Orbea Fleche 09?

paul_or

Some advice please, I am considering an Orbea Fleche 09 model with the Tiagra twin ring upgrade, another contender was the cube aerial 09, but this has a 6 week lead time. Any thoughts on the Fleche from anyone who has ridden one/lived with one??

Thanks.

tonyp71

Hiya,
As an Orbea owner myself, I am slightly biased when I say get one!
Had mine for 6 months now and its done me proud, no problems at all. Mines the gavia with 105 throughout and a decent light strong frame which will be great for upgrades next year.
Its also a bit different from your run of the mill mainstream models.

avoidingmyphd

i have a fleche 08. FWIW I love it.

The 09 is a different beast altogether though. As well as the uprated groupset (tiagra rather than sora) it has a different frame (aqua rather than asphalt). At first glance this looks like it's trickled down from higher up the range, but I'm not sure it's the same as the Aqua frame you get on their slightly more expensive models. So I'm not sure anyone can help you out with the Aqua/Tiagra combo that the 09 Fleche amounts to.

But on orbeas in general, those of us who have one will say go for it (if it fits).

Baytt

i have an Orbea myself so slightly biased love em, cant really go wrong

paul_or

Thanks all, looks like a good choice. I look forward to seeing it in the metal!

hopper1

I have an Asphalt, and I love it, too.
In fact I like Orbea's so much, I'm about to buy an Orca!
Excellent bikes, with a little bit more exclusivity than Giant, Trek etc....

markos1963

+1 for an Orbea. Got one love it(Onix) just wish I could afford an Orca.

Russell Smith

Paul ,

Orbea What price is the 09 Out of interest

wiffachip

Orbea seem to make loads of different bikes. Which one is equivalent to the Giant SCR/Defy range ?

paul_or

Russell - the price for the 09 is now emerging - seems to be around the £550 mark.

As already stated this is a totally different machine for 09 with the aqua frame as opposed to the asphalt. Mine is currently somewhere between the Basque country and Bildeston, Suffolk, so next weekend I'll post full details of it, with a bit of luck!!

paul_or

Well, the 09 Fleche arrived today, and here she is in all her glory! First a quick mention to my local bike shop, lifecycle of Bildeston in Suffolk - http://www.lifecycleuk.com/ - who did a superb job in setting it up for me, even to the extent of trimming the head post!

I've taken the bike out for a rainy first run this afternoon, an easyish 15 miler in the wet. First impressions are hugely positive.

Using the Aqua frame, the 09 Fleche is a real step up from the previous model which used the Asphalt frame. The construction and finish of the frame is first rate, and combined with the Orbea carbon forms it gives a nicely stiff and compliant ride. Gone is the oblong section of the tubing, now replaced by a subtle oval shaped profile.

The bike runs on Kronos rims with Vittoria tyres, and the variable road quality in my local area certainily gave the wheels a good workout, but at no point did it seem to be unsettled. The standard fit brakes are also upgraded in comparison with the previous range.

Today's conditions (wet leaves and surface water) led me to take corners slowly, so I can't yet comment on the true handling characteristics, but it has an accurate feel which already inspires a good deal of confidence in me.

I opted for the optional Tiagra chainset and this, combined with a 105 rear derailleur, is giving a fast and positive shift. The Selle Italia saddle is also a nice item to have as standard.

It is only hinting at its true potential so far, but I am beginning to feel that this will be a fast and hugely enjoyable road machine, alllowing a good upgrade route in the future when needs and funds allow.

So to answer the question I posed in my original post, I would already say that if you're looking for an entry level roadie in the £5-600 bracket, the Orbea gives you a great starting point that is also a bit different.

fto-si

Paul, slightly off subject, but where are you from in Suffolk?
I am based in Ipswich and regularly ride past Life Cycle although I confess to have never been in there!
I to own an Orbea, an Orca which I purchased from Epic Cycles who can't get enough praise in my book, superb service.

fooshnicken

I'm expecting to take delivery of mine this weekend coming. I've ordered the Orbea Fleche in White and Blue

Russell Smith

"So to answer the question I posed in my original post, I would already say that if you're looking for an entry level roadie in the £5-600 bracket, the Orbea gives you a great starting point that is also a bit different."

Has anyone upgraded there frame if so from what to what and what was the cost , did you source the Frame yourself or get your local LBS to do the lot.

