Orbea have steered clear of fitting the new Orca Aero with a fully integrated one-piece cockpit, for very good reasons in our view. Id definitely want a custom paintjob as well, perhaps in Bristol South CC or BikeRadar kit colours. Already have an account with us? It's incredibly rapid, and will perform as well on the climbs as it does on open flats, making it an extremely versatile and capable choice. Pro tip: it's worth properly arranging everything inside to avoid any annoying rattles. The aero water bottle is clearly more aerodynamic than a standard water bottle, but its also a lot less convenient. The frame and fork are claimed to weigh 1,150 g and 430 g respectively. Orbea will be offering six models of the new Orca Aero, all of which feature the same OMX-level frame, fork, integrated headset, seatpost, stem and handlebar. If youre buying this bike with a view to doing time trials or triathlons, though, you might love the aero bottle more than I did. In a segment that is defined by speed and compliance rather than climbing prowess, can the Orbea Orca Aero find a place among the perennial favourites? Sign in now for faster checkout. Company Reg: 5987559. Despite being the fourth model down from the range-topping M10iLTD, the Orbea Orca Aero M20iLTD is handsomely appointed and built around a Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 groupset. This system uses a 1 1/8 in round steerer at the stem clamp which tapers to a 1 1/2 in size. Though it would be ideal for a short time trial or triathlon, for general road riding or racing its simply not as easy to use as standard round bottles, which is a deal-breaker for bunch riding. Instead, the company (rightfully) suggests that the customisable fit and ergonomic options earned by its two-piece cockpit trumps absolute aero gains. Unlike the bulk of Orbea's current range, the Orca Aero cuts an almost anonymous profile with very little in the way of branding. Simplon unveils 30-watts-faster Pride II aero bike and new bike fit system, Ribble Ultra SL R aero bike gets you home three minutes faster, 2021 Merida Reacto IV revealed: a fourth-generation aero bike. L-2449, Luxembourg. However, the rear edges of the heavily aero-profiled tops kept hitting my bony wrists when sprinting out of the saddle in the drops, while still covering the brake levers, which was painful and annoying. WORKSHOP/SERVICE: Our workshop/service department is open to callers Mon-Friday. It benefits from a rigid carbon layup and a whole host of aerodynamic details, alongside clearance for wider tyres, and boasting slick internal cable routing. His scales said 8.25kg a 0.6 per cent difference, and well within a reasonable margin of error. It is not allowed in UCI-governed races and while I realise this makes me sound snobbish, Im not a fan of how it looks. The Orca Aero has also received a few tweaks to the geometry, changes that will likely please the more serious (and flexible) racers. I think that would be about perfect for me, so, if anyone at Orbea headquarters is reading this and feeling exceptionally generous, dont hesitate to get in touch. Of course, using a tubeless tyre set-up will unlock extra comfort and traction, but a regular tyre and inner tube arrangement is very nearly just as good, provided you don't overinflate things. A rubber bar sheath is used to ensure cable hoses are secured and tucked away, I ditched the stock Prologo Dimension T4.0 for a Fizik Antares Versus Evo R3 Adaptive saddle, The flatter profile is more comfortable than the semi-downward tilted tip of the Prologo, Shimano's all-new 12-speed Ultegra R8100 Di2 groupset takes care of braking and shifting duties. Ecommerce and EPOS powered by Venditan. You tried too many passwords and now your account has been locked for the next 30 minutes. Too often (especially on a larger-sized bike), youll get a wide handlebar and long cranks neither of which is particularly conducive to an aerodynamically optimised bike fit with no option to change them. Sigma Sports 2022. Theyve grown a little in height and size versus the previous version, and as someone who often likes to hold the top of the hoods and hook a single finger under the brake lever, I appreciated the extra girth available. An additional cover to hide the cables under the stem can also be installed. GBP 9,599.00 RRP Its pretty simply really better ergonomics improves rider comfort, aerodynamics and control. To create your new password, click the link in the email and enter a