MarathonMTB.com

The hub for marathon mountain biking

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Diaries
  • News
  • Reports
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Features
  • Nutrition
  • Team
    • Team Diaries
  • Consulting Services
  • Event Calendar
You are here: Home / Tech / Bike check: Adrian Jackson’s Orbea Oiz

February 25, 2017 By Mike Blewitt Leave a Comment

Bike check: Adrian Jackson’s Orbea Oiz

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

Adrian Jackson is one of the most recognisable, succesful and most consistent mountain bike racers in Australia. He’s also one of the more reserved riders, and unlikely to spark up a social media storm and hashtag frenzy. But ‘AJ’ has been racing on Orbea mountain bikes for 2-3 years now, and we caught up to AJ (eventually) after the Otway Odyssey, where he rode to 2nd place on his Orbea Oiz.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

The Otway Odyssey is a hard mountain bike marathon. Possibly the hardest in Australia. There’s a lot of climbing, it’s often super hot, and as it is in Victoria, there are countless strong Victorians who race it. Like AJ. AJ has won the Odyssey before, and knows what it takes to win. So there’s a lot that can be learnt from looking over his bike.

 

The Orbea Oiz

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

The Oiz is the cross-country and marathon dual-suspension frame that Orbea make, to complement the Alma hardtail they make. The frame design is size specific for wheel size, so a small size will have 650B wheels, whereas in a medium you can opt for 650B or 29″ On AJ’s medium, he runs 29″ wheels.

Built for low weight and efficiency, the Oiz sports 100mm of travel via a seat anc chain stay assembly that is free from a pivot but relies on flex instead. The 70 degree head angle and 44mm rake makes for a fast handling bike, and a low front end with just 100mm head tube length.

The Oiz runs internal cable outers and has full Di2 and FOX iRD capability, plus it can take a sideswing front mech if required. The rear brake hose runs just off the ridge of the down tube – which means fitting or changing a brake is far simpler – a nice nod to race specificity.

The claimed weight of the frame is 1700g, and while we didn’t weight AJ’s bike he’s claimed it’s sub 10kg.

Drivetrain

Throughout 2016, AJ was running Shimano XTR M9000, including the Race brakes, mechanical shifter and Race crank set and pedals.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

M9000 graces the hanger of the Orbea Oiz. You can see the frame clearance for chain slap.

He has a 1x set up with a tight ratio 11-40 cassette – even on a hilly course like that at Forrest.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

XTR pedals grace the ends of the Shimano XTR cranks.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

Up front, AJ runs a Ceetec chain device to help keep the chain in place. He runs a OneUp Components chain ring.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

Suspension on the Orbea Oiz

AJ runs Fox Float Factory suspension front and rear, with a 32 up front – he also uses a Fox lock out switch to activate them both.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

On-the-fly lock out.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

The rear shock sits nicely into the frame. You can also see how the top of the swing link sits internally.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

Up front, you can see that AJ has upgraded to a thru-axle, with an FRM unit taking place of the stock Fox QR15 lever.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

Rolling stock on the Orbea Oiz

AJ has been a long time user of Curve carbon rims, even back in 2014 when we took a look at his bike then, he was on their rims. HIs reasoning then was for durability through an entire race season – and it’s true. A carbon rim is less likely to be flat-spotted in a race, plus it’s stiffer and often rides better.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

The Curve rims have been laced to XTR hubs with bladed spokes for smooth rolling, fast take up and minimal service requirements.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

For the Odyssey, AJ ran a Schwalbe Thunder Burt out the back, and a Racing Ralph up the front. There aren’t too many rocks to flat on in the Otways, so many riders were on narrow and fast tyres.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

Otway Odyssey specs

The Odyssey has a few requirements, as do many marathons. One is carrying spares, this is for just about any race though. And AJ opted to get his spares out of his pockets and onto the bike. A tube, lever and CO2 were taped to his top tube.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

On the seat tube, AJ had a small multitool. It doesn’t look to have a chain breaker – this might have been in his pocket, or at home if he chose to chance it.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

The Otway Odyssey can get pretty hot, and hydration is key. AJ has one bottle mount on his bike, but started with a small bottle in his pocket, to go along with the one in the King cage.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

The Odyssey organisers mandate carrying a First Aid kit, and many people choose to attach this to their bikes. AJ had his taped under his bars, behind his race number.

Adrian Jackson bike check Orbea Oiz Shimano Fox MarathonMTB

All in all AJ’s bike is what you would expect, fast, light, and with considered spec for an experienced racer. This is AJ’s 2016 bike, and he has a new one ready to roll for his next big event. His new Oiz moves to Boost spacing, and a SRAM drivetrain.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Curve, Fox, MarathonMTB, MMTB, Orbea, otway odyssey, Schwalbe, Shimano

About Mike Blewitt

Mike loves all things bike, but marathons definitely hold a special place in his heart. He's the co-founder of MarathonMTB.com. He's raced extensively throughout Europe, North America and Australia and has represented Australia twice at the UCI Marathon World Championships.

WELCOME TO MARATHONMTB.COM

We deliver the latest information from the world of endurance mountain biking. We hope we can help to inspire and inform your next mountain biking adventure.

Get the latest

Join hundreds of people receiving a weekly digest of endurance mountain biking content. Simply enter your email below.

MarathonMTB.com

RIDE

  • Event Calendar

ABOUT

  • About
  • Contact
  • Team
  • Team Diary

CONTENT

  • Diaries
  • Features
  • News
  • Nutrition
  • Photos
  • Reports
  • Tech
  • Video

LEGAL

  • Terms
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Follow

  • 12,750
  • 3,750
  • 13,500

    Copyright © 2025 XCM Management. All rights reserved.