Beautiful Bicycle: Orbea Orca Aero

Along with Tadej Pogačar's continued dominance of the pro peloton, this year's Tour de France made another topic crystal clear: aero bikes are officially in.

Historically, aero bikes have been less the movie star and more of a cameo player or character actor, relegated to flat to rolling stages. But for the 2025 edition of the Tour, top riders like Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, along with several others, turned that assumption on its head by saddling up on aero bikes on several climbing stages, demonstrating what many had already suspected: aero bikes can be blazing fast and the bike of choice anywhere and everywhere, a ruthless tool for putting precious seconds and minutes into the competition.

For our latest Beautiful Bicycle, this glittering, black and silver Orbea Orca Aero is a perfect example of this evolution, and what many of today's top racers are increasingly adding to their lineup–and reaching for on race day. Built through Orbea's custom program, it's a bike that looks as fast leaning against the wall as it does at 30 mph in a hammering, rotating paceline.

Frame & Paint: Stealth, Sparkle, and Speed

The heart of this build is Orbea's Orca Aero frameset, shaped relentlessly in the name of free speed. Deep tube profiles, truncated aero surfaces, and seamless integration define the platform, with each tube optimized to reduce drag without sacrificing stiffness or ride quality. This is Orbea's most aerodynamic road bike to date, developed as a complete system rather than a collection of individual parts.

What elevates this build beyond stock, though, is the custom paint job, carried out with Orbea's proprietary custom paint program. The Anthracite Glitter base subtly catches the light, while black accents sharpen the bike's already aggressive lines. For the NFL fans out there, this bike conjures a Raiders-like aesthetic: dark and menacing, ready to pillage and plunder the competition.

Drivetrain & Braking: SRAM Force Precision

Shifting duties are handled by SRAM Force AXS, a wireless electronic drivetrain that delivers race-level performance with everyday reliability. The Force AXS Power crankset runs a 48/35t chainring combination, paired with a 10–33t cassette, creating a wide, versatile gear range that works just as well for high-speed efforts as it does for sustained climbing.

Braking duties stay in the family as well, courtesy of SRAM Force hydraulic disc brakes. The result is confident, predictable stopping power with excellent modulation, an especially critical factor when you're carrying speed into corners or descending at pace on an aero bike.

Wheels & Tires: Aero Efficiency, Modern Width

This Orca Aero rolls on Oquo Road Performance RP57LTD carbon wheels, a 57mm-deep aero wheelset that strikes a smart balance between aerodynamic efficiency, stability, and weight. Deep enough to deliver meaningful speed gains, yet composed when crosswinds kick up, they're an ideal match for the Orca Aero's race-focused geometry.

Mounted to the wheels are Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR tires in 700 x 28c. Tubeless-ready and designed to blend speed with durability, the Corsa N.EXT offers excellent grip and a smoother ride than narrower, old-school race rubber. At 28c, the tires also reinforce the theme of this build: modern performance without compromise.

Cockpit & Contact Points: Integrated and Intentional

Up front, the bike features a fully integrated OC Road Aero RA11 Carbon handlebar, paired to an OC Road Performance RP10 stem. Internal cable routing keeps everything clean and hidden, improving airflow while giving the front end a sharp, race-ready look.

Finishing touches continue the thoughtful approach. Orbea's Anti-Slip & Shock Proof bar tape provides secure grip and vibration damping, while the OC Road Aero RA10 Carbon Ultralight seatpost preserves the bike's aerodynamic profile at the rear. Rounding things out is a Prologo Scratch-M5 Pas T2.0 saddle, a proven favorite for riders who want a firm yet comfy saddle, for long, fast days on the bike.

Learn More

Interested in learning more about the Orbea Orca Aero? Or ready to hit the gas on an aero rig of your own? We'd love to help.

Come by the shop any time, send us an email here, or give us a call at (801) 364-0344.

The Build

Featured Product

Orbea Orca Aero M21eLTD 2025

Shop Now