Moved up North recently and as much as I love my 2004 Orange Five it's pretty battered and I fancy something with a little more travel for the rocky stuff up here - I ride Lakes, Peaks and North Wales now.
The Five only has 130mm at the back and 140mm at the front. I like riding up as well as down so don't want some downhill beast, prob something with 150mm F&R.
I'll be moving all the bits across from the Five.
Alternatively, since I've just bought a new road bike and am supposed to be saving money to buy a house, would a Fox shock make that much difference? I have a Manitou Swinger on there right now...
Any thoughts?
I have a Nicolai Helius CC. I think it's perfect for the Lakes; just enough travel to make it fast & fun but not too much to make it easy.
Trouble is, it's 140mm front and 130mm at the back...
Rachel
Stick with the 5 for the moment. Unless you get something light, you'll regret having to haul a big bike up the hills.
New shock, respray and a few new bits,
The Five is a great frame for up here. I loved mine when I lived in the Lakes. Very hard to beat. I ran fox float 32 then talas 36 up front and a Rp23 Pro Pedal rear. 36/22 front chainrings.
Give it a new lease of life.
There's so much variety of riding in all those areas there's no one ideal bike.
Stick with what you've got until you've made your mind up.