So, like I say I’m a pensioner and I have a stock 2014 Orange Five 1 x 10 with an 11-36 cassette. I would love a new bike and would probably size up next time being 6’ 2” tall but I have looked after this one and it’s still in good nick. Anyway that’s all out of the question due to the expense. New bikes are actually more than I’ve ever spent on a car so I can’t get my head around that!!
At my age I’m starting to struggle on climbs and while I don’t mind the walk it would be nice to ride that but further.
I’m asking for help from those in the know as to how to go about making my bike last me that bit longer as I get older. What components do you suggest I change and in what order?
I know this community will be full of good ideas so I am open minded and will consider anything really.
Perhaps a good starting point would be a wide range 10 speed cassette from the likes of SunRace (they do a 10sp 11 to 46), and a suitable mech. Could be done for a reasonable outlay and would give you a much lower climbing gear without loosing the top end.
Yup
What he said.
I use a five, just with a 50 on the back lol. Climbs nae bother
You could pair the bigger cassette with a smaller chainring. A 30t front chainring will fit any crank, but if you have a SRAM or certain Race Face ones you can go even smaller. What have you got on there?
Sunrace cassettes are good but bear in mind if you go to a 46t biggest cog you may need a mech hanger extender to let the rear derailleur cope with the bigger sprocket. They're available on eBay for not much money.
(I am basis my comments on having a Patriot in the late 00s)
11-36 is not giving you a great range - also as a pensioner I ran a 11-50 (but just about to change down to 11-46)
You also don't say what size front chain ring you have - 32 would be a good point to start.
You will probably need a new chain as well as rear cassette - not only because of wear bit it will need to be longer.
10 speed ??
Not used this but this but it sounds ideal for you
This?
https://archive.orangebikes.co.uk/bike/2014/five_s/
You should be able to get a 30t chainring to go on the front, which will almost certainly be 104bcd. That will help a bit.
But that looks like a triple originally, so maybe you can do as I've done in the past (trip to the Alps with a lot of hills) and put a 28t on the granny tabs.
https://absoluteblack.cc/oval-104bcd-chainring.html
My 2015 Mk II five had a double up front but yeah no reason you couldn’t run 30 x 11-46 or something similar.
Yeah if you’re happy with most of the bike other than the climbing then more gear range should keep you pedalling longer uphill.
Component availability is the issue now - but assuming it wasn’t the cheapest route is probably sizing down the front chainring and getting a new chain (assuming the cassette isn’t horribly worn). Sram direct mount chainrings go down to 28t and the standard non direct mount ones go down to 30t I believe. On Shimano I don’t know 100% what the smallest chainrings you can fit are - I think it depends which variant of their cranks you have.
If that won’t get you what you need then new cassette time - you’ll have an HG freehub so assuming you don’t want to change that the smallest cog size is 11t you can fit on there. So an 11-46 / 11-60 cassette would fit with the correct derailleur / shifter.
Deore m5100 was a good option when I build my nephew’s new bike on a budget last summer - got the 11 speed mech and shifter and paired it with a Sunrace 11 speed cassette. I can’t remember now if it was 11-46 or 11-50 but I stuck a 30t chainring on the front I believe. Really decent range.
That Microshift advent stuff interested me but I couldn’t find it in stock anywhere so didn’t try it.
Great suggestions thank you all very much I suspect those who have mentioned availability may have a point it might be I have to wait a bit which is fine.
Offset bushes anyone?
Why not go back to 2x10 or even 3x10? It'll give you a much wider spread of gears with smaller gaps between each change.
If your bike is stock it should be easy enough as that's how it will have been set up in the first place. Only the 5 RS was 1x11 in 2014, the rest 3x10.
http://archive.orangebikes.co.uk/bike/2014/five_pro/
11spd rear mechs work with 10spd at least it did on my hardtail
My 2012 Orange Alpine rode really well with offset shock bushings (check out www.offsetshockbushings.com for cheap ones to try out. As good as the Burgtec Ti ones I put in there later on). Fit a 30 tooth chain ring as this is a really cheap way to make your gears easier.
The micro shift stuff is supposed to be pretty good and fitting a new chain and wider range cassette is also a cheapish way.
That generation of Five are still reall good bikes so don’t rush to sell it if you like it.
Why not go back to 2×10 or even 3×10?
Shimano 5120 derailleur and M4100 cassette would allow you to reach 11-46 without spending to much money
I changed my 2015 five from 2x10sp to 1x11sp with a sunrace 11-46 cassette.
Made a massive difference to climbs. If you can get a 11-50 cassette even better.
32t oval on the front on mine
As well as adding a bigger cassette and smaller chainring, this is a bit clunky but it looks like you could stick a 22 on the 64bcd inner as it was originally a triple and manually drop the chain. I’m on hols in the Pyrenees and I’ve used it a couple of times on really big climbs to take the pressure of my injured knee.
Changing the size of your chainring will change how your orange five pedals. I would guess that if you go smaller then you'll stiffen up the suspension when pedalling. You might see this as a good or bad thing. If you're happy with how your bike rides maybe change the cassette first. Even an 11-42 would be quite a bit easier.
So you still ride stuff that needs an Orange 5? If not then maybe swapping the frame for something with less travel or even a hardtail might be the route?
I've a 11-42 Shimano cassette in the garage somewhere. Something similar (pm me if you cant find stock, happy to flog you mine at cost) would give you 20% more range of your mech can still wrap round it