Orbea Aqua - TDI (TDF?)

[apguy]

Shouting out to the masses (or in fact anyone who knows more than I do...)

For the last 6 months I have been using my Spez Hardrock to commute 5 miles to work (in Londinium) Every day. Not like some nabby-pampy Hybrid riders

Now this is less than ideal as it has front suspension, disks, big fat tyres and weighs more than I do (probably). Now I don't want to change tyres etc as the Hardrock is good at its intended purpose (as I also use it around Thetford forest) But I do want to go faster on the road.

Now Hybrids don't do anything for me, and fixies are too much like hard work (and look like they are trying to be cool) so I've fixed on a proper racer. Now the last racer I had was 20 years ago, some kind of Raleigh with less gears than I've got fingers.

So off I trot, only to find that racers are now a bit niche, as not as many folks want them now. Which means my £500 budget doesn't go to far. So I started getting flash and looked at Bianchi, Boardman et-al. But I've spotted a Orbea Aqua 2008 model in white with Shimano Ultegra, 105 set, carbon forks and stays, carbon seat post in my size at the apparent knock-down price of £995. This is reduced from £1200.

Thing is, in my numpty non-bike world, I've a) never heard of Orbea, Google is less than useless and b) I can't find the list price of the Aqua, especially as there was a TDI and TDF with either Shimano or Campy gear.

Anyone care to offer a comment or view? Am I about to buy the Lada of the bike world?

[anonymous-user]

Orbea - spanish design, probably made in the far east with almost every other bike but thats not a bad thing, very good frame design, very well known on the continent, used by some pro teams, general thumbs up.

the aqua is a really nice bike, i looked at one before choosing the boardman (the reason being the boardman was reduced to £649 and was too well specced to not buy at that price)

i can imagine that list price was around £1200 but you should be able to knock another £100 or so off that or at least get some shoes and pedals thrown in free as its an 08 bike.

ultegra/105 parts are light and durable, at a guess its an ultegra rear mech and 105 shifters and front mech. only concern would be that the wheels might be a bit too light for road work though and may require you to be extra vigilant for pot holes and things though.

[aberdeeneuan]

I have an Orbea Onix (the carbon frame one) which I've had since March. The company are much bigger on the continent than here. The bike itself is superb and I like that nobody else has one! What i would say is that, although it runs tiagra and 105, I rode a LOT of bikes, some with 105 and some with tiagra, and I could not really tell the difference. I took the view I'd rather ride carbon on a lower groupset and upgrade it if I wanted to later, rather than have to buy another bike with a carbon frame later. For the money your being quoted I paid the same for my carbon bike (it was an 08 bike too. )

If your budget is a grand, you need to decide what's important to you, so I'd ride some other bikes as well - try the Boardman as it just gets so many good reviews (I was tempted but had just fallen for the Orbea completely!). But if your budget is really about the £500 mark, I'd keep hunting - I know the shop I bought my Orbea from were doing the Aqua with 105 for 799 when I got mine.

Oh, and I'll never understand the Orbea naming convention! Essentially, the frame is named for a set of bikes (so Aqua for the aluminum, Onyx for the entry carbon, Orca for the top end stuff) and then the components are also named (so Vuelta in my case). I could never find the same names twice, so I'm guessing they don't spend much on marketing!

[apguy]

Thanks for the comments, at least it confirmed I wasn't looking at a dog.

I take the point about the Aqua name, hence my confusion when trying to find a retail price. I'd be interested to know where your Onix came from as I can't find an 08 Aqua anywhere near £800. And the new 09 model actually has a lower grade groupset and no carbon rear stays Thanks.

[aberdeeneuan]

I got it from a bike shop in Worcestershire called epic cycles. They are in the middle of nowhere, but some great roads to test ride on. I dealt with simon, but they are all helpfull. Cycling plus had a big review the other month, have you looked at the giant bikes? One won bike of the year, i liked them as well and plenty of choice across the price range. As for the onyx, i like it a lot, it's fast and responsive, though the wheels are a bit heavy but most of them are at this price as people look at groupsets rather than rims, but i'll upgrade them eventually. I rode a 1500 quid bianchi carbon against it and the frame was very compliant, but you'd really feel the benefit over long rides and i'm not planning on anything over a few hours so was happy with my choice. Plus, it had campag on it which i hated!