The Orbea Orca OMR has been considered the best riding race performance frameset offered by the Basque bike manufacturer, which is a strong statement as Orbea has long sponsored pro cycling teams that prize that balance. Offered here as the 2017 Orca OMR Disc, this cutting edge frameset delivers size by size frame engineering, an intelligent and well-engineered blend of carbon fiber, and race geometry in a light weight, compliant design that favors serious enthusiasts and racing cyclists for whom aero is to be respected, but prefer a more forgiving ride that suits an attacking style, especially when the road goes up, and down.

Though considered a 2017, this is the same frame as the 2019 model, in the 2017 color scheme. The monocoque carbon construction maximizes the array of carbon from Toray to nail the blend of stiffness, power transfer, and lightweight- again without sacrificing compliance. The Flat Mount standard disc design of the frame and fork, along with thru-axle use allows the Orca OMR Disc to easily accommodate 28mm tires on modern width rims. A 27.2mm seatpost is spec'ed so again you can add or minimize compliance to personal preference with your seatpost choice. Check out the highly effective and aero integrated clamping system. As you'd expect, a braze-on front derailleur is required. We are fans of Orbea's internal routing system, which can work equally well with mechanical and electronic wired drivetrains. Orbea opted for the BB386 bottom bracket standard, and that also happens to be the place to enter the specifics of the frameset design.

OMR stands for Orbea Monocoque Racing and for many cyclists power transfer is still king. The BB386 bottom bracket shell is oversized and offers fitment options for virtually every crank/BB system worth riding. The oversized bottom bracket junction of the Orca OMR Disc is the foundation of the overall frame design and emphasizes the key to the success Orbea has had with the Orca over the years. Orbea uses laser-cut pre-preg carbon from Toray to ensure exact sizing and alignment. While many manufacturers will tout one specific carbon as the key to a frame, Orbea freely tells you they use several weights and composites to ensure the proper lay-up, with no wasted material, with the knowledge that different zones and areas of the frameset have different requirements. In truth, every carbon frame is made this way to some extent, but Orbea doesn't hide it.

The engineers want you to understand the exacting nature of their work. The shapes and carbon lay-up used in each tube and junction are brought together into the mold, even the thin, compliant seatstays. Pressure compacts the resin and 3 different Toray carbon variants in a uniform process to deliver the proper result. Even with the oversized headtube and BB junctions, the slightly flattened toptube (which allows for some vertical compliance over rough surfaces or wheel impacts), through the stays, and even the fork, the Orca OMR disc has a noticeably unified ride quality- very balanced in feel and response- in a way few other bikes ever will. Is it the absolute stiffest. No? Is is the most compliant? No. Does it perform under stress and massive input with concentrated power and a confidence-inducing response? Yes, in a way that any rider who appreciates subtle differences in frame designs will truly understand. Any cyclist who logs heavy mileage, loves to dance on the pedals to fly uphill, and get low to maximize the speed and rush of a an assertive descent will get it. Riding in this way isn't just about power transfer, or about mastering the pave, but about the thrill of being great all-around. The Orca series bikes have always been developed these cyclists at heart.

The application of disc brakes has offered even the most traditional road frameset builders new opportunities to save and/or redistribute weight, improve ride quality, and offer new options that suit other new research and technologies. Though the OMR Disc considered a true aero frameset, Orbea has utilized tube shapes to positive effect and has moved to the bowed-leg OMR Disc tapered carbon fork that not only offers more clearance and integrates the disc caliper mount and housing into a clean shape, but also improves airflow around the tire and rim as it passes to the frameset and headtube. With no rim brake mount this much more easily attained, so disc brakes ensure real gains in overall aerodynamics, while improving braking in all conditions, and allowing lighter weight, stronger, wider rims that carry wider, higher volume tires that reduce rolling resistance and can really reduce road noise up to the rider. None of these advantages happen in a vacuum, and all must be properly engineered and integrated to meet Orbea's performance and ride quality standards.

The same rigor and testing goes into developing the rear triangle, disc brake mount and oversized chainstays. Power transfer is excellent, overall torsional resistance is impressive, and the ride quality impeccable. Does it ride like the original Orca? No, and it shouldn't. That overly compliant bike was incredible in the early days of pro's on carbon bikes, but new carbon, new engineering, and new means of adding compliance mean the Orca OMR does have better power transfer and handling. The 12/142mm thru-axle dropout and Flat Mount disc integration are perfectly executed. The chainstays are ideal at 414mm long allowing the lower bottom bracket and road hugging geometry to allow the rider to center properly while seated, sprinting, or descending. The head and seat tube angles are essentially balanced around the 73° ideal with minor variance based on frame size, and the 43mm rake fork feels just perfect, even in the disc configuration. Headtube lengths still favor a race position, but are more generous per size than most true race bikes. Again, balance is the watchword, and again, Orbea demonstrates that not only do they know this, but how to achieve it.

If you are looking for a performance road frameset that you can harmonize with, handle with an immediate intuitive feel that brings you joy without thinking about, and inspire you to become a more passionate, complete, and accomplished cyclist, the Orbea OMR Disc Frameset cannot be overlooked.