ORBEA ORCA BRONZE

As carbon fiber comes in a variety of grades, so does the Orbea Orca. The Gold version is the lightest and stiffest, but also the most expensive by a grand margin. This Orca Bronze is priced right and built to combine comfort and long distance performance because it offers more compliance than the Gold or Silver. This is due to the physical properties of the materials used in the frame and fork.

The Orca Bronze uses Orbea’s Bronze grade carbon, and it’s a blend of intermediate modulus fibers that have a touch more elasticity than the higher modulus fibers in the Gold and Silver Orcas. That the intermediate fibers also create a more durable frame is an added bonus for those looking at their first carbon fiber bicycle. If you’re looking towards an upgrade from aluminum, but have concerns about the lifespan of a composite bicycle, be aware that this Orca Bronze is likely more crashproof than a thin-walled alloy frame. And we’re certain that it’s ultimately more repairable if the unthinkable occurs. But the real benefit of carbon fiber is the silky smooth ride. It absorbs high frequency vibrations from coarse road surfaces better than aluminum or steel frames.

Like the Gold and Silver, Orbea molds the Orca Bronze frame and fork as a monocoque. Each of these is a homogenous structure with fibers running continuously along the length of the tubes and through the intersections. This increases the total strength of the bike along with the durability. There are a few structural differences that separate the Orca Bronze. It uses alloy dropouts. They’re a few grams heavier than the full-carbon dropouts of the more expensive models, but they’re also more apt to endure repeated ham-fisted wheel insertions. The seat tube here is round where the Gold and Silver have a more sculpted, aero shape. This allows the use of a less expensive, standard round seatpost and conventional clamp assembly.

Otherwise the front triangle uses the same planar styling as the other Orca models. And the tube shaping isn’t all about good looks. The angular tube shapes and sometimes pronounced edges are the result of FEA (finite element analysis) and their intent to create resistance to flex in critical areas like the bottom bracket, seat tube, and head tube junction. Orbea uses what they term as SSN (size specific nerve) technology to produce frames that offer the same comfort and performance characteristics across the size range. More specifically, each frame size has specific carbon lay-ups and tube dimensions.

The Orca Bronze also uses a BB30 bottom bracket and a tapered head tube. Both of these details add performance by increasing stiffness where it counts. At the bottom bracket, you’ll enjoy a 30% stiffer and lighter aluminum spindle compared to standard external bearing cranksets. Another benefit is the increased heel and ankle clearance. Do you wear out the inside surfaces of your cycling shoes against the crankarms? If you answered yes, BB30 is for you. And if you already have a typical crankset, you can easily adapt it to fit the BB30 shell, no problem. The tapered head tube allows the use of a 1.5” lower bearing. The increased inside diameter of the bearing allows the carbon fiber steerer tube to be oversized as well. This increases the torsional and bending stiffness. This is a big part of what makes the Orca feel rock solid on high speed descents and through tight corners.

The Orbea Orca Bronze is available in Anthracite/carbon or White/carbon/red and comes in six tailored sizes from 48cm to 60cm. It comes with a matching Orca tapered monocoque carbon fork and integrated FSA headset. The Orca requires a braze-on front derailleur. All Orbea bicycle frames come with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defect.

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