Richard's Custom Orbea Orca
We've got a special one for you today. Meet Richard’s massive purple kilometre-killer, or for the layman, the Orbea Orca. This build is a wonderful example of what can be created when you leave no stone unturned. As this is such a special bike, we thought it only right for the man himself to give you, the reader, a rundown on his new machine. By the way, give Richard a follow on instagram (@bigbritishbicyclist) to see his adventures and other gorgeous bikes!
Richard:
“Early last year, after discovering I had cracked the frame and seat post on my old road bike that I primarily used for indoor training rides, I came to the market looking for a new road bike. In the last few years, I have been taking my cycling training more seriously and have increased my riding volume significantly. This had all been triggered by me falling in love with a Lavender Santa Cruz Stigmata that I bought from Full Cycle in 2022. Having such a beautiful bike inspired me to get out and ride it as much as possible! This was the feeling I wanted my new road bike to instill in me for road cycling. I had been starting to join some local group road rides on my Stigmata where I had heard countless times, "You'd really suit an Aero road bike". This made the initial build requirements quite simple. An Aero road bike that looks lust-worthy in purple! So with this in mind, I sat down with Matti at Full Cycle Black's new consultation space just to have an initial chat about bikes!
We spent a few hours going over some potential options for the frame and with my need for a purple bike, Matti pointed me in the direction of the Orbea Orca Aero with the MyO custom paint option! It was a pretty quick decision from there, and after looking at some reviews of the Orca Aero, I knew this bike was going to tick the boxes for me. However, being a bit of a gear geek, I had some specific wants for the bike's specifications that I wouldn't have been able to achieve with an off-the-shelf build. That's where Full Cycle Black's custom building services came into play! I was able to build the bike up with all the components I wanted, so it fit in with my bike fleet's style and the components I loved. I also had a Retül bike fit by Marco, which ensured the bike was all set up and dialed in!
It was a thoroughly enjoyable process from start to finish, allowing me to geek out over every small detail of the bike build.”
*Build Details Found Below*
Build Details
Frame: 2025 Orca Aero OMX Carbon 60cm, Wheels MFG BB
- A stiff but compliant frame with a competitive aero design & custom paint. And an upgraded BB for serviceability and reliability.
Drivetrain: Shimano Di2 105 Cranks & Derailleurs, Alugear 54T Aero Chainring, Ultegra Shifters & Cassette 11-34, Wipperman 12sp Chain
- A 105 Di2 base build offers heaps of reliable, durable performance. Paired with upgraded Ultegra derailleur jockey wheels, cassette, brakes and shifters add a notable increase in drivetrain efficiency, shifting, and braking. The Di2 buttons on the hoods allow for convenient shifting no matter the hand position. An Alugear 54t chainring for increased chainring size (not available from Shimano without upgrading to Dura ace), plus it's in Purple! Topped off with a Wipperman chain in gold as a bit of bling, it’s important to mention that these quicklinks are reusable - a must have for a chain waxer.
Brakes: Ultegra Calipers & Hope RX CL Purple Rotors 160mm
- Better brake feel and performance over the base 105 calipers/rotors, and the shiny purple bits to match my Stigmata.
Saddle: Fizik 1to1 Custom 3D Saddle
- A custom fit for all-day riding comfort (done in house at FC Black).
Wheels: Reserve 77|88 built on i9 Solix Hubs with Sapim CX Ray Spokes
- For the rims I went with TT depth (77mm front & 88mm rear) as I wanted to make it fast on the flats for getting into the OBC TT (Ottawa Bike Club Time Trial) next year! It's an Aero bike, so may as well go all in! i9 Hubs, as I love the performance, sound and easy servicing!
Tires: Continental GP5000 STR 30x700, Tubeless Inserts
- GP5000s offer the sweet spot of performance and durability for me. I went for the widest width I could fit in the frame to give a bit more comfort to the ride and allow me to run a lower tire pressure with the tubeless setup. I added tire inserts for rim protection and a bit of insurance for flats at high speed!
Cockpit: Vision Metron 5D ARC Integrated, Silca Bar tape
- I wanted a clean integrated cockpit, & slightly flared drops for control while descending.
Bits & Pieces:
- Favero RS Pro Power Meter Pedals for watt accuracy & data.
- OC Aero Toolbox & Aero Bottle, a little aero performance boost never hurts.
- Custom 3D Varia Mount designed and printed myself for a clean install!
- & a Direct Mount Hanger for improved shifting and easy rear wheel removal.
If you feel inspired by Richard's build, reach out! We'll be happy to set you up on your very own dream bike! <3
The FC Black Team
