Re: what I got
soooo nice to see other peoples C-16's
a short story cut long:
I spent the 1st half of my 2nd student loan at GA Cycles in Southampton on an LX Orange C-16 that would have been in October 1996. I rode the shit out of that thing around Thetford Forrest (I was at UEA) and assorted bits of Norfolk and Suffolk - I even remember doing some races.
Took the thing home for the Easter Holiday and stacked it super hard on the South Downs snapping the top tube at the weld with the steerer tube and folding the down tube in two places - the amazing rigid forks didn't budge a millimetre and the front wheel stayed pretty much in true!!
So I sent the whole thing back to a really nice guy at Orange called something Sunderland (Graham maybe?) who, quick as a flash sent the stripped bike components and a brand spanking new 1997 C-16r frame (in silver) down to Gary at GA cycles who was to build the bike up and give it to me at no cost.
I have told everyone that will listen this story about how great orange are and how they reacted when I had my accident.
so through the years I went lightweight with an aheadset conversion so that it could take the pace rigid carbon RC-31 forks. Whilst lighter than a feather it shook my wrists so much I could only ride for 5 hours before my hands just didn't work anymore. Upgrade then to a set of Marzocchi MCXCC forks which have been fine but do need a service every year to keep sweet.
I've upgraded with a new drivetrain (XT), installed XT V-brakes and assorted shiny bits of Crank bros, hope and syncros here and there.
So now it looks a little tired, I'm a bit heavier and spend a lot of time on my road bike. But, and this is the big but - the frame is still as mint as the day I got it so am going for another new drivetrain (its been at least 10 years since the last one) and a new wheel set before setting off this summer to do the British Heart Foundation 100 mile off road ride down the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne.
I'll take some photos in the sunshine and pop them up here.
bit of an appearance thing - during this next refit - I'm going to get the frame taken back and powdercoated. Do I keep it traditional or do I have a spanking and awesome colour like process blue or distress orange, I work for a graphics company so sorting new decals is not a problem.