Orbea Diva

[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/showt...=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