Orbea announced the launch of an updated version of it’s popular Ordu time trial bike this week – claiming greater stiffness, reduced weight, improved geometry and better mechanics. We don’t doubt them. 😉
AERODYNAMIC DESIGN
AERODYNAMIC FRONT-TO-REAR PRIORITY
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 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. 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, making it user-friendly and ready to accept the best the market has to offer.
Frame tube intersections are all extended and smoothed to maximum benefit. Mounting bosses are placed carefully in locations where they will provide the most aerodynamic gain – a top tube mount behind the stem allows an optional tool/nutrition bag that actually improves drag numbers. Three mounts on the downtube allow the use of an optional aerodynamic bottle mounted low, or two standard bottles mounted in more traditional locations.
IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREVIOUS ORDU
Any reduction in drag is important because it takes less energy to propel the bicycle. This can mean one of two things: You’ll be able to ride faster at a given power output, or you can ride at the same pace with substantially less effort, saving your legs for the all-important run.
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 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.
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, making it user-friendly and ready to accept the best the market has to offer.
IN SEARCH OF EVERY ADVANTAGE – SETUP MATTERS
The wind tunnel is a great opportunity to test the multiple configurations and optional mounting locations provided on the Ordu OME frame. Maybe these data seem nit-picky but picking the fastest setup for the job makes all the difference at the end of a long ride.
1. Torhans bottle on downtube is about two watts faster than not having any bottle.
2. A single Arundel bottle on the seat tube is about one watt faster than
no bottle.
3. A traditional round bottle on the seat tube requires about four more watts than an Arundel.
4. An aerodynamic brake (TRi Rig tested) on the front is about three watts faster than a standard caliper.
5. A top tube mounted pack doesn’t increase frame aerodynamics but is approximately 1 watt faster than a seat bag for the same carrying capacity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt3oMJU12OA
ORDU OME – INCREASED RIGIDITY
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
SMART SIZING TO FIT
Stack and reach are important measurements because they define the spatial relationships of two important contact points between your body and the bike – pedals and handlebars. Stack is the vertical distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the headtube. Reach is the horizontal distance from the center of the bottom bracket to that same point – the top center of the headtube.
An understanding of stack and reach can explain why many small bikes don’t fit well. There are instances in the market when the smallest sizes do not offer shorter reach measurements and do not bring the head tube (therefore the handlebars) any closer to the rider than the next bigger size. How does the manufacturer advertise a full size range then, based on top tube lengths?
What we’re suggesting is an evolution in bike geometry. 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.
OME CARBON
Monocoque construction guarantees a carbon structure with optimum performance and long term reliability and it’s the only way we’ve ever done it. We mold the one-piece structures so that each tube is connected to the next, with continuous fibers through each critical juncture. As you ride, your bike will be subjected to a variety of forces – tension, compression, torsion, etc. Our monocoque frames allow optimal distribution of these forces over the entire structure because of the perfect fusion of the composite materials.
OME CARBON, carbon construction takes advantage of blending high modulus fibers with standard carbon fibers to reach an optimum balance of performance, durability, and value.
http://www.orbea.com/us-en/sites/ordu-2015
You must be logged in to post a comment.
