Orbea at Cycle Lab: 180 Years of Bold Reinvention and Riding

Orbea: 180+ Years of Grit, Reinvention, and Two Wheels

Some bike brands make bikes. Orbea makes history—on two wheels, every single day.

Before it was carving up mountain trails and dominating road races, Orbea was crafting firearms in the rugged hills of Spain’s Basque Country. That’s right—back in 1840, long before the roar of race crowds, the Orbea family was in the business of precision engineering in Eibar, a town as tough and sharp-edged as the steel it forged.

But in 1931, the future took a sharp turn. Orbea left the gun trade behind and committed to something better: bicycles. Not just as a product—but as a purpose. The goal? Create something that inspires riders and makes the world a little fairer with every turn of the crank.

From Local Roads to Global Races

The early years of Orbea bikes were anything but small-scale. The brand exploded onto the scene, so much so that the Vuelta a España once kicked off from Orbea’s own factory doors. That’s no small feat—and neither was what came next.

Like any great ride, Orbea’s journey had its brutal climbs. In 1969, financial turbulence nearly ended the ride. But the people behind Orbea—factory workers, riders, engineers—refused to quit. They stepped in, took ownership, and turned Orbea into something rare: a cooperative.

Let that sink in. Orbea isn’t owned by shareholders—it’s owned by the people who build the bikes, every bolt and brushstroke. That means every decision is made with passion, not profit, in mind. Fairness isn’t a tagline. It’s how they operate.

From Eibar to Everywhere

By the ’70s, Orbea joined the legendary Mondragon Cooperative Group and moved operations to Mallabia. That move wasn’t just logistical—it was symbolic. With new freedom came new ambition: to go global.

And go global they did. Orbea bikes began showing up everywhere—from the muddy madness of cyclocross to the ruthless climbs of the Tour. But even as the brand went international, it never stopped being personal.

That’s why in 2015, Orbea launched MyO—a custom bike-building platform that lets riders design their dream machine from the ground up. Paint. Geometry. Components. It’s all yours to choose. Because Orbea doesn’t just build bikes—they build your bike.

What Makes Orbea Different?

It’s not just the heritage. Or the epic racing pedigree. Or even the fact that every bike is painted and assembled in-house, in the same town where the ideas are born. What truly makes Orbea different is how it lives its values:

• Passion: Every Orbea employee is a cycling fanatic. They don’t just make bikes—they ride them, race them, obsess over them.
• Uniqueness: As a cooperative, they think and operate differently. It’s about collaboration, innovation, and doing things their own way.
• Fairness: They believe bikes should be a tool for change—not just for personal achievement, but for building a more sustainable, equitable world.

Still Climbing

Today, Orbea stands as the only global bike brand run as a cooperative. That matters. Because it means the people who ride Orbea bikes aren’t just customers—they’re part of a movement. A movement for excellence. For creativity. For fairness.

From the misty climbs of the Basque Country to trails and tarmac across the globe, Orbea is still pushing forward. Reinventing. Innovating. Staying close to the riders who fuel their fire.

This isn’t just a bike company. It’s a 180-year-old love story with the open road.

So the next time you clip in and roll out, remember: Orbea’s not just riding with you. They’re riding for you.

Let’s ride.

Proudly Available at Cycle Lab

In South Africa, Cycle Lab is honored to be part of Orbea’s ongoing story—a brand built on grit, reinvention, and a deep love for the ride. With 180+ years of heritage behind every frame, Orbea continues to inspire riders around the world—and we’re proud to bring that legacy to our local roads and trails. Come find your Orbea at Cycle Lab and be part of something bigger than just a bike.

Shop Orbea Now!