Orbea Orca Bronze Di2 Review
Orbea Orca Bronze Ultegra Di2 Review
This is a bike we have been dying to get our hands on, and it has finally arrived at Mad Duck, the Orbea Orca Bli2. Were going to divide the review into 2 parts, the frame and the drivetrain, since both are brand new, and both are very exciting.
First, the frame. Orbea is replacing the ver popular Onix with the Orca Bronze. The Onix has been a long time favorite bike for its ultra smooth ride, light weight frame and affordable price point, so seeing it leave the line up was a little scary. The promise from Orbea was to take the super sexy looks of the Orca, combine it with the ride of the Onix and deliver it at a budget friendly price.
After the first ride, I can say Orbea has succeeded in all areas. This bike looks as good as my Orca Gold, but rides like you are on a cloud. There is no noticeable drop in performance to gain this silky smooth ride, the bike maintains the Orca’s excellent climbing and cornering characteristics. The styling is spot on, this bike looks great.
Now the techie parts, how do they do it? First, frame materials. The Orca Bronze utilizes Orbea’s Bronze grade carbon which is a blend of intermediate modulus fibers. What the heck does that mean? Well, this carbon has a bit more elasticity than the higher modulus fibers in the Gold and Silver Orcas, and that results in a more comfortable ride.
In order to keep the signature Orca performance in tact, the Orca Bronze uses the same monocoque molding of frame and fork. This technique provides a structure with continuos fibers running the length of the tubes and through the intersections. The result, a bike that is ultra stiff where it needs to be, at the head tube and bottom bracket.
This is the perfect bike for those extra long rides, as it provides the performance when you need it and all day comfort. The Orca Bronze is a great ride, and a great value! Complete bikes start at $2199! The Orca Bronze we rode was equipped with the new Ultegra electronic shifting and sells for $4399.
Now lets talk about the Ultegra Di2 Electronic group from Shimano.
There has been a ton of excitement over Shimano’s Di2 (Digital Integrated Interface). The only draw back up to now has been cost. With Dura Ace being the only group being available, and the cost of the group in excess of $4000, we haven’t seen high demand. But with the release of this Ultegra level group, thats about to change.
The shifting performance of the Ultegra level group is indistinguishable from that of its big brother. Every shift on the rear derailleur is super crisp and precise. The shifting on the front is simply the best on the market, the bike doesn’t care if you are under load or just soft pedaling, the front shifts faster and more accurate than anything on the market.
Now the techie bits: first for the weight weenies. The weight of the complete group is 2482g. That puts it 80g heavier than mechanical Ultegra and 263g more than Dura Ace Di2. It actually has a few small advantages over the its big brother: One is the number of micro adjusts to the rear derailleur has been increased from 24 to 30, meaning more precise shifting. The rear derailleur also has a reinforced inner cage and a crash shaver function to protect it in case of an impact.
The only reasons your wouldn’t want it is either you are a retro grouch or just too snobby to ride Ultegra, this stuff is great.
In summary, you can get the Ultra smooth riding Orbea Orca Bronze equipped with Ultegra Di2 for $4399. For that price you get the smoothest ride from Orbea and the best shifting from Shimano, and thats an unbeatable pairing! We have one of these beauties on the floor available for test ride! Stop by and give it a spin!
Castelli Dulivio Gloves
January/19/2012 08:11 AM Filed in: Cycling Clothing | review
- Castelli Dulivio Gloves review
- Ok, to start the review, I need to provide full disclosure: I hate cold weather, not a little bit, but a lot. No really, I hate cold weather.
When I spotted the neoprene gloves in the Castelli catalog, I was curious. I know that wet suits keep divers warm in near freezing water, by using the warmth of the body’s own moisture, it made sense to me. Why not try them.
First, impressions of the gloves were fantastic. On a ride right at 35 degrees, my fingers were never cold. Since the material is thin, bar grip and shifter controls were excellent.
Next ride is when we figured out these thing need to come with a users manual. I threw the gloves in my bag after the first ride, and pulled them out on the next morning and put them on. My hand were already cold, and the gloves were damp inside, and my fingertips froze!
Lesson learned, the gloves need to be dry, and your hands warm when you put them on, and they will stay that way. The next ride, it was 27 degrees at the start with a strong wind. I put the gloves up to the heater vents in my car, got my hand nice and warm and then put them on. Viola, warm hands and finger tips for the ride.
