Bike Check: Catharine Pendrel's Orbea Oiz - Mont-Sainte-Anne XC World Champs 2019
Two-time World Cup overall winner, Olympic medalist, and two-time World Champion Catharine Pendrel has stood on the top step of the XC podium many times throughout her career. This weekend, the Canadian is coming to the east coast of her home country after a consistent season that has her sitting in 10th place overall in the World Cup standings.
This weekend, Pendrel is racing on her Orbea Oiz full-suspension bike. The bike is kitted out with Fox, Shimano, Race Face, and Stans parts. Catharine has been going back and forth with what chainring to run due to the steep nature of the course. She's keeping a dropper post on for the technical descents and is also sticking to Maxxis Ikon tires with EXO casings, which aren't the lightest but are a bit more robust to protect against punctures.
Orbea Oiz Details
Frame: Orbea Oiz
Shock: Fox Float EVOL
Fork: Fox 32
Wheels: Stans
Tires: Maxxis Ikon; 18psi front, 18.5psi rear
Drivetrain: Shimano XTR
Brakes: Shimano XTR
Cockpit: Race Face
Size: Medium
Frame: Orbea Oiz
Shock: Fox Float EVOL
Fork: Fox 32
Wheels: Stans
Tires: Maxxis Ikon; 18psi front, 18.5psi rear
Drivetrain: Shimano XTR
Brakes: Shimano XTR
Cockpit: Race Face
Size: Medium
Catharine keeps everything pretty consistent day-to-day on her bike set up. Her fork is the new Fox 32 which has a stiffer crown on it and, according to her, feels better in the more technical descents on the track. The fork has 65psi in it and 1 token. Her rear shock has 121 psi in it. At 5'5", Catharine is on a medium-sized frame. One other note about her set up is that she's riding Shimano XTR pedals with a 2mm narrower spindle than standard in order to help optimize the Q-factor.
Tidy cable routing for lots of cables on the Oiz.
XTR pedals with a 2mm narrower than standard spindle. This is a new option Shimano has rolled out for this season.
XTR shifter and brakes. The dropper post lever is mounted on the right side of the handlebars to make room on the left for the bike's remote lockout system.
Shimano's XTR drivetrain does gearing duties. Catharine has been switching chainring sizes this weekend some, trying to decide what will be best for the hilly course.
Dropper posts will be in full use this weekend at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
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21 Comments
- 8 0
KotsosK
(Aug 30, 2019 at 16:51)
But where is Jolanda's Trek that had it's veil lifted in practice for the world to see?
- 1 1
panzer103
(Aug 31, 2019 at 2:58)
I bet her trek is very very much like this bike.
- 12 6
Powderface
(Aug 30, 2019 at 15:10)
Geez that handlebar has so many levers on it. Forget flying an airplane it would be easier to learn how to pilot the NASA moon lander.
- 3 1
PapaStone
(Aug 30, 2019 at 16:40)
I don't like the cluttered look of the handlebars.
- 2 8
Treadly
(Aug 30, 2019 at 17:03)
(Below Threshold)
And if you flip the bike upside down to do some maintenance you risk damaging the levers. Can't they mount them lower?
- 5 1
NorCalNomad
(Aug 30, 2019 at 19:25)
@Treadly: lol you think a WC xc bike is getting flipped over on the ground for maintenance. Thats like saying a F1 car should sacrifice driver ergonomics just so you could work on the engine easier.
- 3 0
Crossmaxx
(Aug 30, 2019 at 16:58)
I spy a green CushCore valve on her rear wheel. Assume she is running the CushCore XC insert?
- 2 0
nozes
(Aug 31, 2019 at 0:47)
With such low pressures I would say yes.
- 2 3
jdeuce
FL (Aug 30, 2019 at 15:10)
Does Spesh have a stake in Orbea or vice versa? This looks like the old Epic, the new Stumpy looks like old Rallon and no one is suing anyone? And Ebike is legal now? Which version of the parallel universe is this?
- 3 2
jjamms
FL (Aug 30, 2019 at 16:06)
How does it look like any Specialized without a (Horst Link) rear pivot?
- 2 0
Zaff
(Aug 30, 2019 at 16:32)
@jjamms: the new Epics don't have pivots there anymore, flex stays all the way.
- 1 0
NorCalNomad
(Aug 30, 2019 at 19:27)
I don't think Specialize does design pattens. Plus Specialized does so much more business than Orbea, that it probably wouldn't be worth going after them legally. But ffs Orbea stop ripping off Specialized's ID.
- 2 0
clink83
(Aug 30, 2019 at 20:56)
It looks like an Oiz. If you look through the model years they all look pretty distinctive, and they dont look like Epics at all.
- 2 0
panzer103
(Aug 30, 2019 at 15:21)
These bikes are awesome! So capable!
- 1 0
JohanG
(Aug 31, 2019 at 4:46)
Cables could use a better shrink tube treatment and those rotors need to be cleaned, probably the pads too.
- 1 0
odbrider
(Aug 30, 2019 at 17:06)
Cool micro chain guide...Shimano?
- 2 0
Someoldfart
(Aug 30, 2019 at 17:32)
No I think it’s made by Orbea. I have a direct mount Shimano on my hardtail. It’s easy to set up with a single bolt and adjusting dial.
- 1 0
tacklingdummy
(Aug 30, 2019 at 20:35)
It is interesting. It looks like it is installed on the rear triangle which is odd. Seems like it would be moving with the suspension.
- 2 0
tacklingdummy
(Aug 30, 2019 at 20:32)
I'm guessing 22lbs.
- 1 0
bignoah
(Aug 31, 2019 at 18:15)
I have an Oiz with some XTR why can't I ride like Catharine? ;-)
- 1 0
lehott
(Aug 30, 2019 at 20:05)
Orbealized Epicoiz
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