Description:
Are you ready to join the 29er revolution? Now is the time to take a look at a new generation of 29er – Orbea’s carbon Alma. Orbea has created the lightest, fastest, most technologically advanced carbon 29er ever. A mix of 80% T700 and 20% M30s high modulus carbon is molded into a frame that is laterally rigid with its oversized downtube with integrated fender. And the Four Point rear end, with its unique parallelogram design and integrated, molded-in dropouts is vertically compliant. Get all the advantages of 29-inch wheels – more stability on downhills, better cornering, more traction – without the weight.
Submitted by
29ersRreal
a Cross Country Rider
from Aurora, Ontario Canada Date Reviewed: September 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Canmore Orange loop
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
benchmark for speed and handling, cuts through technical single track like a knife, light weight, all combine to make riding serious fun! Probably can convince any 26er diehard of the 29er benefits for cross country riding. Best suited to more advanced riders I think
Weaknesses:
I haven't encountered any, just won't take it again to Whistler downhills - lycra and rigid bikes are definitely the wrong equipment! Can anyone say, should have his head examined...
Similar Products Used:
Fisher SuperCaliber 29er suspension, many 26er bikes incl. Ellsworth Truth, Rocky Element TO, AMP Research, Klein & Cannondale
Bike Setup:
American Classic wheels,Bontrager X-Lite Switchblade fork, XTR cranks, AC-70 post, Orbea SL stem/bars, Juicy 5, Stans NoTubes tires
Bottom Line:
This is the bike that got me back into mountain biking after an absence of a few years dedicated mainly to road and some cross. I've ridden since 1986 and many different types of bikes. This bike gives me a smile on every trail and the speed uphill is unmatched. IT makes me a better rider and I feel that the bike is pushing me to do more and more - how can you beat that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Slater Fletcher
a Racer
from California Date Reviewed: April 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
ebay -frame only
Strengths:
Sick-light and responsive! Looks like candy and handles great in tight corners and downhill unlike most comments about the 29 handling. If you are looking for a race machine this is your bike and mine is just under 22lbs and again very responsive but like others noted you need to get use to the speed into and around corners. Mine also has the option for V-brakes which is nice to have the option if you want to go that route and make it even lighter.
Weaknesses:
Only one size - Stoked it fits me at 5'10" but you need to consider this. It is a beautiful race machine but fragile as any carbon mountain bike would be as far as scratches or chips to the coating. May also just be me but I managed to break FOUR derailleur hangers in the first four months of owning this bike?? Not the “best” in mud as there is a small amount of clearance in the rear wheel (I am running 2.1) but again for cross country trails or racing it fits the part perfect. I have been on all day rides on/off of the trail too and it is comfy as my old Epic.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel, Specialized Epic and rode the Epic and Alma for about two months on the same trails. Like the Epic but I love the Alma
Bike Setup:
Reba w/ lockout, American Classic, stands, Thompson Masterpiece, F99 stem, Magura Marta SL, all XTR setup, Crossmax on the front and WTR Nano on the back
Bottom Line:
If you want a bike to take some HUGE drops or ride in the mud and put away wet this is not your bike. It is a race machine built around a light light setup responsive and aggressive geometry to get the job done fast when needed. Oh, and it is SO much fun to ride ;-)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a
from Seattle, WA. USA Date Reviewed: March 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
ANY TRAIL
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
From Team rider for Orbea
Strengths:
Super LIGHT and out climbs the 26 inch bikes. I was in a race and found myself passing people up a MUDDY wet trail...and I felt like I wasn't working!!! With my build I'm at 20.7 LBS.
Weaknesses:
No rear suspension... It's also much faster than a 26" bike so you find that you're going to fast or to hot into corners. I think that's a good thing (once you figure out the speed).
Similar Products Used:
None...just ordered a Mooto-X YBB 29er... get it next week.
Bike Setup:
SRAM X.O. Group. Avid juicy Carbon disc. FSA Carbon cranks. 2007 XTR hubs with stans ZTR 355 29er rims with Sapim CX-ray spokes about 1470 grams for the wheelset (SUPER LIGHT BUILD). Ritchey WCS stem and Bar. Reba Air fork with pop-lock. Kenda Karma 1.9 tires (running tubeless). SRAM hollow pin chain. Time ATAC Carbon/Titanium pedals. FSA Carbon seatpost. Selle Italia seat....I think that's it...
