One brand that is particularly well known in the field of mountain biking is Orbea mountain bikes. The company that makes them is based in a town called Mallavia, in Spain's Basque country. These days their range includes Orbea mountain bikes, touring bikes and road bikes.

Not everybody realises that Orbea actually started life as a company which manufactured weapons. In the beginning Orbea made rifles, pistols and their cartridges. Throughout Spain, Orbea was renowned for the weapons it made. Certianly, by the 1870s, Orbea was one of the most influential and successful companies in the area.

The business  carried on manufacturing weapons right up until the end of the Spanish Civil War, when demand for weapons sharply decreased. In 1926 tensions in the family business led to the company splitting into two separate enterprises. From the split of the business came a company who chose to specialise in bikes and Orbea mountain bikes was born.

As a well known and respected name in biking, the company has always sponsored and had strong links with cycling teams. Euskaltel-Euskadi and Xacobeo-Galicia are two of the high profile cycling teams with which Orbea has close ties. Additionally, Orbea mountain bikes has had its own team since 2005.

Nowadays, the company sponsors many biking events throughout Europe and its products are often given as prizes in mountain biking events on the continent. Many of Orbea's current designs are made using the most modern carbon fibre frames. And the company also makes several bikes with frames made entirely of aluminium, which are incredibly lightweight and popular.

With more and more publicity from event sponsorship under its belt, Orbea mountain bikes have a very bright future. Orbea sponsors some of Spain's biggest events in the field of mountain bikes which welcome participation from professionals and members of the public. More evidence of their quality, if it were needed is the fact that the bikes are sold in many countries worldwide.