new one. Slipping effortlessly through the air delivers that instant feedback of a world-class aero bike. The other feature well aligned with not wearing sleeves is the provided storage box designed to bolt to the bottom of the downtube and sit directly behind the front wheel. He's a competitive racer, Stravaholic, and Zwift enthusiast. We use cookies to give you the best customer experience possible. Personally, I dont think it does, but your mileage may vary. Braking with the new R9270 brakes and old R9100 rotors offers plenty of power, but they can still be noisy when wet or dirty. There are some bugbears and this surrounds the saddle and wheel choice, but pertain more to the latter if I'm honest. CyclingTips global tech editor, James Huang, already wrote an article speculating whats new here, and as it turns out, that speculation was spot on. a lender and offers finance from a restricted range of finance providers. published 11 April 22, A well-balanced and incredibly fast road bike that weighs more than it should. Here are the official details (but no test bike, this isnt a review). Reset using the link below. The Orbea Orca Aero Road Bike successfully combines the lively handling characteristics of a top-end road racing machine with the aerodynamic credentials you need for all-out speed. The rear edges of the tops on the Orbea OC3 handlebar tended to hit my wrists when using the drops, but the finishing kit is otherwise excellent-quality stuff. Bath This hunger for going faster and faster is an ongoing theme, and the Orca Aero makes light work of dismissing rolling hills. Orbeas all new OC Cockpit has been designed for a perfect balance of aerodynamics, stiffness to weight and ergonomics. Given the size of this disparity, I had BikeRadars friendly mechanic and product tester Will Pooleweigh it using his scales too, to double-check mine werent wrong. Before joining BikeRadar, Simon was a freelance writer and photographer, with work published on BikeRadar.com, Cyclingnews.com and in CyclingPlus magazine. Simon joined BikeRadar in 2020, but has been riding bikes all his life, and racing road and time trial bikes for over a decade. Finance provided by PayPal Credit and V12 Retail Finance, Terms and Conditions apply. The Cross Cartel Fastest Known Times (UK). And it's a pretty good combination if I'm honest. Which in turn means more speed, and for longer! For information on Cyclingnews' testing protocol and how our scoring system works, see our how we test page. BA1 1UA. The new R9720 shifters have gained a little girth and height. 9,999), All results have values between VAT No: GB409617585 The supple, 700x25c Vittoria Corsa TLR tyres spread out to just under 28mm wide (at 70 psi / 4.8 bar) on the Shimano C50TL wheels, and the bike never felt overly harsh, even on the poor-quality roads we have here in the South West of England. Mix of Shimano's Ultegra R8100 and Orbea's in-house components help balance things out, Super-fast once up to speed, with agile handling and a magic-carpet-like ride quality. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. In terms of design, it shares much of its DNA with the Ordu time trial bike upon which it's based, so it gets a similar horizontal top tube and shaping treatment around the headtube and downtube, as well as the in-house-developed aero bottle cage and frame storage system which fills the gap between the front wheel and down tube. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). This airfoil-shaped number is claimed to weigh 225 g (including hardware). Im splitting hairs, but I think the BMC Timemachine R01s solution of having aero bottle cages and a down tube design that manages the airflow around standard bottles is a better one for a road bike where, more often than not, youll probably be carrying two round bottles. Get a Snycros iS Couple bottle cage when you subscribe to Mountain Biking UK today! You can see more specific details and pricing of the new Orca Aero at Orbea.com. The Orbea Orca Aero is just sublime once up to speed; it cuts through the air with ease and holds momentum in much the same way as a time trial bike. All bikes brought in for service work MUST be left in a clean condition. Subjectively, it doesnt quite feel as rapid as the SystemSix, but thats one of the fastest road bikes Ive ever ridden, so I really am nitpicking. Orbea have worked hard to ensure that the new Orca Aero retains the beautifully balanced handling of its predecessor. Fortunately, if you