The all new Orbea ORCA bronze is one of the most widely anticipated models ever released by Orbea.  It combines the great looks and sharp handling of the ORCA Gold and Silver, with a ride that is smoother, a frame that is more durable, and a price that is thousands less than its big brother.

How do they pull this off?  It’s done with the use of the Orbea’s Bronze Grade Carbon Fiber. This is an Intermediate modulus fiber, as opposed to the ultra High Modulus found in the gold bike, which provides more elasticity and durability. The result is a ride that is smooth and durable.

The great ride comes from that same technologies deployed in the Orca’s Bronzes’ Big Brothers:

Monocoque Contruction: The tension is optimally distributed over the entire structure, there are no seals and no joints and critical areas are therefore minimized. This means your frame will stand up to the toughest use, and the structure will not lose any of its characteristics, however far you ride it.

Monocoque Technology assures the perfect fusion of the composite materials, not only on the visible external layers but also internally, thus preventing any loss of performance caused by fatigue at the joints, which is not the case for the more traditional, cheaper type of frame construction. The paintwork remains intact as there are no joints. It is a solid, one-piece structure, it is not made up of separate parts joined together… do you need any more reasons for choosing an Orbea monocoque frame?

AIZonE by Orbea: The Aizone Project (Aerodynamic Investigation Zone) developed in the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel, has enabled Orbea to achieve extensive knowledge on aerodynamics. Thus, on the new Orca we have optimized the aerodynamics by 14%. I.e., we have reduced the drag or frictional surface, achieving a faster and more stable bike.

Size Specific Nerve (SSN) Technology: Each bike size is designed individually, optimizing the frame structure according to the stiffness ratio and the cyclist’s body mass. The result is six individually-designed frames, 100% exclusive and perfectly balanced.

It all adds up to a great looking, light weight smooth riding bike at a great price. The Orbea ORCA Bronze, this is your next bike.

1847. That was 164 years ago. The Orbea brothers from the Basque region of Spain began a tubing fabrication company that serviced, among others, the arms industry. That same year Samuel Colt sold the first revolver pistol to the U.S. government. A city in California named Yerba Buena is renamed “San Francisco” and the Mexican-American war is raging. It is also the year the United States issued its first postage stamps.

When you consider the historic benchmarks of 1847 you begin to understand how significant Orbea is. It is that history, that experience, which helps establish Orbea as an authentic brand. It’s something that Trek, Specialized, Giant and the other companies can’t claim for another century.

“Trek, Specialized and Giant can’t claim the authenticity of Orbea.”

Few regions could have supported a racing bicycle company in 1930, when Orbea began using their advanced metal tubesets to build bicycles. But the Basque region of Spain is different. Basque cyclists are individuals, often on the fringe of society. It’s likely the Basques and the founders of Orbea began the current cycling ethos of fierce independence and the bicycle epitomized that. One person, one bike against the mountains and elements of Basque Pyrenees. That is the origin of Orbea. A society where cyclists are revered alongside saints, and cycling a metaphor for life’s struggles.

While Orbea’s history is remarkable the more remarkable thing is that they have prospered. Today Orbea is a part of the largest collective on earth, the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation. This organization is owned by its employees- in equal shares from CEO’s to sanitation workers. Mondragon controls enterprises in retail, banking, automotive, defense and education. The direction and decision making within the collective rely on the input of the workers. It seems like an odd paradox: a culture that reveres independence but embraces a level of cooperation unprecedented anywhere in global business.

Historical legacy and competitive success aside Orbea makes valid bikes. Orbea models are developed and tested for up to two year before release, with competitive models used by their professional cycling teams and top pro triathletes.

Like all brands it has not always been smooth sailing. A recent sponsorship change with Ford Ironman World Champion and 70.3 Champion Craig Alexander raised eyebrows. Alexander won the Ford Ironman World Championships in 2009 on an Orbea, but then switched brands for his 2011 win. Alexander’s position changed conspicuously on his new bike after Orbea, an acknowledgment that Orbea’s primary legacy- and allegiance- is with the road cyclist.

Orbea has alluded to the introduction of a new triathlon specific model for 2012 or 13 rumored to have a steeper, more run-transition friendly geometry. Orbea’s previous models are strong choices for riders with long femur bones who like to sit at relaxed seat tube angles. Other triathlon specific brands like Quintana Roo favor a steeper seat tube angle bike that goes above 80 degrees effective seat tube angle. With a 27cm saddle an Orbea Ordu can be ridden at about 80 degrees, slightly steeper with a longer saddle. Head tube heights track roughly with low front end bikes like Cervelo’s P3 and P4. This trend belies Orbea’s cycling and time trial legacy. Over a century of success isn’t re-done in three decades.

