Sea Otter: Catharine Pendrel’s Orbea Oiz World Championship race bike
Pendrel is the reigning World Cup Champion (2x)! (click to enlarge)
Canadian pro mountain biker Catharine Pendrel is the reigning Elite XC World Champion and rides for the Luna Chix Pro-Cycling team. Her bike of choice is the Orbea Oiz featured here. The Oiz is unique in that it is available as a 29er or with 27.5″ wheels. Pendrel is running the 27.5″ version with some super high-end components.
Catharine Pendrel riding her Orbea Oiz on the WC Circuit (click to enlarge). Photo by Fred Machabert
Besides being the WC Champ, Pendrel is also the Canadian National Champ. She has been racing on the Oiz for a couple of years now and her input was integral to the development of the bike back in 2012.
This latest version of the Oiz has improved monocoque carbon technology; tweaked racing geometry, 27.5 and 29 wheel options, and suspension designed around Orbea’s Advanced Dynamics design system. The Oiz also boasts a complete lack of rear pivots on the chain or seat stays, thanks to Orbea’s exclusive UFO technology, allowing the rear stays to flex in support of the rear shock.
UFO – U Flexion by Orbea (click to enlarge).
The Oiz carbon frame is a monocoque design and that is the how Orbea has been making all of their carbon frames for years. They mold the fewest structures possible with continuous fibers through each critical juncture and by eliminating bonded zones their monocoque frames distribute forces more evenly over the entire structure.
1x is the only way to go (click to enlarge).
Watch this short video highlighting Pendrel’s season. Video courtesy of Orbea.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2LR7TXZ13w
And of course it features electronic shifting as well as electronic suspension control. The ultimate in high tech bikes.
Shimano XTR Di2 electronic shifting (click to enlarge).
Orbea’s Big Wheels Concept (BWC) means that they offer Big Wheels that are scaled to fit riders of any height. BWC offers six frames in two wheel sizes. The consistent and proportional stack and reach measurements guarantee that every rider experiences Orbea ride quality in a svelte, fun and fast bike regardless of frame size or wheel size.
Orbea’s Oiz features their Big Wheel Concept (click to enlarge).
For more information about the Orbea Oiz visit www.orbea.com.
For more information about Catharine Pendrel visit cpendrel.blogspot.com.
This article is part of Mtbr’s coverage of the 2015 Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California. For more from Sea Otter CLICK HERE.
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