dont get on with the shape of the handlebar, the Orca Aero uses a standard round, 31.8mm stem clamp, so youre not bound to it for life. The ride quality is well damped but doesn't come at the expense of feel and feedback. I didnt get on perfectly with the shape of the handlebar. Id be tempted to attribute this to the slightly shallower and narrower wheelset the Orbea has (the SystemSix comes with Cannondales progressive KNT 64 wheelset, which has 64mm deep and 32mm wide rims). In fact, I found the storage system pleasantly adequate when it came to housing my spare tube, CO2 canister, tyre levers and Allen key. i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-1{ color: #d8d8d8;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-1:hover { color: #d8d8d8;}. For example, my test bike came equipped with a 42cm wide handlebar and 172.5mm cranks, but were I parting with my own cash I could opt for a narrower, 36cm, 38cm or 40cm wide handlebar and different-length cranks. Not only does it offer greater adjustability than its integrated bar-stem rivals, it's also easily one of the best-value aero bike propositions currently available. Fortunately, both the aero water bottle and the down tube storage box are removable if you dont like them. Aligning the new Orcas frame with the airflow, optimising cross-sections, smoothing transitions and a myriad of other improvements mean a big reduction in drag. After one ride, then, I took it off and mounted two standard cages on the Orca Aero. In terms of visual branding, the Orbea Orca Aero is fairly anonymous. The stack figures are approximately 5 mm lower per frame size, while the bottom bracket has been lowered by 4 mm, too. UK residents only. The wheels are shod with 700x25c Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0 tubeless-ready tyres (though my test bike came set up with inner tubes), and the build is finished with a Prologo Dimension T4.0 saddle, plus an array of elegant carbon and aluminium finishing kit made by Orbea. It's not too pretty either, to be honest, but it is useful and can be completely removed if not to your taste. The hood ergonomics and offset between shifter paddles are the same, too - all of which promote an intuitive and familiar control interface. According to Orbea, it makes the bike a little more slippery too it essentially acts as a fairing, which is why its not UCI-legal with no discernible downsides (assuming you dont mind how it looks). The aero bottle cage and frame storage system didn't bother me much. Some of that can perhaps be attributed to a smart carbon layup and dropped seat stays, but tyre volume and a great saddle doubtless make a great difference in this area too. The MyO programme also offers a limited number of component options, but for individual tailoring or full bespoke builds please contact us here at Epic Cycles as we are able to offer virtually unlimited customisation options. Simon von Bromley is a senior technical writer for BikeRadar.com. The great majority of torsional and lateral loads are handled by the lower spine of the frame. FORK: Orbea Orca Aero OMX ICR, full carbon, 1-1/8 1,5 tappered head tube compatible, Thru axle 12x100mm, thread M12x2 P1, Speed release compatible dropout. With a level of adjustability similar to a standard road bike and customisation options galore, the Orca Aero is a bike I would genuinely love to own. MyO coloured bikes usually take slightly longer to arrive than a standard colour, for obvious reasons, but the result will be unique to you. Didn't receive the email? It's worth noting that the Orca Aero can accommodate tyres of up to 30c but has been optimised for 25-28mm. There is no better feeling. Rear shifts are as accurate and precise as ever, and the increased gear range is always welcome. Arguably more important for mere mortals outside of the pro peloton, is that speed doesnt come at the expense of ergonomics or adjustability. The new Dura-Ace groupset functions flawlessly, and Ill echo the impressions of my (former) colleague Matthew Loveridgeby saying the front shifting is even by the already lofty standards of Shimano front shifting phenomenal. Not only did this addition lift the aggressive nature of the overall package, it immediately transformed the character of the bike. It has a well thought-out design, which expertly balances practicality and speed. This makes fit adjustments very simple. My test bike is, per cycling industry Illuminati requirements, the top-spec model in the new