Orbea does show an impressive selection of road configurations spearheaded by their Orca road frame.

In addition to the technical features of Orbea’s latest models the company provides owner support after the sale with their OLT Lifetime Warranty and Support that even includes a provision for theft recovery with a registered serial number.

As Orbea moves forward in the U.S. market the features of their long history and the strength of the Mondragon Cooperative along with a host of competitive innovations provide benefits unique to the brand.

© TriSports, November 15th, 2011, By Tom Demerly

The Durango Rock Lounge is hosting a gear swap on Saturday, November 12th. Gear drop off is the 11th. Bring your stuff in to sell or drop by Saturday for some great deals!!!

Location: 1111 Camino Del Rio (Across from South City Market)

Date: Saturday, November 11th

The new Orbea Occam is designed for mountain bike lovers. Developed with Advanced Dynamics technology, this new frame provides 123 mm of travel for the purest Trail and All Mountain adventures. We have designed it in two materials we have honed to perfection: Carbon (Orbea Monocoque Silver) and Hydro-formed Aluminum (Orbea Hydro).

Efficient: We put in your hands a bike with optimum performance in Trail and All Mountain terrain. A machine that allows you to pedal with minimum suspension interference.

Dynamic: The work done by Advanced Dynamics software has resulted in a bike with a high absorption capacity and optimum performance whatever the terrain. In other words, you have at hand a fast, stable, comfortable bike… A bike that will take you anywhere and that will motivate you to take full advantage of the mountain!

Reliability: Trust is everything. Whatever the terrain, the Occam reassures the rider thanks to the Advanced Dynamics Technology: The wheels float over unevenness and respond to the terrain keeping traction on the most demanding climbs and the most complicated descents. This continuous contact is what enables you to go faster with greater confidence.

Lightweight: On both the Silver and the Hydro model, we have achieved the low frame weights that riders demand while keeping the durability that makes our bikes legendary. If you want an agile, manageable machine with nerve, that’s what Occam has to offer.

Advanced Dynamics

Advanced Dynamics is the fruit of a long process of reflection, analysis and research on dual suspension bikes. Until now, the technologies applied to these bikes were based on flat kinematic analysis plans and two dimensional diagrams. Orbea brings to the table a virtual analysis where all variables are taken into account: accelerations and relative speeds at each point of contact, suspension transfer on each type of terrain, rider weight, even tire size and pressure all studied for the first time. Advanced Dynamics is supported by unique software tools through which our engineers can obtain a very accurate vision about the behavior of the bike before it is built. By adding this information to real-world feedback obtained in tests with prototypes, Advanced Dynamics becomes the perfect tool for creating dual-suspension bikes.

Based on this knowledge we have created the most efficient 123 mm travel bike on the market. Careful pivot placement creates a machine that allows you to climb anywhere with minimum suspension interaction. Meticulous custom tuning of the FOX shocks has allowed us to optimize suspension sensitivity to the extreme.

The linkage we have designed for the new Occam, dubbed Diamond Link, controls the ratio curve established by the Advanced Dynamics System. The first part of the curve is tuned to increase leverage over the shock, giving the suspension enhanced sensitivity around the SAG position. We continue with a second slightly more progressive section which allows full shock travel while neutralizing the tendency of air shocks to wallow in mid-travel. The result is unlimited plush travel that rivals the feel of a coil shock at a much lower weight.

Orbea Monocoque Silver and Orbea Hydro-formed Tricone Aluminum

The new Orbea Occam is built in Silver Carbon and Hydro Aluminum. The Silver version is composed of a blend of high and mid-modulus carbon fiber to provide stiffness and high impact resistance. It is this precise combination of fibers which gives a maximum Young Modulus score and great durability, translating into a high performance bike which is robust enough to last.

The aluminium model is created in Hydroformed Orbea Tricone Aluminium, an extremely light material with impressive mechanical properties. It incorporates aluminium, silicon and magnesium and receives two thermal treatments at temperatures up to 565 º C. The tubing is manipulated by complex triple butting and hydroforming processes to provide minimum weight with high levels of reliability.

