Now unveiled by Orbea, after some teasing last week, the new Ordu OME has been designed… ‘to push you past what you thought was possible – to that magical day when you don’t feel the wind or relent to the pain – when you don’t just finish the race, you crush it.’
Continuing to push with its ‘Don’t Just Finish – Crush It!’ strapline, the Ordu OME is taking more of a mass market position, reportedly replacing the Ordu Silver in Orbea’s roster of tri bikes. Prices vary depending on the spec, but range from US$2,400 (£1,699), with Shimano 105 and alloy wheels, through to US$7,500 (£5,899) for Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Vision Metron 55 carbon clincher wheels.
Aerodynamic design
The leading edge of the Ordu OME frameset received the highest priority for aerodynamic shaping. The straight 1–1/8” steerer tube allows a narrow headtube that minimizes the frontal area. At only 38mm wide, it decreases aerodynamic drag by integrating smoothly into the main triangle, making this critical area more slippery and smoothing airflow across the frame.
Orbea notes that triathletes are not the only riders who can benefit from these advantages – the frame and fork are UCI legal, making the Ordu OME ‘a serious contender for use in sanctioned Time Trial events.’ Any standard road bike front or rear brake can be employed, with Orbea adding that this makes it user-friendly and ready to accept the best the market has to offer.
Frame stiffness
While aerodynamics push frame design toward narrower tubes that present the smallest-possible face to the breeze, a frame must be rigid to transfer energy to the rear wheel. Advantages gained against the wind should not be surrendered to flex, brake rub or questionable handling. The Ordu OME is more aerodynamic than its predecessor and is significantly stiffer as well. ‘This translates to a faster bike that handles better and delivers more power to the road.’
Geometry fit and philosophy
A release from Orbea notes ‘What we’re suggesting is an evolution in bike geometry.’ According to the company, it’s a different way to look at how to design and build bike frames that allows the Ordu OME to fit a wider range of riders and follow a more linear size progression. The new size range includes XS, SM, MD, and LG sizes and ensures that ‘anyone can ride an Ordu OME, no matter how large or small.’
‘The progressive sizing ensures that our XS bike indeed offers the smallest fit and that subsequent sizes grow in a linear and predictable fashion.’
Orbea monocoque carbon
Orbea continues, ‘Monocoque construction delivers a carbon structure with optimum performance and long term reliability and it’s the only way we’ve ever done it. We mould the one-piece structures so that each tube is connected to the next, with continuous fibres through each critical juncture.’
During a ride, the bike will be subjected to a variety of forces – tension, compression, torsion, etc. Orbea notes that its monocoque frames allow ‘optimal distribution of these forces over the entire structure because of the perfect fusion of the composite materials.’
The Spanish bike business continues to add that OME Carbon (Orbea Monocoque Evolution) carbon construction takes advantage of blending high modulus fibres with standard carbon fibres to reach an optimum balance of performance, durability, and value.
Orbea is part of the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation and is Spain’s largest bicycle operator. Orbea bike frames are manufactured in Asia and finished in Spain – with the brand shipped worldwide.
In 2011, Orbea further cemented its relationship with Orca – the wetsuit and apparel tri brand. Heralding from New Zealand, Orca is part of the Orbea family – with Orbea and Orca reaching an agreement in 2011 for Spanish Orbea to acquire Orca’s ‘operation rights in the triathlon and compression area.’
This deal gave Orbea global rights to the Orca brand, following ‘four years of fruitful relations’ between the two companies.