Bottom Line:
Don't buy the CRAP from the 26 inch crowd (even though I'm keeping my moots ybb 26" bike) that the bike is too big or to slow. I race the expert mountain bike category and finished 3rd in my first race with the bike (did the last 2 miles with a flat tire). This is my first year in the Expert category and I don't road race either (sand baggers!). Last year I raced sport and moved up this year hoping to just stay in the top 10. This bike seems to be more than I hoped for. The only issue I have been working on is the bike is so much faster that I have to make changes in how I fly into the corners. You can't get that kind of speed on a 26" bike. I seems to be about 6-8 miles faster going into turns and the 29" bikes do handle differently (which does not make them a lesser bike... just different). I DO NOT REGRET GOING TO A 29er! BTW I'm 5'9 so that puts me at the bottom of the range for users.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
PATRICK TWEEDY
a Cross Country Rider
from BELLEVILLE,IL Date Reviewed: November 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
CASTLEWOOD PARK
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3100.00
Purchased At:
MESA CYCLES ST.LOUIS
Strengths:
LITE WEIGHT,CLIMBING,DESENDING AND HANDLING ARE EXCELLENT.LOOKS LIKE A WORK OF ART.
STOCK SO FAR,WITH FULL XO KIT AND EGG BEATER PEDALS
Bottom Line:
THE GUYS THAT I RIDE WITH ARE ALL GOING FROM SHORT TRAVEL FULL SUSPENTION BIKES TO 5" TRAVEL ALL MOUNTAIN BIKES.I ALMOST DID TOO BUT HAVE READ A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT 29ers.I WAS AFRAID TO BACK TO A HARD TAIL AFTER CLOSE TO TEN YEARS ON FULL SUSPENTION.WELL,I WANT TO TELL YOU I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS BIKE.ON LONG SMOOTH SECTIONS IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE OF A ROAD BIKE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE WHEELS.THERE IS NO FLEX IN THE FRAME COMPARED TO A F.S.BIKE SO IT FEELS REALLY SOLID.CLIMBING LONG LOOSE ROCKY HILLS WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED ON A MTB.THE REAR 29" TIRE GETS GREAT TRACTION AND COMBINED WITH THE LITE WEIGHT IT CLIMBS BETTER THAN MY GIANT NRS.THE LIGHT WEIGHT AND BIG WHEELS MAKE DESCENDING A BLAST ALSO.A FRIEND TRIED IT OUT AND SAID THIS WILL BE HIS NEXT BIKE.LONG TRAVEL F.S.BIKES ARE VERY COOL FOR VERY ROUGH TERRAIN AND DOWNHILL BUT FOR CROSS COUNTRY THIS BIKE IS PERFECT FOR ME.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from Seattle, Wa. USA Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Devils Gultch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
SUPER LIGHT
Weaknesses:
Still looking.... Oh, It's too much fun!
Similar Products Used:
I have a Moots YBB (Full XTR), Litespeed Lookout Mountain (full XTR)and Litespeed Unicoi (Full XTR)
Bike Setup:
Reba shock, Full X.O. kit, K-Force Cranks, American Classic Wheels 29er (1535 grams), Time ATAC carbon Ti pedals, Kenda Karma tires, K-force Lite seatpost, Avid Juicy Carbon Disc brakes, Richie WCS stem (120 grams) Salsa Carbon bar, I've got the bike down to 22.3 lbs. and still looking for more ways for the bike to lose weight.
Bottom Line:
LOVE IT! Used it in a CAT 3 race (cyclocross) and it was pouring down rain and if it wasn't for my total excitement and 2 speed laps on the course I'd have killed them. I did go from 17th at the start to first place thru the first lap. But, I was having sooooo much fun on the course prior to the race I had a Pre-Mature Bike-u-lation!!! :~) This weekend I plan to temper my excitement and save it for the race! I did love how when the rear slid out on the corners, i just leaned to the outside and the rear wheel stood up and stop the slide. That would have been a sliding crash on my Cyclocross bike OR my MT. Bike. It was weird that worked....I was like hmmm, "Wow, that was nice".
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
