Georgia Gould has already had a very full season on her mountain bike, becoming the 2012 US National Champion and taking home a bronze medal at the London Olympics. But when it comes to cyclocross, the longtime Luna Pro Team member is racing aboard Orbea’s Terra, a full carbon rig with some interesting features not found on other CX bikes.
The Terra is Orbea’s first full carbon cyclocross bike, replacing the aluminum Lobular from last season. It features a 1.125in to 1.5in tapered head tube, a full carbon fork, and some unique cable routing that was carried over from Orbea mountain bikes such as the Alma.
Creative cables
In cyclocross, full-length housing keeps the elements out but also adds grams and, often, friction. Orbea’s solution is dubbed Direct Cable Routing, and uses Gore’s fully lined Ride-On cable and housing system.
Rather than run full housing, only the liner follows the cable from the housing stop near the head tube along the right side of the top tube. Small alloy guides adjust the routing as the lined wires make their way to the front and rear derailleurs.
The Terra has a unique cable routing system
This system weighs less than a full-housing system, and Gore’s low-friction cable and liner keep things sealed and shifting smoothly. So far, BikeRadar has had no word from Orbea on what the future holds now that Gore plans to cease production of its popular system.
Different drivetrains
Not surprisingly, Shimano-sponsored Gould runs a predominantly Dura-Ace 7900 drivetrain, alternating between a double- and single-ring setup depending on the course conditions.
This season she’s been spending a lot of time on the single-ring bike, equipped with a single 39T chainring. To ensure the chain stays in place over rough courses and during transitions, she runs a direct-mount version of e*thirteen’s XCX guide.
The Dura-Ace rear derailleur is paired with a 12-17T Dura-Ace cassette
Other Shimano items on the Orbea Terra include CX70 cantilever brakes, along with the Shimano’s PRO handlebar, stem and seatpost.
Complete bike specification
- Frame: Orbea Terra, 51cm
- Fork: Orbea Terra Carbon, tapered 1.125in - 1.5in
- Headset: FSA Integrated
- Stem: PRO Vibe 7 OS, 100mm x -6 degrees
- Handlebar: PRO Vibe 7 OS, 42cm
- Tape/grips: PRO Digital Carbon Smart Silicon
- Front brake: Shimano CX70
- Rear brake: Shimano CX70
- Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7900, or e*thirteen XCX-ST D-Type 1x guide
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7900
- Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900 12-27T
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
- Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7900, 172.5mm, 39/46T / Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7900 with a single 39T ring
- Bottom bracket: Custom BB30 Adapter
- Pedals: Shimano XTR PD-M970
- Wheelset: Mavic Ksyrium SLS tubular
- Front tire: Clement PDX, 33mm
- Rear tire: Clement PDX, 33mm
- Saddle: Selle Italia SLR XC
- Seatpost: Pro Vibe, 20mm offset
Critical measurements
- Rider height: 1.75m / 5'9"
- Rider weight: 61kg / 135lb
- Saddle height: 730mm
- Saddle setback: 55mm
- Tip of saddle nose to center of bar: 514mm
- Saddle to bar drop: 66mm
- Seat tube length, c-t: 520mm
- Seat tube length, c-c: 510mm
- Head tube length: 129mm
- Top tube length: 540mm (horizontal)
- Head angle: 72.5 degrees
- Seat tube angle: 74 degrees
- Wheelbase: 1007mm
- Chainstay length: 425mm
- Fork offset: 45mm
- BB drop: 65mm
- Total bike weight: 7.85kg / 17.3lb
