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a11y
In the end I found a used-but-new Nicolai Saturn 14 frame instead for less which I preferred (on paper at least) the geometry of.
Damn, would love one of those. Although swapping the 51 offset 140mm 34 on my G13 for a short offset 150 Lyrik has just transformed the bike. Not sure if it's just a better fork, or the higher front/shorter offset is helping it, but I'm enjoying the bike so much more. I just like the Saturn 'cos it's prettier.
The annoying thing is that I know you’re right @chakaping and I’d probably regret not getting a Stage 4 (in this entirely fictional situation where a Starling comes up at the right price), they’re just so bloody gorgeous!
I jest - this’ll be the most I’ve dropped on a bike (in one hit anyway) so want to make sure it’s right, not just that it looks sexy - although that does help!
I would love a Starling too - for the ride feel and the stunning looks.
Get a large and drop me a line if things don't work out.
😉
So, news:
Stage 4 out of budget, no matter which way I cut it. Spoke to Starling but supply issues and overall build cost put pay to that too - and while there was a lovely Swoop on Pinkbike I listened to the advice from @chakaping and stuck to my guns with Orange for my ‘fun over fast’ brief.
So, eBay came up trumps this morning and after a bit of negotiation I have now bought an Alpine Five (140mm 29er) frame and Cane Creek DB shock, which I think is going to be bang on for those weekly night rides in the woods. I’ll be building it up slowly over the winter but looking forward to getting stuck in.
TL;DR - listened to STW advice. Bought an Orange Alpine Five frame and shock. On the scrounge for parts!
Alpine Five (140mm 29er) frame
Hmm, just looking at the geometry and it's a good 50mm shorter on Reach than newer stuff - sorry, but I couldn't go back to that.
True, but I checked it against my Stooge Mk4 (446mm which is the limit of reach for me with a 35mm stem) and the Orange is 420mm so not miles different. Planning on running a 50mm stem.
I’m not the tallest chap so a short-ish medium is generally a good fit for me.
Is the Stooge a hardtail though? Hardtails get a longer reach when fork sag is taken into account - full suss bikes don’t as both ends sag.
420mm reach is really short - I’m 5’9 with longer legs and shorter arms - and my bike is a 457mm reach and I’m running a 50mm stem. Mine’s quite a modern seat tube angle so if anything mine feels good standing up and a little short sat down. I reckon I could go up to 465 - 470 reach and I’d be just about comfortable. I did have a bike with a 481mm reach and the at was a step too far - I found on flat high speed turns I struggled to get enough weight on the front wheel sometimes.
You might find as the Orange has a slack seat tube angle that it feels ok sitting down but a bit too short standing up.
The chainstays are showing as 455mm long ba the reach of 420mm. Bit bizarre unless Orange measure their chainstays from the actual pivot rather than from the bb.
Congrats firstly, but agree 420 is quite short not just now but even at the time the Alpine Five was new/current. I'm further up (literally) the height scale at 6'1 and recently changed both my frames and went from 470 to 535mm reach on one, and 475 to 519mm on the other, keeping same stem lengths. Noticeable changes but not unnatural feeling as other attributes changed too.
Damn, would love one of those. Although swapping the 51 offset 140mm 34 on my G13 for a short offset 150 Lyrik has just transformed the bike. Not sure if it’s just a better fork, or the higher front/shorter offset is helping it, but I’m enjoying the bike so much more. I just like the Saturn ‘cos it’s prettier.
@honourablegeorge,I barely need an excuse but it is indeed pretty:
@joebristol - it is but it's rigid so no sag to take into account. Let's see when it arrives and I can throw a test stem/bars on - the 2nd hand market seems pretty strong for Orange's especially, just hope it's not a false start!
I know sizing is a bit of moving target now in the MTB space, but with that being said, I just can't see how (at 5ft 6 and a bit) I would be on a large of any bike...
I know sizing is a bit of moving target now in the MTB space, but with that being said, I just can’t see how (at 5ft 6 and a bit) I would be on a large of any bike…
Wasn't saying you should be, but in every size that Orange is well short compared to my Flare Max.
abingham
True, but I checked it against my Stooge Mk4
Stooge is a bit of a unique shape though, not sure it's directly comparable to most other bikes
@a11y - that Saturn is lovely
It will at least give you an idea of what you like or don't like and help you when you come to buy your next bike.
Some great colours to choose now not just big standard gloss powder coats.
I guess we're all different. I look at the Orange web site and am disappointed that all those fancy colour options no longer exist. Where are the fun neon colours of yesteryear? There are basically only two colours on offer now, orange or blue. All the others are just shades of grey or brown and you couldn't pay me to ride something that dull. But clearly that's what the market wants and it saves me lusting over a new frame that I don't need.
roverpig
Where are the fun neon colours of yesteryear?
A lot of brands went that way - Transition and Snata cruz had years when they only did bikes in 1970s bathroom suite colours