Orbea's new aluminium Terra – Gravel for the masses

Designed and assembled in the heart of the Basque country in Northern Spain, Orbea's bikes elicit a good deal of affection. Starting as a tube maker in 1840, the employee-owned cooperative has gained a cult following in the road market. This is partly thanks to its long-standing association with the UCI ProTeam Euskaltel–Euskadi.

Closely associated with the region's cycling culture, its offering has expanded to cover the gravel segment in recent years. Formed by the northern Iberian mountains, Orbea's carbon fibre Terra gravel bike platform was launched in 2016 and offered riders another way to explore.

Earlier this year, it underwent a redesign that boosted its capabilities and massively increased the bike's scope for customisation. Now taking many of Terra's features and making them available at a lower price-point, the line has been expanded with three new aluminium models.

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"Terra is a platform designed for fun and is capable on any type of terrain," explained one of the co-ops' members. "It's not a competition bike but goes all-in on the idea that fun and speed are interconnected. Both carbon and aluminium versions are built to satisfy the needs of three types of riders: the pure graveller, the explorer and the adventurer."
With the ability to run either 700 wheels and 45mm tyres or swap to 650b wheels and 50mm treads, the new Terra's asymmetric chainstay design allows a choice of single or double chainring drivetrains.

Sharing the same uniquely profiled carbon fork as the rest of the range, Orbea has also used extensive hydroforming to replicate the comfort and control of its carbon sibling. Like the latest carbon versions, the new aluminium Terra bikes sport mounting points for mudguards along with fixings for a trio of water bottles. However, unlike the carbon versions, the aluminium Terra models feature specific mounting points for a rear rack, making them particularly well suited to longer adventures.

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Elsewhere, the new aluminium Terras also borrow much of their geometry from the existing range. This sees short chainstays for fast acceleration matched with a low bottom bracket for stability on rugged terrain. Across the top, the Terra's reach is designed to combine well with a short stem for gravel-specific handling. Keeping things consistent, trail on the fork is specific to each of the sizes. Coming in six options, ranging from XS to XXL, riders should achieve the same size and position regardless of their height.

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Models, specs, and prices

Terra H40

The entry-level Terra H40 costs £/€1,999 and comes with a Shimano 10-speed GRX RX400 groupset. Using a matching 30/46t crankset and 11-34t cassette, it rolls on 700x38c Vittoria Terreno Dry Gravel G2.0 TNT tyres.

Terra H30

One level up, the Terra H30 1X uses a single-ring drivetrain and retails for £/€ 2,199. Again using a Shimano GRX groupset, it manages one more sprocket to provide 11 sequential gears.

Terra H30

At the top of the pile, the standard H30 costs £/€ 2,299 and offers an 11-speed GRX group with a double chainset.

With each model available in metallic shades of brown or grey, along with a brighter orange, each combination should be ready to order from Orbea dealers now.