Flexible Flier
With race models like the Orca and Opal, this small Basque company has a well-deserved reputation as a maker of elite-level bikes. In an effort to get similar performance at a more attractive price for everyday riders, Orbea simply laid less-expensive carbon fiber into the same molds it uses for the Opal. The result? “A great all-rounder,” wrote one tester. And while it’s a fine climber, everyone generally agreed it wasn’t quite as nimble as they’d hoped. Testers were unanimous in their dislike of the Zeus Pro brakes—we’d look to swap those out—though the Shimano 105/Tiagra drivetrain received solid scores across the board. 19.6 lbs (57 cm);
Handling: 3.8
Responsiveness: 3.9