Cheers In Advance

Russ

paul_or

fooshnicken wrote:

I'm expecting to take delivery of mine this weekend coming. I've ordered the Orbea Fleche in White and Blue

Hope you enjoy it as much as I am. Mine came in the standard silver/black/red (as in the photo), I've now had it since the end of October and it's a superb ride, did you go for the optional Tiagra/105 upgrade by the way? I did and as it was only £12 I am really pleased - crankset is tiagra, rear mech is 105.

More on general progress here.

http://paulmor.wordpress.com/

fooshnicken

I wasn't aware that you could get any upgrades but when it arrived at the LBS it had come with a 105 rear mech and Tiagra front mech which I hadn't expected. The crank was the standard Sora which I was expecting.




As for upgrade I am thinking of perhaps changing the wheels to Shimano RS20's or RS500's in black. I think it would look better than the standard wheels and perhaps weigh a bit less.

paul_or

Nice looking bike in blue and white - but the mud will show up!!!!

Yeah, the standard kit is somewhat confusing: the brochure and most bike shops quote the mech as entirely Sora, which I believe is the 'standard' kit. However the guy in my local shop just mentioned that if you ask for it, they will upgrade it for a very reasonable price!!

Enjoy!!!! 8)

fooshnicken

You're not wrong about the mud :-) I went for a 30K ride this morning to get used to the bike and I have to say I absolutely love it. When I got back from the ride I could see that the white shows off the dirt really well.

marusches

must say i have a gavia too good bike but mine turned up from spain with quite a few scratches on and no documents in the box.think there is something wrong with the front sti too......still very good bike and quite light 9.2 compared to my old steely

marusches

should have said also the tyre shipped on these are vittoria zaffiro and they are crap only done 52 mile on my gavia and have had 2 punctures CHANGE TYRES !!!!!!!!!!! mine also has ultegra rear mech must upgrade the back end

Lagavulin

Could be an advantage it being white. Almost forces you to clean it and look after it which can only be a good thing. Well, that's the theory anyway.

Smart looking bike that. I'd chuck some blue tyres on it though. :oops:

paul_or

Yes, I have noticed the standard-fit tyres on the Orbea are not too hot. My old bike was a very basic Raleigh Airlite which had the necessary frame clearance to allow Schwalbe Marathon Plus to be fitted; the Orbea, having a racing geometry, will not take them. Out of interest, what would people recommend as being a good 'general use' tyre upgrade from the Vittoria Zaffiros? I know that C+ did a road tyres test a couple of issues ago so I guess the answer lies therein....

Ironically, the Marathon Pluses, having given me sterling service all summer, punctured on the first ride out when I gave them to a cycling mate!! :roll:



________________________________________________

fooshnicken

Lagavulin wrote:

Smart looking bike that. I'd chuck some blue tyres on it though. :oops:

I've already considered that option

paul_or wrote:

Out of interest, what would people recommend as being a good 'general use' tyre upgrade from the Vittoria Zaffiros?

I'm thinking that I may go for some Continental Ultra Gator Duraskin Tyres

Russell Smith

"should have said also the tyre shipped on these are vittoria zaffiro and they are crap "

Blimey I went 9 months before a puncture with the Vittoria Zaffiro, and that was not on the road but in the garage.

marusches

how the hell do you guys get photo's in your posts ? just found out of lbs that i didnt get all my documents with my orbea gavia so orbea are sending them direct.. I think the silver red combo looks nicest i went for that option on my gavia

paul_or

marusches wrote:

how the hell do you guys get photo's in your posts ? just found out of lbs that i didnt get all my documents with my orbea gavia so orbea are sending them direct.. I think the silver red combo looks nicest i went for that option on my gavia

upload the pictures to something like photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com) then paste the IMG code into your post on here....

fooshnicken

marusches wrote:

how the hell do you guys get photo's in your posts ? just found out of lbs that i didnt get all my documents with my orbea gavia so orbea are sending them direct.. I think the silver red combo looks nicest i went for that option on my gavia

What documents were you expecting? My Orbea came with a CD/DVD which has the manual and other information on it and it also has everything you need to register your bikes warranty.

marusches

i was expecting the same documents as you . all i got was a bike in a box .no paperwork or anything.after a call to lbs they are sorting out the said cd/dvd.i found out about waranty details through orbea.com. sat here debating if i should get a pair of rodi airline wheels for mine , cant decide . could do with stronger wheels than the wh r500's as ive allready dented the rims.i blame my large frame 91kg and potholes (nothing to do with eating to much food) honest.

http://www.shop.kinetic-one.co.uk/2009-rodi-airline-evo-wheels-road-time-trial-triathlon-cyclocross-bike---free-tyrestubestapes-253-p.asp