ORBEA TERRA M30 D

Can the performance of the Basque brand’s entry level gravel machine match its striking looks?

MODEL: Orbea Terra M30-D GROUPSET: Shimano Ultegra 6800 RS685 GEARING: 48/32t, 11-32t cassette WHEELS: Mavic Aksium Disc TYRES: Schwalbe G-one, 700x40c FINISHING KIT: FSA Gossamer Compact bars, FSA Gossamer Pro stem, FSA SL-K SB20 seatpost, Prologo Evo Nago Pas saddle WEIGHT: 9.24kg PRICE: £2,399 CONTACT: orbea.com

SAM’S SUMMARY

As someone new to gravel riding, the Terra, with its 40mm tyres, was reassuring to ride. It took a lot to knock the bike off its line on Purbeck’s many rutted tracks and bridleways. Its lengthy wheelbase and slack head angle left the handling a little tardy, if predictable, but I would imagine more advanced riders might prefer something a little snappier.

The Terra’s weight may have made it feel planted on the downhills but riding up the short, sharp climbs was harder than it needed to be. Some sensible upgrades, most notably replacing the chunky Aksium wheelset, would drop the weight and do wonders for performance. The drivetrain also convinced me that a double chainring is totally unnecessary for gravel riding. Stu and Paul’s 1x gearing had more than enough range and trying to shift between rings on rough ground meant my chain dropped a number of times. Plus, the chain slap from Shimano’s clutchless rear derailleur chipped the paint in several places along the driveside chainstay, which was a shame because I thought the paintjob was stunning.