Concentric 9-12

Look at the rear of the bike. What do you see? Nothing? Look again. Now you see a pivot at the intersection of the chainstay and swing arm. This is one of the constructive solutions that we have worked for the new Occam: minimizing weight, providing stiffness and safety and facilitating the use of direct-mount disc brakes.

There are times in the cycling world that we endeavour to innovate to the extreme, when there are simple solutions that were invented over a century ago. This solution was patented more than 100 years ago and today is of great interest as it provides a long-existing solution to complex new suspension and braking issues. In addition, the unique interchangeable design of the Orbea C9-12 allows the use of both traditional hubs as well as super-rigid 12 mm through-axle hubs. (X12, 12×142, 142mm ….)

Innovative Trail Geometry

Advanced Dynamics and extensive testing have led us to an aggressive, nimble and progressive geometry. Under the assumptions of a revolutionary trail/all mountain bike, we had to design a versatile and efficient machine which was fun at the same time. A steep seat angle, slack head angle and ultra-short chainstays translate into an optimal pedalling position for climbing and reward the rider with maximum control and stability on every descent.

Seat Tube: 74’5 and 73’5 °: Whatever the climb, you´ll always pedal well. The 74’5 ° (with 120 mm fork) and the 73.5 ° (with a 140 mm fork) seat tube angle provide an optimum pedalling position, keeping rider weight centered and balanced.

Head tube: The new Orbea Occam will be available in 120mm and 140mm fork configurations. The first yields a head angle of 68’5 ° and the second reduces the head angle to 67’5 º. This option allows riders to set up the Occam for exactly the descending style they prefer.

420 mm chainstays: Have you read that right? Occam has the shortest chainstays of any trail bike on the market. This compact design provides a great handling machine that excels on tight, twisty trails.

Highway cable downtube: The Downtube Cable Highway cabling system is another solution that provides clean lines and simplicity for the new Occam. We have brought the cable through the upper part of the diagonal tube with which the interaction with the suspension is eliminated and as a consequence with the pedalling.

THT: Just like its big brother Rallon, the Occam Silver takes advantage of a tapered, 1 1/8-1.5 headtube. A tapered headtube allows for a more robust front triangle, increasing stiffness and riding precision.

Sealed Bearings: The Occam share the same sealed bearings constructive solution with the Rallon. A bike with 4 pivots would have 8 bearings. Ours has 10. Why? The sensitivity offered by this bike is unmatched because typical pivot point bushings or bearings have been replaced by high-quality sealed bearings, including the use of bearings on the shock mount. With this we get an extreme rigidity at pivot points, greater shock sensitivity and the dramatic reduction of stiction.

Direct Post Mount: Why use unnecessary hardware between the frame and rear brake calliper when the brake can be mounted directly? We have eliminated two bolts and an adapter creating a cleaner, lighter and stiffer attachment, minimizing braking noise and flex.

© www.orbea.com

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Support the orange team & ride off with major prizes.

Join the orange tide

Orca Dama is the highly-anticipated evolution of the beloved Diva. Just like its predecessor, Orca Dama is an undiluted performance bike for women, not a watered-down imitation. Orca Dama is a thoroughbred featuring the same technologies as Orca: SSN, DCR, Aizone and Attraction.

With the development of Orca Dama we have added another frame size, Orca Dama is available in 47, 49, 51 and 53cm. Orca Dama Silver colors are White/Silver/Carbon and White/Silver/Blue, and we will be offering all the same build options that are standard for Orca OMS. We have prepared a PDF with geometry, specs and pricing (pricing valid until Sept. 1st, 2011).

Contact us at 970-426-9741 or info@sixtyfive.12 to be the first on the block to ride the new Orca Dama.
It’s going to be something special!

The LUNA Pros enjoyed their 10th annual Sea Otter Classic weekend, highlighted by Georgia Gould’s crushing short track victory and Catharine Pendrel’s sprint-finish-near-miss in the cross country.

Friday’s short track event amidst unusually glorious Monterey conditions proved to be a crowd pleaser, with the three LUNA Chix XC riders up front most of the race. Specialized rider Lea Davison gave the team in blue a run for their money, matching Georgia’s surges and even leading during the beginning laps.

Short track star Katerina Nash was not far behind, but like a freshman high school marching band, just couldn’t find her rhythm. Reigning world cup champ Catharine Pendrel seemed to be saving herself for a long climb (somewhere…please!), so drifted a few positions behind.

Odds-people in the crowd ultimately correct, it was Georgia (given 2:1 odds) who rode away from the field for the win, Katerina in second, Lea third, and Catharine in fourth. And fifth place was Katie Compton.

