ORBEA ORDU M30

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220 BIKES
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ORBEA ORDU M30
The Ordu M30 is an entry level TT bike at an affordable price point.
We take one for a spin to see if it delivers the right option for
your first triathlon-specific machine
WORDS: SUSANNAH OSBORNE IMAGES: TRENT VAN DER JAGT
W
hen a bike shares some of its
DNA with a world-recordsetting steed, there’s an
expectation it will have
inherited some of its relative’s characteristics.
The Ordu M30 is the baby brother in Orbea’s
family of 10 Ordu triathlon bikes and is aimed
at athletes who are just starting out in the
sport, or roadies who are dipping their toes
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into time trialling, yet it shares many of the
aero features of its more expensive siblings.
And while this is clearly a bike with a
modest spec and value-for-money price point,
the Ordu M30 still boasts many of the
features of the Ordu ridden by Andrew
Starykowicz in setting a world-best Ironman
bike split. (Although it doesn’t come with a
guarantee that you’ll do the same.)
But parting with the cash for your first
tri-specific bike is a big deal, so it’s worth
spending time testing both fit and function if
you’re considering the Ordu M30. This is an
aggressive bike with a compact fit, which on
paper jars with its entry-level label. Like all
bikes it won’t suit every rider, but if you and
this bike are a good fit, you’re likely to spend
many happy hours in each other’s company.
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Vision’s cockpit provides
plenty of adjustment to
dial in your position
The frameset offers
ample space for multiple
water-carrying solutions
A pair of race wheels,
spares and water and
you’re ready to race
THE FRAME
The carbon monocoque OME frameset shares the
same aero profiling as the rest of the Ordu family,
although the grade of carbon fibre is less
expensive than the bikes further up the range.
Internal cabling makes for a clean silhouette and
is one of many an aero element – exposed cables
are kept to a minimum to reduce potential drag.
Ordu’s wedge-shaped seat-tube junction is a
boxy, architectural feature that creates a striking
profile. “It was the best way we found to maximise
appropriate air flow once you combined the
frame with a rider,” says Orbea operations
manager Paul Alexander.
Other aero features, refined during extensive
testing in a San Diego wind tunnel, are the
teardrop-shaped down and head tubes, both of
which also feature on Orbea’s redesigned Orca
road bike, and the mounting locations for bottles
and nutrition, which, it’s claimed, can reduce drag
and increase your efficiency. There’s a top tube
mount behind the stem for a tool or nutrition bag
and three mounts on the downtube are placed to
accommodate a single aerodynamic bottle low
down, or two standard bidons.
THE FIT
On the whole, triathlon bikes have evolved to
accommodate a greater range of riders, and
many now feature a more moderate riding
position than before. However, the Ordu doesn’t
necessarily follow this trend. The riding position is
demanding, and inexperienced or new-to-thesport riders may find it takes some getting used
to (signing up to a yoga course alongside your
training could be a wise investment – flexibility is
the key here).
With four sizes from XS to L Orbea aims to
accommodate a big range of riders, but riders will
either love or hate this set-up; the stack and reach
are 551mm and 419mm (size M), which is fairly
extreme. (Compare this to a Cervelo P3 at
522mm, 411mm (54cm) and a medium Trek Speed
Concept 7.5 (517mm, 408mm).
The Ordu is streamlined
from end to end
THE SPEC
For a bike that retails at $2,999 the Ordu M30’s
spec is fair and in line with most bikes at this
price point. The Shimano 105 11-speed cassette
offers a range of sprockets from 11-28, which
when combined with the 52x36 FSA Gossamer
crankset means you should never be short of
gears out on the road.
Shimano Bar End SL-BSR1 shifters form part
of Shimano’s Dura Ace range of components.
A step up from Shimano 105, these mid range
shifters deliver precise gear changing both in
the time trial position on the aero bar ends,
and on the base bars.
The finishing kit – the contact points on the bike
and generally anything except the frame, forks,
wheels or drivetrain – includes Vision Trimax Alloy
bars and Vision Team 25 Clincher. American brand
“SAY JUMP TO THE ORDU 30 AND THE
BIKE MAY WELL SAY ‘HOW HIGH?”
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Vision is known for creating slippery-fast aero
components that adorn the bikes of pro
triathletes, like three-time Ironman Champion
Jessica Jacobs. Vision also sponsors three teams in
the pro peloton including Cannondale Pro Cycling.
Vision’s TriMax Aero Alloy is a light, aero wing
shaped bar with bar extensions, which is pretty
standard stuff for an entry-level TT bike. The
Team 25 Clincher is a 25mm deep, everyday
wheelset, which should be the first thing you
upgrade – increasing the profile of the wheelset
and reducing the weight of the wheels is a sure
fire way to get the most out of this bike and to
improve the Ordu M30s aerodynamics.
There are two upgrades offered by Orbea –
take the option to upgrade to the T30 clincher and
you instantly save 300g. Go the whole hog and
1
opt for the TriMax T30 and you’ll get a hand-built
wheelset with 30mm alloy aero section rims that
will cost around a quarter of the price of the bike
again – but should help you reach that PB.
THE RIDE
This is a mass-market triathlon bike, yet the
Ordu M30 offers a stiff, responsive ride.
The inclination of this bike is to go forwards at
speed – pedal down into the stiff, bottom bracket
area and the bike leaps forward immediately. In
fact, say, “jump” to the Ordu30 and the bike
might as well say “how high?”
But rather than just ride this bike you need to
own it and hold it in a straight line, which in all
honesty isn’t always easy and at times it can feel
like you’re fighting the bike. (Perhaps think of it
2
like a teenage boy – full of potential energy but
in need of guidance and direction.)
Descending is fun, cornering is slick and fast
and will keep you on your toes, but the stiffness in
the frame produces a bumpy ride on rough and
potholed roads, so if you prefer a more
comfortable and relaxed, cruisy ride this bike may
not be for you.
For an entry level ‘mass market’ triathlon bike
the Ordu M30 shares many of the aero attributes
of more expensive bikes, which make it a good
choice for your first TT ride. But do bear in mind,
the set-up points more to that of an experienced
rider, and while it gives a responsive ride, it’s a
bike that requires confident handling to get the
best out of it. If you’re game, there’s speed to be
had from this machine. ■ 220
3
1 The Vision TriMax set-up provides a great entry into the fully adjustable world of aerobars. You could however, save quite a bit of weight with a carbon-fibre
alternative 2 The ‘Pro’ compact crankset is the perfect spec for a bike at this price point 3 Internal routing keeps the front end clean and turbulence free.
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BIKE SPEC
SIZE TESTED 54 OVERALL WEIGHT 9,400G
FRAME AND FORK
Sizes XS, S, M, L
Frame Ordu carbon OME, monocoque
Fork Ordu OME carbon fork,
aluminium steerer
TRANSMISSION
Crankset FSA Gossamer 36x52
Cassette Shimano 105 5800 11-28 11-Speed
Chain Shimano HG600
Derailleurs Shimano 105 5800
Shifters Shimano Bar End SL-BSR1
WHEELS
Front Vision Team 25 Clincher
Rear Vision Team 25 Clincher
Tyres Challenge Forte Race 700x23
COMPONENTS
Stem Orbea OC-II
Bars Vision TriMax Alloy
Saddle Prologo Zero Tri T2,0
Seatpost Orbea Ordu OME
Brakes Orbea OC-II
DIMENSIONS (SIZE M)
1 Head angle 73°
2 Seat angle 78°
3 Effective top tube length 539mm
4 Seat tube length 575mm
(centre of crank to top tube)
5 Standover height 802mm
6 Chainstay length 405mm
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