When used properly, these are the absolute best winter gloves ever! I say get a pair, follow my lesson learned, and go face the cold! - We have them in stock, available at the shop or online Here!
Mad Fiber Wheels
Mad Duck and Mad Fiber, combine that with your Mad Skills and you have a winner! Mad Duck is now a Mad Fiber dealer! You gotta get a pair! Super light, durable, aero and fast, never need truing, what more could would ask for?
How about the details:
- Instead of building the carbon rim to mimic the shape and properties of an extruded aluminum rim, Mad Fiber builds the rim by joining three separately constructed pieces (two sidewalls and the tire seat). The cool dudes at Mad Fiber say it’s lighter and stronger this way.
- Instead of drilling the rim to accommodate metal spokes, Mad Fiber bonds wide carbon spokes to both the rim walls and hub flanges. Again, this preserves the integrity of the rim and makes it stronger at a lower weight.
- To tension the wheel, the carbon spokes are assembled to length and fixed to the flanges at the hub center. Then a fixture precisely moves the flanges to their correct position on the hub shell before they’re affixed in place. Spreading the flanges with the spokes already attached to both the flanges and rim creates spoke tension.
- The wheels are handmade in Seattle (USA USA USA!!!) and carry no rider weight restrictions.
- Mad Fiber says they meet and exceed multiple fatigue and durability tests, including DIN and CEN standardized tests plus a battery of tests of their own invention. They carry a four-year warranty and crash replacement program. The titanium freehub body is made by White Industries and sports three-pawl/24-tooth engagement and a 15mm chromoly axle. Oh..the weight, did I forget that part? Lets talk about the depth first! 60mm from and 66mm rear..ok, now the weight.. 1085 grams per set! Wow!
- Available for Shimano, SRAM and Campy, with or without Ceramic Bearings, they ship with lightweight quick release skewers, cork brake pads, wheel bags, and valve extenders.
- Order them online at Madduckcyclery.com by clicking here!
- A carbon clincher version will be rolling into Mad Duck this spring. Mad Fiber Carbon Wheels, you gotta ride ‘em!
Orbea City/Fitness Bikes
The start of another new year, and the resolutions roll on! My list is generally the same as normal, loose weight & ride more! Our friends at Orbea have launched an all new line of Fitness and City bikes to help us achieve those goals, the Carpe.These bikes all feature the same great, lightweight Hydro formed aluminum frame, and are available in 6 different builds from the Single speed H60 to the Hydraulic disc equipped H10.
The Carpe is one of the most versatile bike you will ever own. Lightweight and comfortable, you can use this bike as a grocery getter, a path cruiser, a neighborhood rider or a gravel grinder.
For new riders, it’s the perfect bike for meeting those weight loss goals, and for your serious riders, it’s a great bike to throw flat pedals on and have ready for those days when you just want to get out and “seize the day”.
Ive been using the H20 pictured in this review for basic errand, beer runs and just goofing off, and this bike is just plain FUN! Put some cyclocross tire on it and try one of Spinistry’s Gravel Grinders!
The Carpe ranges from $549 for entry level single speeds to $1599 for the top of the line H10. For the weight weenies and and Carbon snobs, the Diem model is available with a carbon frame and top of the line parts. Either way...Carpe Diem!
Yeti SB95 Review
December/26/2011 09:39 AM Filed in: Yeti | Mountain Bike Review
Yeti freaks have been clamoring for this bike for the last couple of years...but I was not among them. For full disclosure, I railed against the 29r’s, as many in the shop will remember, calling them “Fad Wagons” and “Clown Bikes”. I had ridden a number of brands full suspension 29r’s, and they only confirmed my feelings about the big wheels, great on road bikes and hard tails, but that’s it.
I should have know that when Yeti finally rolled out a “Dual Suspension Wagon Wheel Rig” they would wait until it could be done right--and they did! This bike has made me eat my words about 29r’s. This is simply the best dual suspension bike I’ve ever been on (no qualifiers here) Period! Read More...
I should have know that when Yeti finally rolled out a “Dual Suspension Wagon Wheel Rig” they would wait until it could be done right--and they did! This bike has made me eat my words about 29r’s. This is simply the best dual suspension bike I’ve ever been on (no qualifiers here) Period! Read More...