Everyone knows racers get custom kit to make their bike special but we’re looking at some non-racer custom builds in Industry Whips.
One of the best things about working in the cycle industry is adding those extra special touches to your pride and joy, or even a full custom build that’s got some one-off bits that makes it stand out.
We’re also diving into the geeky setups that make the bike ride just the way their owners want them to.
This week in Industry Whips BasqueMTB main man, Doug McDonald’s Orbea Rallon.
Photos by Doug McDonald.
Frame
Orbea Rallon 2020, size Large. I went for a more subtle colour for this one so I chose a dark metallic green that shimmers in the sunlight, some subtle gold highlights and a set of pistachio green Fox 38s. I love the Rallon, I organised the launch and was riding a prototype before that so we have so many miles together. I also have an Occam which I think will feature another day and I´m waiting for the new Rise lightweight e-bike.
Suspension
I’m not much of a suspension-tweaker. However we ride in some really different areas so I find I have to adjust my suspension for the different seasons as we alternate between our different riding areas. Up in the Pyrenees the trails are rocky and fast and on the Basque Coast we have more hand built trails, berms and less rocks.
My starting point is a click of LSC and the HSC wide open in the front and back. I add a bit more LSC up front for the trails on the Basque Coast as they are steep, steep, steep. Fork sag is set up by riding, I just adjust it until I´m getting full travel where I think I should be.
Out back I’m running 500lb springs currently but once I´m guiding a bit more and get into better shape I´ll need to get a slightly lighter spring. I adjust the rebound by feel really and it depends where I’m riding, the Pyrenees it’s as fast as I can manage and on the Basque Coast it’s a bit slower.
I haven’t added any tokens to my suspension, it’s as it came.
Drivetrain
Always flats on my bikes. When I’m working I put my bike shoes on at 8am and take them off at 8pm, so flat shoes are where it’s at. It means I don´t need to carry spare shoes for driving or going for a beer after work.
I like to use the Absolute Black Oval chainrings. They just seem to help my knees and keep my pedalling a bit smoother. Other than that I’m running Shimano for everything. The Rallon has Saint brakes with XT drivetrain. The new Shimano stuff is great, just keep the clutch on the mech clean and lubed and it works really well and has some lovely touches.
Brakes
I’m running a 180 rotor on the back and 203 front. Bite point is at the bars, or as close as possible. Lever angle is just a few degrees below flat. I’m not a dragger, I’d like to be fully binary with my brake inputs but I’m somewhere in between depending on how confident I’m feeling. I’m using Galfer discs and pads which really help with the wandering bite point that Shimano brakes can suffer from on long, steep descents.
Wheels
Alloy wheels all the way for all of us. I’m not a big carbon wheel fan. I find they can be harsh and honestly I’ve seen too many broken carbon wheels. I’m heavy with my guiding pack and at the end of a long season it’s hard to ride as light as I´d like all the time. We are using the Raceface Turbine wheels and they are holding up really well.
Tyres I’m changing a fair bit. Currently both bikes have Minion FR and RR on them in DD guise. We were lucky enough to land a trailer full of Maxxis tyres that were surplus from the Orbea Enduro team so we have loads of choice. If it is really dry, or wet then I’ll pop a Shorty up front. I’m running about 30psi rear and 27 front. I tend not to mess about with it unless we have a fast group (you know that is you if you seem me with my tyre pressure gauge in the mornings).
Cockpit
800mm, aluminium Raceface Turbine. I use carbon bars on my other bikes but the Rallon seems to suit these bars.
I like fat grips. I’m currently riding the Ergon Fat grips and it´s helping my hands. It’s making drinking beers at the end of the day much easier. I’ve got a 40mm stem on there and two 5mm spacers below the bars. I sometimes change that but the trails round my house are really steep and that is what I´m riding just now.
Lounge area
Both bikes have the Fox Transfer dropper post on them and I’m lucky that the 175mm just fits and gives the perfect drop with no extra post showing. I was using the Orbea Components dropper before that which I really liked too. I’m just using the Fizik saddle which comes with the bike at the moment.
Cool custom sh*t
I’ve got my name on my bikes and “el jefe” (Spanish for “the boss”) thanks to Orbea’s customisation program. The colours are also pretty unique, another brilliant advantage of the MyO program.
Other than that there really isn’t much different to a bike you can spec yourself through the Orbea program. I get to test some new stuff occasionally, new linkages or other secret stuff so sometimes you’ll see some of that on my bike but obviously I can’t give details.
