Orbea – Employee Owned and Driven By a Passion for Cycling

When you look at road bikes, it’s easy to assume they all look and function the same. In a sense, that’s true: they have two wheels attached to a frame and similar components. But most bicycle builders attempt to go beyond just what can be seen.

Great bike building comes down to the materials used, frame geometry, and the people involved who build them. Then there is the experience riders have while on the road that makes all the difference. That view is definitely true of Orbea, an employee-owned company. Every employee plays a part in a bike’s development because of the company’s passion for innovation and the sport of cycling.

The Orbea Story

Orbea was born out of the culture and tradition of the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain at the foot of the Pyrenees. In 1840, it started business as a gun manufacturer, but by 1931 it began to build bikes.

As the company’s reputation grew, it became an important presence in Spanish cycling. That importance was supported by the cycling community so much that the Vuelta Espana, one of pro cycling’s important races, started the race close to the factory.

By 1969, Orbea offered every employee a percentage of ownership. By 2015, the company had found its unique focus. It offered cyclists the option to fully customize their bicycle builds.

Orbea’s Company Wide Mission

Orbea states that its bikes are designed for performance. It also says that its main mission is to build “unique bikes to inspire riders who share a passion for cycling.“

With 180 years in precision production, every company employee from sales to frame painters has a say in the product produced. Orbea feels its employees are more than just employees but important parts of product development. It strives, via its customization program, to make cycling dreams come true.

Innovation Through Bike Build Customization

Orbea builds road bikes, mountain bikes, triathlon bikes, and Ebikes. If a cyclist knows what he wants in a bike, from the website configurator, he can choose the bike he desires and customize every component, including the color of the bike. This makes Orbea’s bike-building process unique in the world of cycling.

But why would a cyclist choose a bike from Orbea versus another manufacturer? He could just walk into a store and buy a bike straight off the shelf without the wait. But it’s because the company prides itself in creating a rigid yet responsive frame customized to a rider’s preferences.

People desire Orbea bikes because the company listens to its customers. It uses real-world riding data and simulates conditions in its labs that mimic those elements. Whatever bike a cyclist chooses, they can know that bike is tested and retested before it ever enters the hands of its owner.

Last Thoughts

Orbea is a unique brand in the world of cycling. It not only designs and builds bicycle frames but also most of the components that go with them. This process means those components will work in harmony with the frame.

The company’s reputation and high-end production values have spawned champions in both road and mountain bike races. Even today, they’ve partnered with teams like Lotto-Destiny. If you want a well-made bike lovingly created by employees who are cyclists themselves and passionate about the sport, Orbea is a good choice.