Amgen tour of California 2012

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First ride: Orbea Rallon

  • Orbea's redesigned Rallon boasts an impressive suspension design, a reasonably lightweight chassis, excellent handling and great aesthetics.

    Orbea's redesigned Rallon boasts an impressive suspension design, a reasonably lightweight chassis, excellent handling and great aesthetics.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Fully replaceable dropouts will eventually also be interchangeable with 142x12mm thru-axle versions.

    Fully replaceable dropouts will eventually also be interchangeable with 142x12mm thru-axle versions.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tire clearance is fairly tight on the sides with big 2.35"-wide Maxxis tires installed but there's a good amount of room in the radial direction for mud to pass through.

    Tire clearance is fairly tight on the sides with big 2.35"-wide Maxxis tires installed but there's a good amount of room in the radial direction for mud to pass through.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Orbea says it dyno-tested countless rear shocks in-house, then selected the one that best provided the curves that overlaid properly with the kinematics and force curves of its Rallon rear end.

    Orbea says it dyno-tested countless rear shocks in-house, then selected the one that best provided the curves that overlaid properly with the kinematics and force curves of its Rallon rear end.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Derailleur housings and the rear brake line are all cleanly routed along the underside of the down tube.

    Derailleur housings and the rear brake line are all cleanly routed along the underside of the down tube.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The axle path is a simple single-pivot layout but careful linkage design yields a highly refined feel.

    The axle path is a simple single-pivot layout but careful linkage design yields a highly refined feel.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Recommended pressure settings are conveniently displayed on the inside of the non-driveside chain stay.

    Recommended pressure settings are conveniently displayed on the inside of the non-driveside chain stay.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The Lambda link tweaks the leverage ratio throughout the travel range of the rear end to provide a coil-like feel but with a surprisingly stiff initial stroke that yields efficient pedaling without overly affecting small bump performance.

    The Lambda link tweaks the leverage ratio throughout the travel range of the rear end to provide a coil-like feel but with a surprisingly stiff initial stroke that yields efficient pedaling without overly affecting small bump performance.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Integrated ISCG tabs readily accept chain guides, bashguards, or Truvativ's Hammerschmidt two-speed crankset.

    Integrated ISCG tabs readily accept chain guides, bashguards, or Truvativ's Hammerschmidt two-speed crankset.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The paint scheme isn't just for show - it highlights the complex hydroformed tube shapes.

    The paint scheme isn't just for show - it highlights the complex hydroformed tube shapes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The tapered head tube is backed by a heavily shaped top tube and down tube for impressive strength, according to Orbea.

    The tapered head tube is backed by a heavily shaped top tube and down tube for impressive strength, according to Orbea.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Orbea offers the Rallon with 150mm or 160mm-travel forks, allowing customers to tune the handling characteristics to their preferences.

    Orbea offers the Rallon with 150mm or 160mm-travel forks, allowing customers to tune the handling characteristics to their preferences.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Fat chain and seat stays plus a beefy forged alloy linkage yield excellent swingarm stiffness for accurate tracking.

    Fat chain and seat stays plus a beefy forged alloy linkage yield excellent swingarm stiffness for accurate tracking.

    Photo credit © James Huang