Orbea Diva

[Julietiede]

I am in the process of buying a new bike, and after much searching think the choice is the Orbea Diva with Di2. It seems to have the most to offer. Of course you are paying for it. I am wondering if anyone has experience with it on the long hard miles. I guess I would classify myself as an endurance rider and want to know that the Diva is comfortable on the long haul and is not built for racing. The long haul is 8 to 10 hours and lots of climbing. It appears to be a great bike, but I just need to know that it is built for endurance.
Thank you!

[Cataboo]

The answer to that question is how well it it fits you. If it fits you well, then you'll be able to do long rides on it. If it doesn't... then you'll probably be miserable.

[LivetoRide]

Ditto Cataboo. As with any bike, it needs to fit you--and especially at that kind of price point, make absolutely sure that it can be set up to your ideal. If I was about to drop that much money, I'd be consulting my fitter, and I'd be doing a re-fit or another fitting if I had any problems with my current setup.

[Julietiede]

Well, no doubt fit is key to comfort, but you could get the best fit in the world but if, as an extreme example, the bike happens to be a Time Trial bike, it's not going to feel so great on a longer endurance ride. An another example is the Specialize makes an endurance bike (Roubaix) and a race bike (Tarmac). I understand that bikes frames have different features based on the type of riding that will be done. Certain bikes are built to position the rider for the type of ride. Racing-position, down and aerodynamic, endurance more up right. I just cant nail down whether the Diva is a bike built for endurance. Thanks for the input!
Julie

[LivetoRide]

Julie, some believe "endurance" bikes are just marketing hype...and I have to believe it, too. You can have a "race" bike and flip or swap out the stem and it'd be the same as a more "endurance" marketed bike. It's more about geometry rather than type (as there's really not that much difference between a "race" and "endurance" bike). There are some "race" bikes that are built with a more relaxed geometry and some endurance bikes with a more "racey" geometry...you really have to look at each individual bike. Good luck with the purchase of your next bike. :)

[Cataboo]

Ideally you tell your fitter that you want an endurance fit - something comfortable. Which for me, is generally about the largest frame that I can barely get standover clearance on - so that my saddle is just slightly under or even with my handlebars.

If I buy the same bike in the next smaller size, and I have my saddle 3-4 inches up over my handlebars - then I'm in a racing position. Same bike.


NOw a time trial bike tends to have a very steep seat tube angle - and then you're basically just talking about a completely different geometry.

I would say test ride a diva and see how it feels and definitely get a fitting.

I wouldn't necessarily say that the diva at its price is better than a custom titanium seven. If I was spending that much money, I'd really rather go the custom steel or titanium route - because... if I spend that much money I want a bike frame that's gonna survive forever. That I'm not going to worry every time it knocks over whether I've damaged the carbon. Titanium, I'm not going to worry about damage short of a car running me over.

I have a titanium bike and a carbon bike, and yes, people will tell you that the ride of titanium and the ride of carbon depends on the shapes of the tubes, etc... But I am way more comfortable on long rides on my titanium bike, despite the fact that I've got them set up pretty much with the same saddle, handlebars, and geometry. My carbon bike is fine, but I bought it at a price point I was comfortable with that the frame might one day crack. I'm sure Orbea does have a frame replacement program, so you may want to look into how generous or not it is...

Climbing - again, I think that's a matter of geometry. I don't like the orbeas because I don't like the seat tube angles that they put on the bikes my size. They don't fit me. So... I guess I'd recommend that you work with a fitter and see how the orbea will work with you, or go completely custom at that price point and get a bike that is absolutely made for you and the riding that you want to do.


IF you look in this thread:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=30512&highlight=miranda+orbea

there's a few orbea owners and juliebird has an 08 diva and has ridden many hilly centuries on it without a problem

[Grasshoppergirl]

I love my Diva for long rides and I do a lot of climbing too. Right they are about the fit, but the shop you are buying it from should do a fitting. Because it is so light, climbing is much easier. Even though you're not racing, you will be faster on your Diva.

[macski]

Julietiede - there's some great advice here about fit etc. I differ on one point and that is that endurance bikes are not just a different geometry from race bikes - race position versus more upright.

My experience is with a Specialized Amira (race) versus a Specialized Ruby (and a Cannondale Synapse). The latter two are endurance bikes. My position was very similar on all three, that is, I was slightly more aerodynamic on the Amira but it was millimetres of difference.

But there was a big difference in the ride comfort. This was mainly because the Amira was very stiff both horizontally AND vertically whereas the Ruby and Synapse were more vertically compliant - designed to be stiff horizontally and give a more comfortable ride because of greater vertical flex. This is noticable. I am much less fatigued when I ride the Synapse than riding the Amira. The Amira feels slightly more responsive but this is at the cost of feeling every bump or rough surface while my Synapse feels like it has shock absorbers.

But I don't know whether the model of Orbea you are considering is endurance or race

[LivetoRide]

Some "endurance" bikes are stiffer and some are more compliant or "flexy"--the same is true for "race" bikes. I'm a believer that you need to look at each individual bike because of this and what I commented on in an earlier post. JMHO. And different tires, tire pressures, and wheels are also big contributing factors as to how a bike rides.

[hulagirl]

I love my Diva. LOVE it. She's fast, responsive, quick, light. Longest ride I've done is 4 hours on her though. Saddle is just slight above seat and I am super comfortable in my drops. More so than in the hoods.

I went into the bike shop with my heart set on a Cervelo. After a week of trying about 8 different bikes, the Orbea Diva fit me like a GLOVE. She could have been aluminum for all I cared at that point.

I have a hybrid that it designed for touring and I can tell you that I would MUCH rather do 100 miles on my Diva than my hybrid. Why? She's lighter and so much more responsive. The amount of energy saved is amazing. I have climbed 1400' hills with her and loved it. I would be miserable on my hybrid for that kind of climbing.

[Julietiede]

Thanks to all for the great input. Much food for thought and questions to ask. When I bought my first bike (Trek Madone 5.2-not cheap!) a few years ago I never even thought about fit or test rides, nor did the bike store suggest either. There was minimal fitting after I purchased it. In fact when the guy was doing the fitting, he put the front wheels on stacked telephone books which promptly fell over along with the bike and I. So I hear people telling me there are more sophisticated ways to fit a bike! Thank goodness, the telephone book thing was scary!
I live in an extremely rural area-and this time we are going to the "city" to purchase bikes. And I will be armed with many good questions!
JT

[makbike]

I too am a very, very, very happy Diva owner. I have a 2010 Diva and I absolutely love this bike as it fits me like a glove and is an absolute joy to ride. It climbs well, responds quickly and is fast and sleek.

Like you I went from a bike (LeMond) that I rode a couple of times and felt good. However, after logging many centuries/miles on the bike I was suffering as it did not fit me. So DH and I set out to find a new bike. We traveled to many shops near and far and I rode numerous bikes. When I took the Diva out I knew right there and then it was the bike for me. It fit me like a glove and I was in heaven. The search was over and I am 1000%+ satisfied. It is so nice to get off the bike after a long ride and not hurt - no headaches, shoulder pain, knots in my neck, etc. It is a dream bike for me.

Test ride as many different bikes as you can and once you have your field narrowed down ride the heck out of the bikes on your list. Enjoy the process and have fun. You will know when you have found the right bike for you.