addition of, couldn't have made the designers at Saracen particularly happy)
Why, if you are a bike manufacturer would you hire Danny when you get his Dad thrown into the bargain at no extra cost? No thanks, I'd rather have Thibalt, or Finn, or Benoit, or Jamie...
The braking issue is only half of it. One of their employees used to race DH (might still do) and was happily informing people that it performed better with the chain off 🙂
Most bikes do I think.
I don’t think that run of chain snaps out of the gate after it happened or Gwin were all accidents.
I know mine is slightly plusher with the clutch off.
Indeed, but the chain growth on a 22X was always a bit more special than most
suggested that Oranges do this on another thread a while ago and I was quickly informed that I was full of shit or couldn’t ride a bike properly, or both, by about a dozen Orange owners. I didn’t mention that I’d owned 3 of them myself and had just borrowed the current model Five for a weekend.
me too. Haven’t dared own a single pivot design since as I don’t know if that’s intrinsic to all single pivots or just oranges
I dont think Danny is the sort to back off but it cant be an environment that is going to get the best out of him at the moment although on results alone at the moment Saracen look to of made a pretty good decision .
One of their employees used to race DH (might still do) and was happily informing people that it performed better with the chain off
My Stage 6 feels amazing with the chain off, I once did an afternoon of chainless runs at Gwydir when I had freehub issues. Definitely felt plusher and less hang-uppy than usual. And it doesn't hang up on stuff much anyway.
Haven't tried any other bikes chainless to such an extent, maybe I should though.
I wonder how much the Orange stiffening-under-braking thing would really bother a WC racer, as they're riding with a level of commitment (and a lack of braking) that the rest of us can only dream of.
I wonder how much the Orange stiffening-under-braking thing would really bother a WC racer, as they’re riding with a level of commitment (and a lack of braking) that the rest of us can only dream of.
True. Lots of riders go incredibly fast on Orange bikes and always have done. The reason we're talking about it here is because Danny had something engineered to isolate his rear brake from the swingarm on his Saracen so it's clearly something that he's given some thought to.
But he's not going to Orange.
He's going to Cube.
The reason we’re talking about it here is because Danny had something engineered to isolate his rear brake from the swingarm on his Saracen so it’s clearly something that he’s given some thought to.
Well he can unbolt it from his Saracen and bolt it on his orange. The future’s bright.
But he’s not going to Orange.
He’s going to Cube.
Just for the record I'm aware of all the rumours, I just don't care what he rides next year.
I thought he was stepping back to run a hotel in Walkerburn???
I'd say it's more likely (and the internets will explode when it happens) that orange is going to announce something like a high pivot enduro bike, they're due a flirt with something other than single pivots. More likely Danny is off to cube - Phil A seems rejuvenated so maybe theres a change up a gear for cube DH on the horizon.
Phil A seems rejuvenated so maybe theres a change up a gear for cube DH on the horizon.
He does seem to have a new lease of life.
They've got a new DH bike I believe, which bodes well for Danny next year.
He can stick that floating brake arm on eBay instead.
An idler seems like a logical thing for Orange to try, surprised there aren't some bodged ones about.
Orange are saying the new bike is the lightest one they’ve ever done, it’s also proper tubes. Don’t think it’s gone to be DH or ENDUROOOO
Edit:
Kid balance bike is actually a good call, lightweight, and for the future riders!
Top trolling by the PR guys if so too!
Looks like a balance bike - earlier post showed a head tube in same colour (and poor finish) which looked like a straight inch and an eighth head tube.
In the "future's bright" post - alluding to kids rather than backing up Danny's comment.
Why would a balance bike have cable guides?
Why would a balance bike have cable guides?
Rear brake?
In the “future’s bright” post – alluding to kids rather than backing up Danny’s comment.
Very likely, I wonder if Orange were even aware of the speculation about Danny.
And Christmas is coming soon.
Danny does have a nipper though...
Orange are saying the new bike is the lightest one they’ve ever done,
Which in a sea full of boat anchors is hardly going to be difficult is it , there hasn’t been a light orange since the early 90s
TO be fair, Orange have been putting a lot of effort into weight loss recently. And it's purely coincidental they they keep cracking.
Dunno, the mid 2000's E6/8 and 2012 Elite were decent, light XC bikes, as was the Vitamin T re-issue.
I think they might plan to declare anything that's lighter to have just not been a production bike
Floating brakes on Orange are nothing new. The global team played with them back in the day, mounted behind the BB.
It's clear in this photo:
Look just behind the chain on this one:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=156012
I had a floating brake on my 223 in 2004. that was a heavy beast!
I wonder if Cove will be on the phone soon 😉