Road disc standards are all over the place. And, when the game of musical chairs stops, nobody is certain just where things will end up. Will quick-releases remain standard? That’s certainly a possibility, and most disc-equipped road bikes are sticking with the old axles (Specialized Tarmac Disc, BH Quartz Disc, BMC GF02 Disc, Ridley Fenix C10 Disc, Argon 18 Krypton XRoad, Giant Defy).
Then, there are either the thru-axle bikes (Focus Cayo Disc, Norco Search, Specialized Diverge, Trek Domane) or the mixed axle bikes (Colnago V1-r). Still, each of these bikes has either stuck with standard 130mm rear spacing, gone 135mm or skipped on up to the MTB de-facto 142×12 rear axle spacing.
For 2014, Orbea launched their endurance-oriented Avant platform with the Avant M20iD sitting atop the disc-equipped range. Orbea designers wanted to deliver versatility and freedom of choice (given the current road disc circus), so the seven higher-end OMP Carbon models in the range come with the ability to run either road disc or rim brakes with convertible 130 or 135mm axle spacing.
This means, consumers can hop into an Avant that’s disc-capable without having to shell out extra for the privilege. The $2599 M30 sports Shimano 105 with rim brakes, but comes with discreet direct-mount tabs for a future-proof design. Orbea is unique in offering this kind of versatility and deserves kudos for doing so.
With an optimized layup to maximize power transfer and comfort, the Avant does so without gimmicks. Instead, it sports a narrow 27.2mm seatpost and more upright geometry to deliver proper fit and long-distance comfort. Each frame offers size-specific performance targets and unique layups for each size in the range.
Speaking of sizing, check out the Avant’s wide size range. Going from 47-60cm sizes, Hobbits and Ogres will all fit on an Avant.
Orbea Avant M20iD Features:
- Compatible with rim or disc brakes
- Standard, open axles front/rear
- Convertible 130/135mm rear spacing
- Avant OMP carbon fiber frame and fork
- Compatible with 28mm tires
- Vision Team 30 disc clincher wheels
- Full Shimano Ultegra Di2 group
- Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
- Compact cranks with 11-28T cassette
- Compatible with electronic or mechanical drivetrains
- Available in three colors
- Sizes: 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57 and 60
- Price: $5699
The Bottom Line
Taking a unique stance in the endurance bike market, the Orbea Avant platform is all about choice and the M20iD is the top-end disc model in the range. It’s pretty cool that every OMP carbon frame can go disc or rim for the ultimate in versatility.