Orbea Orca Aero Receives Significant Enhancements for Improved Speed and Mountain Performance

Unleash Your Potential: Experience the New Orbea Orca Aero's Pinnacle of Performance

The Evolution of Speed: Addressing Previous Limitations

The previous iteration of the Orbea Orca Aero, while praised for its speed and precise handling, faced challenges regarding its weight, often exceeding 8kg. This placed it at a disadvantage compared to rivals, especially during crucial mountain stages where lighter bikes, sometimes under 7kg, were favored even by aero-focused teams. Orbea's ambition for the new model was clear: to maintain its aero prowess while achieving weight parity with top climbing bikes.

Redefining Aerodynamics: A Total System Approach

In response to the accelerating speeds in WorldTour races, Orbea adopted a holistic design philosophy for the new Orca Aero, considering the combined efficiency of the rider and the frameset. Extensive wind tunnel testing and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis were employed to optimize every aspect of the bike's shape. This included exploring various fairings and tube profiles to maximize speed and minimize drag. Despite considering a wider fork, a narrower, deeper design proved most effective. The headtube's leading edge was sharpened and deepened, and a unique keel was introduced at the bottom bracket to reduce turbulence and smooth airflow.

Enhanced Performance Through Advanced Engineering

Further innovations include thinner seatstays with a lower attachment point, which contribute to an improved stiffness-to-weight ratio and greater vertical compliance. The aero bottle cage system was refined, strategically positioning bottles lower on the downtube to reduce drag and enhance the 'sailing effect' at different yaw angles. The seat tube and seatpost also underwent a significant slimming and deepening, made possible by relocating the Di2 battery. These modifications collectively resulted in a claimed drag reduction of 5.1W (frame-only) and a remarkable 14W improvement with a rider at 50km/h. Even on challenging 8% gradients, the OMX-level carbon frame's optimized stiffness-to-weight ratio yields a 2W saving. For non-UCI regulated events, a Service Box fairing offers an additional 1.1W saving.

Optimized Geometry for Superior Control

The new Orca Aero features the lowest bottom bracket drop in the market at 78mm across all frame sizes. This design choice significantly enhances stability and control during cornering, lowers the bike's center of gravity, and subtly reduces rider frontal drag. Despite the lower BB, Orbea assures ample clearance for crankarms, even with 175mm lengths. Other thoughtful updates include a new two-bolt seatpost clamp design and options for both zero-offset and offset seatposts, providing riders with greater customization.

Lighter, Faster, and Future-Proof

Addressing the previous model's weight, Orbea successfully reduced the system weight by optimizing carbon layup and reducing excess material. High-end models, equipped with Dura-Ace Di2, now weigh around 7.04kg, dropping to 6.9kg with SRAM Red AXS, aligning them with leading competitors. The bike also offers increased tire clearance of up to 37mm, providing versatility for various terrains and conditions while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency with tire widths between 29-35mm. This wider clearance helps absorb vibrations, potentially saving 6-7 watts on rough surfaces. Riders can choose from 13 handlebar combinations and a range of stem lengths, and the bike is designed exclusively for electronic groupsets, incorporating UDH dropouts and a 'Spin Block' to protect the frame and fork. Customers can further personalize their bike by specifying crank length, handlebar/stem size, and seatpost offset at the time of purchase.

Comprehensive Range and Pricing

The new Orbea Orca Aero is available in six models and seven frame sizes (47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 60cm), offering a choice of Shimano, SRAM, or Campagnolo groupsets. The top-tier M10i LTD and M11e LTD are priced at £9,999 / $12,127 / €10,999. The M10i LTD comes with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and power meter, while the M11e LTD features SRAM Red AXS. Both share Oquo Road Aero RA57LTD wheels and a Fizik Vento Antares R1 carbon saddle. Mid-range options include the £6,599 / $8,268 / €7,499 Orca Aero M21e LTD with SRAM Force AXS, and the M20i LTD with Shimano Ultegra Di2, priced at £5,899 / $7,386 / €6,699 (power meter optional). The Campagnolo Record-equipped M22i LTD is also available at the same price. The entry-level model, the Shimano 105 Di2-equipped Aero M30i LTD, offers an accessible price point of £4,999 / $6,284 / €5,699, utilizing more durable components.