Fifty Plus (50+) - Wall Art - or... it's too pretty to ride!

By the grace of the bicycling gods, I had the opportunity to buy a used Orbea Onix this week. I am now the proud owner of a very beautiful Onix with full Dura-ace components, Dura-ace pedals - all in mint condition.

Now, I'm pretty much a beer person, so it's almost embarrassing to have a champagne bicycle. It's way too pretty to ride, so have been thinking about hanging it on the living room wall. ;).

The only change that needs to be made is a shorter stem - and that's been ordered. Today, I get my first 'real' ride on it!!! Can't wait for the next club ride to show it off!! Am I excited - you bet!

By the grace of the bicycling gods, I had the opportunity to buy a used Orbea Onix this week. I am now the proud owner of a very beautiful Onix with full Dura-ace components, Dura-ace pedals - all in mint condition.

Now, I'm pretty much a beer person, so it's almost embarrassing to have a champagne bicycle. It's way too pretty to ride, so have been thinking about hanging it on the living room wall. ;).

The only change that needs to be made is a shorter stem - and that's been ordered. Today, I get my first 'real' ride on it!!! Can't wait for the next club ride to show it off!! Am I excited - you bet!

Nice garage door.

Looks just like mine.

What is that thing blocking the view?

Oooh! NOW I understand.

Put it on the wall. If you ride it it will slowly wear out, taking your heart with it.

Now, I'm pretty much a beer person, so it's almost embarrassing to have a champagne bicycle. It's way too pretty to ride, so have been thinking about hanging it on the living room wall. ;).
Am I excited - you bet!

I'd be excited too! Gorgeous bike! It just screams to be ridden though. Nothing as exciting as a new bike :)

Say... what is that I see lashing the front wheel to the frame?

Steve

Congradulations. I'd be interested in what you think of it after a couple of hundred miles. They got really popular around here for awhile and then seemed to stop selling. I don't know if it's because they don't feel especially good (remember that Orbea is a Spanish (OK Basque) company and they are most experienced with smaller people whereas the Bay Area here has larger people on the average) or just because the people buying them rotate through a lot of bikes.

I know that my Eddy Merckx's feel ESPECIALLY good and my suspicion is that since Eddy and Axel are big guys they can play with the geometry until it feels just right. Other companies may not have this same attention to fine detail. It isn't anything really important but it certainly endears a bike to you when it feels JUST RIGHT.

My guess is that since the short guys around here like their Orbeas it's the same sort of thing.

Yeah, well, its doesn't friction shift and I don't see any steel lugs anywhere. OTHERWISE, it seems acceptable. Wish you many miles of (fast) pleasure on your new baby! I agree....let's have a report-back on its performance after some miles.

Where's the emoticon for drooling? Wow.

Where's the emoticon for drooling? Wow.

Right here..........


Gorgeous bike BTW.

Say... what is that I see lashing the front wheel to the frame?

Steve

Just a piece of velcro to keep the front wheel from turning. I have to lean it against a bike stand in the garage and it could fall if I don't 'lock' the front wheel.

I'm jealous, that's for sure. That's one sweet bike, LookingUp.

Nice bike LookinUp!!! Now lets get busy riding!!!!!

Congradulations. I'd be interested in what you think of it after a couple of hundred miles. They got really popular around here for awhile and then seemed to stop selling. I don't know if it's because they don't feel especially good (remember that Orbea is a Spanish (OK Basque) company and they are most experienced with smaller people whereas the Bay Area here has larger people on the average) or just because the people buying them rotate through a lot of bikes.

I know that my Eddy Merckx's feel ESPECIALLY good and my suspicion is that since Eddy and Axel are big guys they can play with the geometry until it feels just right. Other companies may not have this same attention to fine detail. It isn't anything really important but it certainly endears a bike to you when it feels JUST RIGHT.

My guess is that since the short guys around here like their Orbeas it's the same sort of thing.

So you are saying that the person building the bicycle has to be the same size as the bicycle for it to be built properly? "nuts"

That is an extremely foolish statement if you think about it for a second.

