The Climber’s Dream: Orbea Orca

Road racing is an ever-increasingly complex sport on the technology side of things. With every company trying to make their bikes as fast as possible, most brands (Pinarello, Cannondale, Specialized, BMC, ENVE) try to make a road race bike that is just as fast on the climbs as it is descending, as it is on the flats—call it "the do-it-all World Tour bike". Most of these bikes are trying to toe the line on aero and lightweight. But some companies like Orbea and Cervelo take a slightly different approach having a wider range in their line-up to give riders more options to choose from for each individual stage. Along with aero-specific bikes, these companies add other bikes to the mix with an emphasis on lightweight simplicity and climbing prowess. Cervelo has the S5 and R5, and Orbea has the Orca Aero and Orca. 

After a season and over 3000 miles on the ENVE Melee, it was time for a change. As much as I loved the Melee, the leaves are starting to turn and so is my incessant need (want) to try everything. Next up on the list was a climbing bike. And as it happens, Orbea revamped the Orbea Orca over its 2023 model year to become climbing-specific. Plus who can deny that Wine Red color with those thin chainstays. The Orbea Orca has a timeless and alluring look that hooked me. 

Ride Review

After spending hundreds of hours and thousands of miles on a more performance-oriented bike, stepping on this bike made it feel immediately like a light-weight whippet. The OMX carbon frame feels stiff, and responsive, and takes no getting used to. It has the exact snappiness I have come to expect from any race bike, but with a little bit more get-up and go to its DNA. While it doesn't feel as planted as some bikes like the Melee, it urges the rider to keep turning over the pedals on a climb. Overall comfort is fairly good.  It seems less stable than the Melee which is probably attributed to the longer wheelbase required on the Enve to fit nearly 40mm tires. Like most modern race bikes that are relatively stiff, 30mm wide tires definitely add some comfort. 

Now onto the reason I bought this bike, the climbs. It may not be as fast as my last bike, but I have come to realize that may be in my favor. I am a mountain biker by heart, and road biking for me is mainly for training and long days. If I am racing road it is to tune the engine, not for results. When I road ride, I am for the longest miles and most climbing I can into my allotted time, so I think moving to a climbing-specific bike when that is one of the things I love most was the right move. And oh boy, does it climb. As soon as things start getting steep, this bike loves to get up and go. Getting out of the saddle and putting the hammer down on 15% grades if needed feels natural, and rewarding. This bike feels like it comes alive on the steeps, thirsting to go faster. On longer gradual 6% climbs, this bike starts to hum once you have settled into a pace and cadence. Right at home in our canyons, this bike never feels like a toil on the hills, the only limiting factor is the rider.  

As well as it climbs, this bike still has to come back downhill. While not the most stable or aero descender, it may be the most fun. Spry with a sense of springiness to it, it feels as responsive as can be in the corners. It may not be as fast by the numbers, and in a straight-away, it doesn't feel like it gains the same speed or feel as planted as a more aero/performance bikes. However it feels alive in tight corners, almost as if it wants to bend through the corners. While it may not feel as stable as my Melee did, it doesn't feel sketchy. It feels alive. This is a great bike for the pure pleasure of riding if every Strava segment doesn't matter to you. 

My Build 

This build was meant to be lightweight, and comfortable, but not break the bank to be as top end as possible. Starting with the OMX Orca frame in 55 cm, in the wine red color (some might say the true attraction here). For a groupset, I went for SRAM Force D2, as after my season on SRAM RED I had come to love the simplistic integration and feel. But I think as someone who is not racing on the road, springing for RED was not 100% worth the money, so I went with Force D2 with SRAM RED cranks and chain. My gearing is bigger than my last bike, as I found myself spinning out on the 48T on prolonged group ride flats and solo descents. But the bigger 50/37T chainrings also meant a bigger climbing gear, so I upped my cassette to a 36t to compensate for the steeper climbs. 

Knowing well how many long days this bike will be seeing, comfort is the other main priority, and the wheels on this bike showcase that. The Forge + Bond CR 45 wheels are made from FusionFiber, which absorbs vibration, keep the ride quiet, and supple. The rims are 25mm internal, mounted with 30c Vittoria Corsa N.ext tires, adding even more comfort. These rims are custom laced to a set of DT240 hubs, simple, fast, and reliable. 

As comfort-oriented as some of this build is, I am still the most comfortable on a race fit. At 6’1, this 55cm frame has a 120mm stem, no spacers, a 38cm Zipp SL80 Race bar, and a 0mm offset seatpost. (Seatpost and stem were added after the photos where taken). 

Specifications