I like it, No Saddle Bag and Increased Aero

[Chislenko]

Cracking idea here on this bike, a "cargo hold" attached to the downtube which, as claimed by the manufacturer" helps to reduce drag.

I like it.

https://www-cyclingweekly-com.cdn.a...-aero-is-the-most-specific-aero-road-bike-yet

 

[PaulSB]

It's a nice idea but not one for me and if this became widespread I'd hope it would be an option rather than a standard.

My two objections are aesthetics and positioning. It's plain ugly. The Orbea clearly can't take mudguards so if one needs to access the box it's quite likely to be covered in crap. Not really the best start to fixing a flat. Access is hardly easy by comparison to a saddlebag when someone wants to borrow a multi-tool or your searching for that emergency tenner.

I'm probably being picky. If it was a standard fitting and not removable this would be a deal breaker for me. Definitely a no.

Does a small saddlebag really make much difference?

 

[Punkawallah]

Does the saddle bag make my bum look big? :-)

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Now, let me think on this a bit. It's a really tough choice to make. Ugly and carbon aero or steel and sleek?

 

[Chief Broom]

If its an Orca it looks pregnant

 

[Dolorous Edd]

From what I can work out those who don't like saddle bags avoid them because they don't look cool and pro.
Not sure why that target market would want something that looks like an ebike instead.

 

[Drago]

Are Orbea still one of the many that do development aero testing without a rider aboard? Ribble recently made a big deal about how they're one of the first to do so.

 

[Salad Dodger]

It's a bloody good place to hide an illegal battery if a bike has an illegal seat tube motor!

 

[fair weather cyclist]

All these aero bikes are starting to look the same.

 

[mustang1]

Nice looking bike and very integrated look for that box.

But no one has created a spoiler that attaches to the rear of the bike (haha, or rider!) that aids in downforce and other aerodynamic niceties.

 

[Mo1959]

It's a bloody good place to hide an illegal battery if a bike has an illegal seat tube motor!

Was just about to say, it looks like an e-bike!

 

[vickster]

Does it really make that much difference when you add a large non aero human on top?

 

[HLaB]

I don't use a saddle bag much, not for aero reasons, just that I think it makes the bike look better. To me the one in th OP doesn't. Besides if anyone passed me on that I'd think e'bike

 

[Milzy]

Cracking idea here on this bike, a "cargo hold" attached to the downtube which, as claimed by the manufacturer" helps to reduce drag.

I like it.

https://www-cyclingweekly-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cyclingweekly.com/amp/products/new-orbea-orca-aero-is-the-most-specific-aero-road-bike-yet?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a6&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM=#amp_tf=From %1$s&aoh=16330384565871&csi=0&referrer=https://www.google.com&ampshare=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/products/new-orbea-orca-aero-is-the-most-specific-aero-road-bike-yet

You only start to save watts when holding a speed that most on here can’t hold for very long.
I’m sure some of the over weight super taxed will love it still.

 

[gavroche]

Some of the Trek bikes already have a storage compartment on the down tube, big enough to hold a spare tube and levers.