Where's the emoticon for drooling? Wow.

Hand crafted from the finest ASCII:

:>~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve

Just a piece of velcro to keep the front wheel from turning. I have to lean it against a bike stand in the garage and it could fall if I don't 'lock' the front wheel.

Gotcha. I ask because we use a small bungee on our bikes when transporting them to keep the front wheel from flopping around and banging into the other bike.

That's a good idea!

Steve

Find a rural road with some great scenery. It will definitely look better there than on the wall, in the drive way or in the garage.

By the grace of the bicycling gods, I had the opportunity to buy a used Orbea Onix this week. I am now the proud owner of a very beautiful Onix with full Dura-ace components, Dura-ace pedals - all in mint condition.

Now, I'm pretty much a beer person, so it's almost embarrassing to have a champagne bicycle. It's way too pretty to ride, so have been thinking about hanging it on the living room wall. ;).

The only change that needs to be made is a shorter stem - and that's been ordered. Today, I get my first 'real' ride on it!!! Can't wait for the next club ride to show it off!! Am I excited - you bet!


Hate to say it, but that colour looks like something out of the 70's, the wheels don't have enough spokes, the tyres aren't wide enough and someone's worn all the knobbles of them, It must have been in a bad accident somewhere- just look at the shape of those handlebars, Best thing you can do is find some mug to take it off your hands- Tell you what- I'll give you $10 for it to clear your driveway so you can get your proper bike out of the garage. Might even go to $11 if you throw in the Velcro.

You sometimes get the irresistable put in front of you, and you have to get it, come what may. The offer of $11 still stands though, or I'll tell the wife that she won't be seeing much of you for the next few months.

It's almost as pretty as my wife. A lot younger though.........

aj

They must need better welders. Where the tubing joins they've got waaaay too much "buildup".

Too bad about LookinUp. Nobody's heard from her since she rode off down the street on her Orbital Orick (isn't that a hi-zoot vacuum cleaner?). Soon after, NORAD reported a female human riding an "orange crayon" and moving at a high rate of speed west across Texas. Let's hope she makes re-entry before Thanksgiving. ;)

Despite some of the good natured teasing (me included), that's one heck of a bike and one heck of a find LookinUp! But do slow down and grab some turkey Thursday as you ride by.

Too bad about LookinUp. Nobody's heard from her since she rode off down the street on her Orbital Orick (isn't that a hi-zoot vacuum cleaner?). Soon after, NORAD reported a female human riding an "orange crayon" and moving at a high rate of speed west across Texas. Let's hope she makes re-entry before Thanksgiving. ;)

Despite some of the good natured teasing (me included), that's one heck of a bike and one heck of a find LookinUp! But do slow down and grab some turkey Thursday as you ride by.

Now Granny, be nice. It isn't an Orbital Orick, its an electric broom. You know, even witches have to go high tech these days. Now, my problem is slowing down enough to stop for T-giving dinner!

You're right. You shouldn't ride it. Send it to me.

General concensus seems to be that this is a bike that we are all jealous of. I'm a mountain biker and I would love to have a bike like this. I suggest you get out and ride it, and only come home for tea breaks. That way you will be able to give a good report on how it handles, how it fits, how it rides, and how easy it is to go up the hills. You will also be getting the thing dirty so next picture we want see is of the poor thing being abused by being ridden, accompanied by the report of course.

So you are saying that the person building the bicycle has to be the same size as the bicycle for it to be built properly? "nuts"

That is an extremely foolish statement if you think about it for a second.

Dang. Exactly where did I say anything about "properly"? I said "feels just right."

How many have you owned, how many have you built? I have built around 100 bikes over the years and ridden close to 80,000 miles.

So perhaps you can explain to me what is "foolish" about the idea that a bike builder who is your own size might be able to test and refine a bike more accurately than someone who is taking someone else's opinion into account?

My suspicion is that you've never had a bike that felt "right". Not that it's any big deal since it doesn't improve the bike handling or speed, it only makes it nicer to ride.

what size is the frame? it looks tiny.

what size is the frame? it looks tiny.