Even the Pro Team’s grand 10-year anniversary celebration afterwards could not tire out the athletes enough for their big cross country event on Saturday. From atop the slalom course after the start, eyes could only see a blur of blue leading the way around the tarmac track, which to many dirticians’ dismay, comprised 60% of the racing surface that day.

But there they were with no complaints and the order after the first big climb was Georgia, Catharine, Emily Batty, Katerina, and Katie Compton. Katie eventually got stung by a bee on the best part of the course and had to get immediate treatment because of an allergy (she is now recovered).

Georgia flatted in the third lap, fresh off off-season Katerina faded, and Canadians Pendrel and Batty got away. Power struggles, mind games, and tired legs ensued between the two with Emily taking advantage of Catharine’s rail-like phenotype to take her breakout victory. Final outcome was Emily, Catharine, Katerina, Lea, and former LUNA Pro now Giant rider Kelli Emmett.

Even with those great results, possibly the best moment of the weekend was a ridiculously long G-Sharp Clif Bar owner/CEO Gary Erickson held on his trumpet at the Saturday afternoon Clif party. It sung and sung, and prevailed over the crowd’s captive ears, just like our LUNA heroes who continue to prevail over captive hearts after 10 years.

Next stop: South Africa World Cup. First person to find & friend the LUNA Pro Team Facebook page and correctly guess next week’s 1,2,3 result gets a free electronic autograph!

Follow their blog at Team LunaChix!

While the question of 26 vs 29 continues to be debated by consumers nation wide, it seems that even the pros are still going back and forth. It certainly seems that many XC pros are taking to their new big wheels to try and win races, however not everyone is on board. In fact, just recently Geoff Kabush could be quoted as Tweeting, “Bunch of my euro colleagues are posting pics of new big wheel touring bikes. Curious to see how many actually race them at first World Cup.” So as much as many of 29′s proponents would like to think the ultimate wheel size has been decided, there is clearly still some disagreement.

In one of the first races of the season, which Julien happened to win, he was still aboard his 26″ Orbea Alma. However, when the time came for the Off Road Cassis, Julien lined up at the start aboard his Orbea Alma 29′er. Perhaps the large marathon style course with a total distance of 35 miles helped to make up his mind on which wheel size to choose.

Take from this what you will, but he finished 4th out of what was claimed to be a very tough field. The next race though? Well, that race he won. On 26′s. Clearly, Absalon is interested in testing the big hoops on the race circuit, but I wouldn’t expect him to completely change just yet. After his 4th place finish in the Off Road Cassis, Absalon had this to say about his new bike, “I am satisfied because I had fun and I’ve tested it. This new type of bike is quite different, and I must get used to it and that we continue to work at the particular weight to make it more competitive. “

If you haven’t seen it, check out the Mavic video with Julien Absalon after the break. Perhaps when Julien says they need to work with the weight, he means help Mavic develop a lighter 29 inch wheel?

The French rider from the Orbea Racing Team won the first test of the Massi 2011 Gran Prix this Sunday. Absalon´s triumph was very clear, clearly dominating the second half of the race. The race took place on a “very hard” circuit, in the words of the sports director of the team, Ixio Barandiarán: “The truth is that the weather was good, but as it had been raining over the last few days and a little in the morning, it meant that a lot of mud had built up. When the sun came out, the circuit conditions made it very difficult to compete”, he assured.

Absalon put his victory down to good team tactics: “The race developed as planned. Julien has carried out his plan as he always does, leaving his rivals lose speed little by little and then attack. That is how he did it, positioning himself in first position when passing the finishing line for the third time to obtain a relatively easy victory”, Ixio pointed out.

Iñaki Lejarreta and Rubén Ruzafa, on the other hand, were 12th and 13th, respectively. The Orbea Racing Team sports director reckons that they had accumulated “certain tiredness” during the days prior to this competition, but he hopes that they can give the best thing of themselves in the team´s next date, this weekend in the Spanish Open in Madrid, and will be able to fight for victory in the end.

This year more than 500 riders from 30 different teams from all over the world will take part, showing the importance of this event which has been held for the past 10 years.

Absalon, who made his 2011 competition debut with this race shared the podium at Banyolés with Sergio Mantecón, second, and Maxime Marotte, third. “I am really satisfied”, pointed out the double Olympic champion, “I did not think I would get such a buzz, but starting the year with a victory is always good for morale.

Orbea News, March 13, 2011