Giant or Orbea

Quoted message said:

Hi there, hoping you might be able to help. I'm looking at two bikes: a 2004 Giant TCR (not the
composite model), and a 2004 Orbea

My personal experience with Orbea has been satisfactory. Nothing outstanding but OK. I have one in
France. I also know of two other people who purchased an Orbea bike in the same bike shop and both
had a bad experience with their frame (it simply broke after a few rides in both cases). Granted
this was not on the model you reference. In both cases the Bike Shop guy replaced the carbon frames
with no questions asked (obvious manufactoring defect). Their aluminium weld jobs are a not very
tidy, but that is mostly esthetics. Don't know about their steel frames though. Steel + Carbon fork
ought to give you a comfortable ride though.

- Chris - customgetaways.comcustomgetaways.comOpen ↗ Sport Vacations (Multisport, Cycling,
Marathons, etc...)

On 12 Dec 2003 07:28:43 -0800, [email hidden] (Reenie)

Quoted message said:

Hi there, hoping you might be able to help. I'm looking at two bikes: a 2004 Giant TCR (not the
composite model), and a 2004 Orbea Marmolada. Does anyone have any experience with any of these
bikes (including older version!) - or these brands?

Which TCR?

I have a 2001 TCR2. I love it. It's a great bike. However, it's entirely too aggressive in it's
geometry and componentry for non-racing use -- I changed out the stem for a 45 degree rise, 130mm
stem, and now I'm pretty happy with the fit. I continue to wish for a triple whenever I find a long
or steep hill.

The Obrea Marmolada looks similarly aggressive. It has nearly the same gearing range as my TCR2 came
with (although the TCR2 was available in a triple, which I should have gotten). They seem very
similar, except frame material (TCR is Al, Marm is steel) and component manufacturer (TCR has
Shimano, Marm has Campy).

If you're going to be racing, or are very lightweight and flexible, then either of those bikes ought
to be great for you. Else, consider something a little less aggressive.

Quoted message said:

Thanks. Reenie

--
Rick Onanian

Thanks for all of the replies.

At the moment I ride a steel Bianchi which is a very comfortable ride
- so I'm looking for something slightly more aggressive. While I very much like the look of the
Orbea - I've heard a few things about the fragility of their frames already (which has been
repeated here).

Also - while my local bike guy is willing to order me an Orbea (there are no local dealers and I
want to go to a local shop) he does deal in Giants. So I think I will go for the TCR - which is also
slightly less expensive than the Orbea. I took a look at the TCR yesterday and was very impressed,
there seems to be a few upgrades from the 2003 model. SO I think that settles it!

Thanks, again.

Reenie

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Reenie) said:

Hi there, hoping you might be able to help. I'm looking at two bikes: a 2004 Giant TCR (not the
composite model), and a 2004 Orbea Marmolada. Does anyone have any experience with any of these
bikes (including older version!) - or these brands?

Which TCR?

I have a 2001 TCR2. I love it. It's a great bike. However, it's entirely too aggressive in it's
geometry and componentry for non-racing use -- I changed out the stem for a 45 degree rise, 130mm
stem, and now I'm pretty happy with the fit. I continue to wish for a triple whenever I find a
long or steep hill.

The Obrea Marmolada looks similarly aggressive. It has nearly the same gearing range as my TCR2
came with (although the TCR2 was available in a triple, which I should have gotten). They seem
very similar, except frame material (TCR is Al, Marm is steel) and component manufacturer (TCR has
Shimano, Marm has Campy).

If you're going to be racing, or are very lightweight and flexible, then either of those bikes
ought to be great for you. Else, consider something a little less aggressive.

Quoted message said:

Thanks. Reenie

Hi Rick,

It's the 2004 TCR alloy:

giant-giant-Open ↗
bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8834&ra-
nge=150&model=10813

(hope the link works!)

R

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Reenie) said:

Hi there, hoping you might be able to help. I'm looking at two bikes: a 2004 Giant TCR (not the
composite model), and a 2004 Orbea Marmolada. Does anyone have any experience with any of these
bikes (including older version!) - or these brands?

Which TCR?

I have a 2001 TCR2. I love it. It's a great bike. However, it's entirely too aggressive in it's
geometry and componentry for non-racing use -- I changed out the stem for a 45 degree rise, 130mm
stem, and now I'm pretty happy with the fit. I continue to wish for a triple whenever I find a
long or steep hill.

The Obrea Marmolada looks similarly aggressive. It has nearly the same gearing range as my TCR2
came with (although the TCR2 was available in a triple, which I should have gotten). They seem
very similar, except frame material (TCR is Al, Marm is steel) and component manufacturer (TCR has
Shimano, Marm has Campy).

If you're going to be racing, or are very lightweight and flexible, then either of those bikes
ought to be great for you. Else, consider something a little less aggressive.

Quoted message said:

Thanks. Reenie

I have an Orbea (2002) Altec 2 setup, and I love it -- alum. frame, carbon fork, full Ultegra. I had read some reviews on Orbea in Bicycling (a USA periodical) and did some research. You get quality materials, great construction, and a zippy ride. Have not ridden any Giants, but would have bought the Orbea anyway, since it's unique. Plus, the "no-stickers" paint job is really very nice (all logos and designs are painted on). I'm not a hardcore racer, but I love to ride, and I love the responsiveness and feel of my bike.

Plus, did you see Iban Mayo crank up the Alp d' Huez on an Orbea in this year's Tour? It was beautiful.

I have to confess that seeing Mayo zip up on the Orbea was inspiring, and perhaps the reason I was
considering the Orbea... and it is indeed a beautiful bike. So I decided that when I return to live
in Europe I'll be getting that Orbea! Indeed my parents live in Spain and I understand the Orbeas
are less expensive there...

Quoted message said:

I have an Orbea (2002) Altec 2 setup, and I love it -- alum. frame, carbon fork, full Ultegra. I
had read some reviews on Orbea in Bicycling (a USA periodical) and did some research. You get
quality materials, great construction, and a zippy ride. Have not ridden any Giants, but would
have bought the Orbea anyway, since it's unique. Plus, the "no- stickers" paint job is really very
nice (all logos and designs are painted on). I'm not a hardcore racer, but I love to ride, and I
love the responsiveness and feel of my bike.

Plus, did you see Iban Mayo crank up the Alp d' Huez on an Orbea in this year's Tour? It was
beautiful.

--

Excellent! Another convert to the church of Orbea!

Enjoy the stellar European riding.

Regards,
James

I own a 2002/2 Orbea XLR8R with Columbus Carve stays and Muscle fork. The bike is equipped with Campy Record 10spd and Ritchey WCS road wheels. The ride has been very responsibe and stable. Of the 5 road bikes I own this is by far my favorite ride. The rig with LOOK pedals weight in at 17.5lbs and I ride a 58cm frame. At 180lb myself I feel very little flex under hard pedaling conditions. The frame finish is excellent and the paint quality is superior to many bikes I see 2 to 3 times the price.

I highly recommend an Orbea to anyone.

Mike

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Reenie
Hi there, hoping you might be able to help. I'm looking at two bikes: a 2004 Giant TCR (not the
composite model), and a 2004 Orbea Marmolada. Does anyone have any experience with any of these
bikes (including older version!) - or these brands?

I can't find any reviews of the Orbea (they're all in Spanish), so any comments would be
appreciated.

Thanks.

Reenie