Rode an Orbea Diva w/ Campy Record Today

[Starfish]

I've been talking a long time about test riding some bikes, but I haven't done it until now. My current bike is the only road bike I've ever had, so I have a lot of info in my head from reading, but little experience with actual road bikes (except mine).

Anyhow, I really enjoyed my experience today with Chris at Redmond Cycle. Very pleasant and informative, and nothing of the kind of cr@p I've heard from some guys in some other shops in the Seattle metro area.

The bike was as light as feather. This was my first use of Campy (Record compact), and I can't say the hoods are going to be for me. The braking was fabulous (although reach to levers was still a bit long for me), and the front DR shifted like a dream. Other than that, it sure would take some getting used to, for me. I found the rear shifting to be a little finicky compared to what I'm used to (a triple 105/XTR mix that I find very forgiving and easy). This was a compact with a 34 small CR and a 12-26 on the back.

I was expecting the full carbon frame to feel a little smoother than it did. It felt great, mind you. I just expected it to feel smoother than my bike (aluminum with carbon fork and seatstays, with the Specialized zertz inserts...as well as bar phat gel). I'm thinking maybe with the shorter chainstays and 23's instead of 25's, that might be why.

The thing climbed great, and accelerated on the flats amazingly. When I stood up, it just shot off in a hurry.

I need to learn how to test bikes, I think. I was disappointed that I couldn't find a quiet winding road to test...between trying to get the hang of the Campy stuff, and dodging cars on the road, and pedestrians and dogs and stuff on the trail, it was hard to feel like I got a taste of the real handling.

I also felt like I would have liked to get down a little lower.

And, sometimes, in the hoods, I felt almost too stretched out. But, in the drops, sprinting hard, I actually let my butt hang a bit off the back of the saddle...really wanting to get back. So, that seems a little contradictory. Too long in the hoods, too short in the drops? Actually, my bike now feels that way a little.

OK...end of ramblings.

[maillotpois]

Sounds like a lovely bike! I have a friend who has that bike and really loves it. It's good that you're going to take the time to ride several bikes before deciding.

[Starfish]

Yeah, definitely going to ride a bunch of bikes. At this point, with my bad attitude, it is not the time to buy a bike at all.

Actually, riding that bike yesterday, as fabulous as it was, really made me realize that I might be riding a bike that is just fine for me right now. I might just splurge on some new shifters, new wheels, maybe a new stem, and even some cranks. Just really upgrade this bike and use it for awhile.

But...I am definitely going to ride some other bikes. It is fun and interesting, and I can see I really need some practice at comparing attributes.

[Jo-n-NY]

Why don't you try a Specialized Ruby? I had a Dolce with Carbon fork and zertz inserts and thought it was great, but wished it was a bit more forgiving on roads that weren't at their best. I noticed a huge difference in the ride on the Ruby which is all carbon and also has the Zertz inserts in the fork, seat post and I believe seat stays.

~ JoAnn

[Starfish]

JoNY, definitely will try a Ruby. As well as a Roubaix, Tarmac, Madone and others.

What I find on my bike, and this was true on the Diva, too, was that in the hoods I feel a smidge too streched out, but in the drops not low or stretched out enough.

I'm kinda wondering if one of the more aggressive women's bikes, shorter but lower, might help...like the new Scott for women. Someone here on TE got one not too long ago.

[Michaela]

Hey, I think I was out riding the Ruby Pro at the same time/day you were in Redmond on the Diva (green?) and wondered how you liked it. I have ridden them both now and found the Specialized a little cushier ride, but whether that was due to the zert inserts or what, I'm not sure. I test rode the Diva on a day it was really windy, so both I and the bike were getting blown around quite a bit. The Diva climbs great and I thought better than the Ruby Pro, but I have some slight doubts about the Diva's comfort on long hauls. That said, I'll test ride the Diva once more to be sure and probably order one (B&W) since it has been my dream bike since the day I saw the Orca at Elliott Bay Bikes, where I bought my ti Davidson. I plan on using the ti bike for distance hauling in Eastern Washington where the roads are a little rougher. Was glad to see your post and a few replies. Hope that helps!

[Julibird]

What I find on my bike, and this was true on the Diva, too, was that in the hoods I feel a smidge too streched out, but in the drops not low or stretched out enough.

Did they measure you (reach, shoulders, legs, etc) and adjust the bike before you set out or was it a guesstimate?

If the stem or bars were changed, would that effect your decision?

IIWY - I would ask the shop to fit the bike to you before testing it - when you start narrowing down your serious choices. I think a Diva deserves that kind of consideration!

[Starfish]

Michaela: Nope, I was on a pink one. I am interested to try a Ruby, too. Having a Specialized right now, with the zertz, I couldn't help but wonder if they really do help. I know what you mean about the Orbeas, though...to me they are just SOooo beautiful compared to what else is out there.

Also, I did a 7 day tour through Eastern WA a few years ago (and I used to live over there). I LOVE riding out on those country roads! Have you talked to BikerHen yet? She is over that way.