Orca Aero range. Both are entirely optional, and only the aero bottle is UCI-legal, but considering how few people actually take part in UCI-sanctioned events, thats probably a moot point anyway. The aero bottle and a storage box may seem a little gimmicky at first glance, but the latter is genuinely useful even if the former was a slight miss for me. Something as deep as 50mm should be the minimum requirement and it's only the top two models in the Orca Aero range that follow this principle. And then theres a wholly new aero seatpost and of course a cockpit that hides the cables. While generic in appearance, the Orca Aero does at least benefit from a superb colourway (one of five hues specific to this derivative) which melds a metallic teal with raw, exposed carbon sections alongthe top tube and below the seatstay. No surprises here, the Basque-based company says this is the fastest aero road bike theyve ever created and claims a 15W improvement at a fairly modest 40km/ph versus the now five-year-old predecessor. The margins are very fine. The result is the bike you see here, the all-new Orbea Orca Aero. Carefully designing critical sections of the frame and optimizing the OMX carbon lay-up and cross-sections means class-leading stiffness to weight ratios. Out on the road, the Orbea Orca feels every bit the cutting-edge aero road bike that is, its very fast. Orbea has also adopted size-specific fork offsets, with a 48 mm offset featured on the three smaller frame sizes, a 43 mm offset fork on the four larger sizes. The quest to go faster for less energy has become a fundamental tenet of contemporary road bike design, with every manufacturer following the now de rigueur dropped seatstay and Kammtail tubing blueprint. While the range spans seven sizes, the geometry follows a somewhat different blueprint than the model it replaces. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. The new Orca Aero is not just about reduced aerodynamic drag its also about efficiency. And impressively theres no extra charge for many of the customisations related to fit and finish. Epic Cycles Ltd. Their clever semi-integrated design gives massive ergonomic gains with very little compromise. And the key to efficient pedalling is lower frame stiffness. While the top dog, the Orca Aero M10iLTD, offers a complete Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 group with matching wheels. You could shed some weight by converting to a tubeless setup (all youd need is tubeless valves and some tubeless sealant), which would decrease rolling resistance too, but this is never going to be a dedicated hill climb bike. Given the size medium Canyon Aeroad CFR I tested last year weighed almost a full kilo less than this, Id expect an equivalent version to still weigh a decent chunk less too. The new disc-only Orbea Orca is unquestionably a race bike with a key focus on aerodynamics and stiffness. to status. A wider tyre inflated to lower pressures can reduce rolling resistance and the added air volume dramatically increases compliance and traction. It only has a 500ml capacity too, despite taking up a fair chunk of real estate on the down tube. Subtle model designation references in gold help lift the visual package, Stock Vision 40 SC wheels are too shallow for a bike from this category. Simon also makes regular appearances on the BikeRadar Podcast and BikeRadars YouTube channel. Our test bike came stock from the factory with Vision 40 SC wheels - a great rolling stock option but way too shallow for a bike of this ilk. As such, it has the brand new Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset, plus the new Shimano R9270 C50TL wheelset and a set of 50mm deep, tubeless-ready carbon wheels. OrbeasMyO (MyOrbea) programme enables riders to personalize their bikes to an extent that is unique in the bike industry. The build also includes two extra aero-focused parts borrowed from the Ordu TT/triathlon bike; an aero bottle cage and bottle, and an aero storage box underneath the down tube. Meanwhile, the 408 mm length chainstays now match the previous rim brake model, while even shorter wheelbase figures are said to add more responsiveness. Both the chainstays and top tube now sit horizontally to the wind, with the former swooping up to the dropouts. 