Beautiful Bicycle: Custom Orbea Alma is Ultimate XC Race Weapon

Late August in the Mountain West means one thing for mountain bikers — race season at its absolute peak.

With the Leadville 100 "Race Across the Sky" recently wrapped (105 miles, with 12,304 feet of elevation gain) and the Park City Point 2 Point looming large on August 30 (77 miles, with ~10,000 feet of elevation gain), riders are fine-tuning every detail to squeeze out any extra advantage. At events where a handful of watts or a few grams can spell the difference between podium and pack, bikes like this custom Orbea Alma are the ultimate weapon: impossibly light, ruthlessly efficient, and purpose-built for speed.

Frame & Fork: Svelte, Precise, Race Ready

This Alma's personalized carbon frame is Orbea's crown jewel for XC — sculpted for stiffness under power yet featherweight on the scale. Paired with a RockShox SID SL Ultimate fork at 100mm, the front end delivers razor-sharp precision without compromising weight. From the svelte stays to the integrated lines, this is a race machine that looks as fast as it rides.

Drivetrain: Crisp & Colorful

Power transfer here runs through SRAM's XX1 Eagle drivetrain — mechanical, quick, and topped with a 10–50t rainbow cassette that brings some color to the build. A 34t oval chainring balances efficiency and climbing punch, the perfect setup for long days of repeated climbs and descents. Crisp, electronic shifting means no hesitation when fatigue sets in at hour five and beyond.

Brakes: For Stopping on a Dime

When speed is non-negotiable, control matters even more. Shimano XTR brakes with a 180mm rotor up front and 160mm out back deliver the kind of predictable modulation racers demand on steep, loose terrain. Lightweight race levers paired with oversized rotors ensure this Alma stops as decisively as it goes.

Wheels & Tires: Sweet Spot Between Traction and Speed

The rolling stock is as premium as it gets: Roval Control World Cup Carbon wheels wrapped in Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4 rubber. The wheelset provides a stiff, responsive platform while the wider-than-average XC tires deliver just the right blend of traction and rolling speed — essential for courses like Point 2 Point, where terrain variety is the norm.

Cockpit: Clean, Integrated, Fast

Clean, integrated, and undeniably fast, the OC Carbon Cockpit (75mm stem, 760mm bar) nails the modern XC aesthetic. Paired with ESI Chunky Silicone grips, it strikes a balance of control and comfort — because hand fatigue is the last thing you want when you're three hours into a race.

Seatpost & Saddle: High on Comfort, Low on Weight

A Fox Transfer SL dropper post provides just enough drop for technical descents without the weight penalty, while the Cadex AMP 3D-printed saddle showcases the latest in comfort technology. It's a small detail, but one that matters deeply when every gram counts and every contact point needs to feel dialed.

Spec Table