In times of the coronavirus pandemic, you don't really like to read about a wave anymore. However, a wave has been building up in cycling for a few months now and - according to all experts - will soon sweep across the market. We are talking about a new aero wave, which the UCI has triggered by changing the technical regulations and which, for example, includes the Simplon Pride II and the Storck Aerfast.4 (see TOUR 2/22) has already captured. The Orbea Orca Aero now extends this elite circle.
Orbea is organised as a cooperative
"This bike gives its all without hesitation, every day. Long live the road bike!" The way Orbea announced its new top model in autumn 2021 sounds a little pathetic. But Orbea, with its cooperative organisation, is no ordinary bike manufacturer. Around half of the company on the Atlantic coast of northern Spain is owned by its employees. This means that the presentation of a new top model can be a little more emotional. Nevertheless, the Orca Aero has to face up to the hard facts of the TOUR test.
Emotion meets technology
Above all, the question is: How does the proud Spaniard perform in the wind tunnel? The short answer: good. But nothing more. Because although Orbea claims to have spent "hundreds of hours" raising the bike to a new aero-dynamic level, the average speed of 45 km/h still requires 212 watts of pedalling power. The Orca Aero is therefore undoubtedly a fast bike, but misses out on the top ten fastest production bikes in the TOUR test. The result is also surprising because Orbea, like the manufacturers Simplon and Storck, has orientated itself to the new UCI regulations. The head tube in particular has been lengthened and is therefore at least formally up to date.
For the sake of completeness, we subjected the bike to the wind flow a second time: with the standard Aero bottle instead of the standard water bottle, which we normally use for all bikes, and with the down tube box, which is not approved by the UCI. This reduces the resistance by 3 watts to 209 watts, which puts the bike just behind the Canyon Aeroad CF SL 8 Disc, Pinarello Dogma F and Specialized S-Works Venge (all 208 watts) in our list of the best bikes.
The Orca also stands out from the top of the competition racers due to its rather high weight of 8.1 kilograms. The frame is well over the 1,000 gram mark, while the standard C50 wheels from Shimano are fast, but comparatively heavy at 2,841 grams.
Individually configurable
However, the Orca Aero scores again with its balanced riding position, relatively direct steering behaviour and considerable comfort. Another plus is the two-part handlebar/stem unit, which allows the aero handlebars to be adjusted in angle. In addition, the online configurator leaves almost nothing to be desired: The paintwork, wheels, stem length, handlebar width and power meter can all be customised.
In addition to the coronavirus pandemic, the new Orbea is also being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As the Spanish company announced, they have had to increase prices due to disrupted supply chains and rising raw material and transport costs. The M10iLTD we tested with Shimano's new Dura-Ace Di2 2x12 has become € 400 more expensive compared to the market launch, with the top model now costing € 9,999 - a lot of money for a relatively heavy and merely good aero bike. The cheapest way to ride the Orbea Orca starts with the M20LTD, which costs € 4,199 with Shimano's Ultegra components and 2x11 gearing.
Facts about the Orbea Orca Aero M10iLTD
- Price 9,999 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel 8.1 kilos
- Aerodynamics 212 watts
- Info www.orbea.com
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing* 1,307/454/74 grams / Frame sizes** 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 60 / Seat/top tube/head tube 550/565/149 mm / Stack/Reach/STR*** 558/394 mm/1.41 / Wheelbase/caster 990/54 mm
Features of the aero wheel
- Drive/Circuit Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (2x12, 52/36,11-30 t.)
- Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm)
- Wheels/tyres (weights) Shimano Dura-Ace C50/Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 25 mm (f/w 1,260/1,581 g)
*Weighed weights. **Manufacturer information Test size bold. ***
Stack/Reach Projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched sitting position, 1.60 means an upright sitting position.
More new bikes in the TOUR test:
Canyon Endurance CF 7 & Endurance 7 - Plenty of tyre clearance with an excellent price-performance ratio
Cube Agree C:62 SLT- sporty marathon bike, agile with average comfort
Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL - Racing bike with integrated battery light and radar
Trek Checkpoint SL 6 ETAP - Gravel bike with impressive comfort and a very sporty riding position
Julian Schultz
Editor