Julibird: Thanks. Yes, it was just a guesstimate for this ride. I did not set out to actually test any bikes that day...it was kind of a lark. I think the frame size was pretty close, because of a fit I had done at my shop recently, but I agree that if I was actually getting serious about putting the Diva on a short list, another test would be in order, with more customizing.

The thing I have not figured out yet is: The hoods feel a bit too far away, and the drops feel a bit close or high. Do others feel this way often? Wondering what fixes this...angle of bars, etc?

[Beane]

The thing I have not figured out yet is: The hoods feel a bit too far away, and the drops feel a bit close or high. Do others feel this way often? Wondering what fixes this...angle of bars, etc?

One thing that might make a difference is the type of bars. Some have nice short reach, but also very shallow drop. It sounds like you'd prefer a deeper drop. The Modolo venus bars (which i keep thinking about getting but haven't yet) seem to have a short reach to the hoods (and short reach from drops to levers) but a deeper drop. Don't quote me on this though, since I've never seen them in person. I think Kathi on this forum has them (do a search?) . You might also find that rotating the bars toward you would move the drops farther away, but I dunno.

BTW, there is a sweet looking diva on ebay right now...

[VeloVT]

Hey Starfish,
It was me who got the Scott (Contessa CR1 pro). I should say here that the Contessa CR1 pro uses exactly the same frame as the men's/unisex version of the CR1 (although they've pinked it a little). The difference is components, the Contessa comes with smaller handlebars, short-reach shifters, and stock it comes with compact gearing and shorter cranks (though I had them switch out to a standard double with 172.5s). I got an XS frame and the geometry seems pretty comfortable. (I think we're about the same height, I'm 5'6", 31.5" inseam).

Sadly, I"ve spent a lot of time on the trainer with it but haven't taken it outside yet. This week was the first nice weather we've had (we've had weeks of "mixed precip", yeah, wet snow, freezing rain, rain that freezes overnight, yuck ), but the roads are still really awful, sandy/gravelly/salty and I'm feeling protective of my shiny new bike still. However, it feels great on the trainer . Hoping the road ride quality is similar.

Orbeas are very sexy looking bikes. I've never ridden one so I can't comment on the ride. I can say that I picked up a Diva at the shop and was stunned to find even the very small size I picked up significantly heavier than the larger men's Orbea I hefted (which was either the Onix or the Orca I think, another full carbon frame). This leads me to suspect they may use a lesser quality of carbon in the Diva. Definitely ride more carbon bikes before giving up on carbon, because different carbons can feel very, very different. They can feel kind of wooden, or they can feel really, really silky but stiff at the same time. Two summers ago now I tested bunches of carbon bikes when my bf was buying a bike... Depending on your budget, I would suggest trying a Cervelo. Bf eventually decided on a Madone because it was so much less expensive and he couldn't justify the Cervelo for his purposes, but the R3 was by far our favorite bike. He wandered into the shop we tested it at last week and saw the 2007 model in his size marked down to about what he paid for the Madone and turned a little green about the gills momentarily .

Oh yeah, I forfeit my right to comment, I bought my most recent bike online without ever test riding it first .

[Starfish]

Hi Beane and Liza, thanks! That is a bunch of good feedback.

I actually think the Scott might be sometihng I need to try, because I really am not sure I need a shorter woman's frame...but I definitely DO need the women's bars and short reach, etc. In fact, I am also 5'6"...but my legs are a full 2 inches shorter than yours!

I'm surprised about the Diva vs. the Orca for weight. The Diva I hoisetd was super light...although I did not compare to Orca. I understand that the Diva has tubes calibrated for women...thinner tubes, etc, for women?

Anyhow, this is all good input. Thanks!

[VeloVT]

A slight annoyance with the Scott -- my XS bike came with 40cm Ritchey Biomax bars. I really like Ritchey Biomax bars -- I had put them on my old bike even. They are short-drop bars , and they have nice swept-back tops and the anatomic bend is reasonably comfortable.

But who puts 40cm bars on a bike that also specs 165mm cranks??? Obviously designed by a man! I switched out the cranks for 172.5s (but I don't hold the crank spec against them, it would probably be appropriate for a lot of people looking at an XS frame). But I really think, at least on the XS frame (on a WSD bike) they should have spec'd 38s. Come to think of it, I haven't checked to men's version -- I almost doubt they'd spec 42s on an XS men's bike though. I think my bf's 52 cm Madone came with 40s...

I can ride the 40s, so I'm not in a tear to replace them, but I likely will eventually. I've ridden 38s, 40s and 42s and 38s are definitely the most comfortable for me.

Off topic, Deda makes its lightweight Newton Bar in a 40 o-o (same as standard 38) size in the anatomic bend, but annoyingly they don't make it in that size in the bend style that looks super comfortable (the shallow traditional bend they call "Italian classic"). Since the president of Castelli noticed our complaints I'm hoping maybe the Deda people will notice too!!!!! Deda, please make the Italian Classic bend Newton bar in the 40 cm o-o size!!!!