Orbea Aqua

Price Paid:  $1257.00 at cycopath bike shop

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Any smooth paved surface

Bike Setup:
All stock

Summary:
This bike is great, it looks amazing has carbon fiber everything and is very low weight. I was not sure if i wanted campy componets at first but now i am so glad i got them,they shift extremly well and overall they just look great.also even though this bike has a low weight it still has a frame that is strong and smooth.I am extremely satisfied with this purchase ,even if it would have cost 2,000 I would have bought it.

Strengths:
Frame,components,wheels,carbon fiber seatpost,seat stay,fork.

Weaknesses:
none great bike.

Price Paid:  $1299.00

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
The many back roads around my house

Bike Setup:
2007 Orbea Aqua Frame (Aluminum with carbon rear triangle)
Orbea Carbon Fork
Campy Veloce shifters
Campy Mirage drive-train and brakes
Fi'zi:k Arione Wing Flex Saddle
Mavic Askium Wheels
Continental Grand Prix 4000 tires

Summary:
My wife is on a cycling team and in order to be able to spend more time with her I broke down and got a bike for myself. I used to ride quite a bit but have been out of biking for years. I was after a decent entry level road bike that would allow me to enjoy rides and not feel like I was slugging along or putting more energy into the frame than into propelling me forward. This bike really flies up the hills and handles great! I'm in the process of upgrading the Askium wheels it came to some Fulcrum Racing 3's or similar. I hadn't used campy in the past, but love the campy groupo it came with. After 3 months on the bike, I'm averaging 18 mph on these hilly Tennessee rides for ~2 hours and am having a blast. Very smooth shifting and braking. To top it all off, the bike is beautiful! Excellent value for the money!

After years of being off of a bike, I had forgotten how fun it is. This bike has restored and rejuvenated my love for the sport -- and gotten me into pretty good shape to boot :)

Strengths:
- No cheap parts for an entry level bike.
- Very responsive yet comfortable ride.
- Nice looking bike.
- A bike I can grow with (the frame is decent enough to allow for further upgrades to enhance performance)

Weaknesses:
None at this price!

Similar Products Used:
Trek 2100

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Element in Edmonton

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Anything really without any pot holes!

Bike Setup:
54 cm Orange frame
American Classic 420 black bladed wheel set, with AC hubs
Ultergra group, 10 spd cassette and compact front chain rings
Shimano Flight deck, wireless
Profile Air Stryke aero bars
Schwalbe Stelvio tires

Summary:
Okay when I got back from World's in Germany and I was informed that my previous bike was going to require part's replacment. I decided the time was well sooner to purchase a new bike. I had figured on a couple of bikes& purchased the Orbea Aqua. One reason is the colour Orange, second was well the service and third after my first ride I totally love my new bike. I have ridden the bike in fairly windy conditions and did not feel the wind trying to "throw" me into the ditch, or traffic. And the frame being partial carbon fibre and aluminum still allows me to "feel part of the road" but still allows some dampening. Unlike a total aluminum where you may feel all of the road the Aqua is a very nice and enjoyable compromise while riding, and I look forward to any rides that I can do outside!

Strengths:
Well this is already mentioned, but the frame I think is a huge strength. And the way my dealer through the Canadain distributer got my bike set up the way I wanted it, so it was the bike I wanted to race with

Weaknesses:
Non

Similar Products Used:
Okay first road bike all are 54 cm:
Specialized Epic (carbon fiber) with Shimano 105 Groupo, Rolf wheel set 8 spd cassette
1999 Cannondale R1000, Mavic CXP 30 wheels, Shimano Ultegra group, 9 spd cassette and Flight Deck to boot (wired)
Profile Air Stryke aero bars
Continential GP4000 tires