8.25kg (57cm) With aero bottle and downtube storage box, Vittoria Corsa Competition G2.0 TLR, 700x25c, Shimano XTR M9100 / Dura-Ace chain 12-speed. Orbea states that frame stiffness is much the same as before (which means its stiff), but interestingly the vertical frame stiffness (aka compliance) is said to be a little softer. |, Bike_radar, br_bikes, br_bikesRoadAndAllNonMTB, f/d/6/b/fd6b2542aea0d7fa1fe77f77c109531ae5e559ae_20211020_SB_5DSR_MG_4345.jpg, Feels fast; adjustable; excellent specification; confident handling; smooth ride quality; customisation options, Heavier than the competition; wrist clearance on the drops could be improved. None of this matters if a bike handles badly going fast isnt just a by product of good aerodynamics and efficient power transfer, it requires precise control over the bike. I found the stock Prologo Dimension T4.0 saddle a bit uncomfortable owing to the semi-downward tilt of the tip and traded it for a flatter-profiled Fizik Antares Versus Evo R3 Adaptive, which improved things greatly. Swapping out the standard Vision 40 SCs for something more suited to the frame architecture - the Metron SL 60s in this instance - further improves the rate at which it heads for the horizon. We've sent you an email to reset your password. James Huang described the previous model as distinctly chattery, and so this likely subtle softening should be a positive improvement. Orbea has taken things one step further in the pursuit of speed by combining elements of two of its foremost product offerings - the Orca road and Ordu time trial bike. Select the store you visit most frequently below and their stock information will show on product pages. V12 Retail Finance is a trading name of Secure Trust Bank PLC. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal Perhaps the most intriguing part of the new Orca Aero is Orbeas decision to not use a one-piece cockpit. Thankfully its easy to remove from the bike. The Orca Aero uses a standard, 31.8mm stem clamp, meaning you can use any standard road handlebar you like, if you prefer. The updated Dura-Ace R9200 Di2 front derailleur has shrunk a little in size but is impressively powerful. Customisation like this is likely to increase the lead time for getting your bike delivered, but, incredibly, it doesnt come at any extra cost (unless you opt for component upgrades along the way, of course). Company No: 04842265 Thanks! Of course, weight isn't the only benchmark for performance in this segment but a sub-8kg build has become an expectation rather than a consideration. That said, the Orca Aero is an incredibly stiff-yet-compliant machine. Hes twice ridden the Cape Epic, completed the Haute Route Alps, and represented South Africa in the 2022 Zwift eSports World Championships. Prior to joining the Cyclingnews team, his experience spanned a stint as Gear & Digital editor of Bicycling magazine, as well as a time at TopCar as Associate Editor. FORK: Orbea Orca Aero OMX ICR, full carbon, 1-1/8 1,5 tappered head tube compatible, Thru axle 12x100mm, thread M12x2 P1, Speed release compatible dropout. Impressive considering the stiffness of the frame, At 8.57kg, the Orca Aero is one of the heavier players in its class. |, USD $9,999.00 Ill accept the increased mass is likely to be a sticking point for some, especially at this price point, but the Orca Aero is a bike that doesnt feel heavy on the road, and physics suggests it doesnt make much difference against the clock either. The company has strengthened the areas that matter most in this regard - the lower spine of the frame where torsional and lateral loads are at their greatest. All Orca Aero models are available with a fully custom coloured frameset at no extra cost painted and assembled entirely at Orbeas headquarters in Mallabia, in the heart of the Basque Country. That 8.3kg is 700g more than the 7.6kg weight Orbea claimed in its press materials for this model. The aero section could taper down towards the drops a bit earlier, as it does on the Felt ARs Devox carbon aero handlebar, to improve wrist clearance. TYRE CLEARANCE the Orca Aero has clearance for 30c tyres. Aaron was the Tech Editor Cyclingnews between July 2019 and June 2022. I was less enamoured with the aero bottle. The new Orbea Orca Aero M10iLTD is the latest pro-spec aero race bike from the Basque brand. Credit subject Complete bike prices range from US$4,499 / 3,999 / 3.999all the way up to 9.599 / US$9,999 / 9,599. Compared to the competition, though, thats still around 350g heavier than the size 58cm Cannondale SystemSix I tested earlier this year, which, as already mentioned, has deeper, wider wheels.

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