The Power to Dream

The Rise comes with three power options, with two preset settings: Eco, for general riding; Trail, for when the technical elements need a little bit more; then finally, for those moments that we all experience, there’s a power boost setting that literally drives you forward and helps you to tackle those tricky moments of trail time. On the trail, all of this transfers to a power unit that delivers up to 20mph and that will last you for around 50 to 60 km.

Best of all, the harder that you ride, the more power it gives you. You’re literally rewarded for your efforts, meaning that the smiles become wider as you sweat. Tackling the Steep tracks on the Chevin hillside, and twisting the tight turns between trees and over wet roots, the handling of the Orbea Rise was sublime. It’s a bike that wants you to ride hard and fast, but one which also wants to extend the trip, by looking after you. The front end tracks perfectly and the rear simply follows the line chosen with a willingness to ride, leaving you to swoop and steer to your hearts content. It’s especially good fun when you have the right shoes on your feet, keeping the bike in control. Early on in my mountain biking life, I learned to ride flat deals on simple shoes, which was the apprenticeship of the time. You quickly learned to control the bike with your feet, especially the rear triangle, as it whipped around on slippery trails. Yes, good off-road shoes are critical, especially with flat pedals. You need to be sure that they’ll stay fixed and firm. Now having great off-road shoes by Lake Cycling on my feet, I’ve not only got the necessary skills, but also the confidence that my feet will stay planted on the pedals.