48 cm - but I'm only 5'4". Its a perfect fit with the exception of replacing a 120cm stem with a 90cm.

General concensus seems to be that this is a bike that we are all jealous of. I'm a mountain biker and I would love to have a bike like this. I suggest you get out and ride it, and only come home for tea breaks. That way you will be able to give a good report on how it handles, how it fits, how it rides, and how easy it is to go up the hills. You will also be getting the thing dirty so next picture we want see is of the poor thing being abused by being ridden, accompanied by the report of course.

Ridden about 70 miles and it's great. Feels like it excellerates faster than my existing bike. Hard to tell whether it is truly faster - the wind has been blowing around 20 knots the past several days - so it's not a good or fair test against my ex bike. Hills - don't have any around here, but in December, I'm headed to central Florida for the Highlands Bicycle Fest and there are a few hills over near Sebring.

Regarding abuse of the bike - I think the bike abused me yesterday. With the Dura-ace pedals, I had to get new shoes and cleats. Not used to these cleats - my old spd's were set so light, it was easy to get out. Anyway, I did the obligatory dead stop crash in front of several cars and onlookers. Broke my mirror, messed up the handlebar tape on one side, put a scratch on the brake lever, bloodied my arm and knee - you know, just the usual! Very embarrassing! :rolleyes:

I promise to get a picture of it in actual use and post it.

While the shop mechanics were putting together my new Giant OCR2, another guy was test riding an Orbea. The shop owner asked me not to stand by the Orbeas for more than a couple of minutes at a time, as the drool was starting to form a puddle. That's a nice ride you've got there.

Regarding abuse of the bike - I think the bike abused me yesterday. With the Dura-ace pedals, I had to get new shoes and cleats. Not used to these cleats - my old spd's were set so light, it was easy to get out. Anyway, I did the obligatory dead stop crash in front of several cars and onlookers. Broke my mirror, messed up the handlebar tape on one side, put a scratch on the brake lever, bloodied my arm and knee - you know, just the usual! Very embarrassing! :rolleyes:

I promise to get a picture of it in actual use and post it.

Glad to see the bike is throwing a tantrum by not letting you stop, when it doesn't want to. Why don't you fit the old SPD's?

On the falling down syndrome, I was reminded that We had a spectacular fall on the road recently. 3 bikes- first one stopped for a car, why I don't know, but he did. As he was blocking the route round the car, we slowed the tandem, left foot out of the pedals, all ready to left foot down and Bang. The third bike was accelerating to catch us up, Head down and going for it. Caught the tandem and pushed it right, so the obligatory fall was on the cards. rolled forward to get a bit of space, just as the first bike was rolling back to allow the car more room. 3 bikes, 4 bodies lying in the road and now blocking the road that was clear of cars, except for the ones behind us wondering what the hell happened.

3 cars back was one of my neighbours and he apoligised for not coming to see if we were ok. He could not get out of the car, because he was laughing so much. Took about 2 minutes to sort out the bikes, but not one car stopped to see if we were ok. Only damage was to pride and the 3rd bikes rider had cut his hand.

As promised, a 'working' picture of the bike. Our club had its annual Pasta Bash Ride - over 150 riders and lots of fun - wine and cheese party on Friday night, 100km, 50km and 25km rides on Saturday with a lasagna lunch afterwards. Here's a picture taken just before I left for a 50km ride. I cut out the other riders standing with me since I didn't want to upset my bike by including it in a picture with 'plain' bikes - it has a temper and I don't want to make it angry or it might just toss me to the ground again. :D

(If you're wondering, its the pump strapped under the handlebars)

Last time I saw that look was in the maternity ward....all those beaming mothers. Seriously, the bike looks even more drop dead in a "working" picture.

Last time I saw that look was in the maternity ward....all those beaming mothers. Seriously, the bike looks even more drop dead in a "working" picture.

In the interest of OCPism, I've changed to black water bottles.

Black water bottles! Double drop dead cool. (The fun part of being older is not acting like it......and not caring that we appear to be not caring about not acting like it. hehe.