Factor Bikes has unveiled the new OSTRO ‘superlight aero race bike that’s ready for cobbles’ and has also rolled out a new, accompanying Black Inc FORTY FIVE wheelset.
According to the premium bike brand, ‘the new OSTRO combines the best of Factor’s renowned engineering capabilities across lightweight, aerodynamics and comfort into one bike that’s ready for anything.’
The OSTRO is positioned as an ‘everything bike, a quiver killer, a master of all trades.’ It is only available for disc brakes and electronic shifting. The company notes that by committing to these technologies, it has enabled further gains to frame weight and integration.
Named after a southerly Mediterranean wind that sweeps through the Côte d’Azur and Nice, location of the Grand Départ of the 2020 Tour de France, the OSTRO is made for the sort of mixed terrain and crosswinds that the riders of the Israel Start-Up Nation team encountered during the early stages of this year’s Grand Boucle. The OSTRO is making its debut at the Tour de France and is being ridden by the team.
“The OSTRO concept was born from my long experience working with pro teams and riders, especially at Paris-Roubaix,” explained Graham Shrive, Factor’s Director of Engineering. “Every year there would be a couple of riders who wanted to use their aero bikes to get that advantage, no matter how poorly suited they were to the cobbles.
“Plus, of course, pros have always wanted an aero bike with no weight penalty, or a super light bike with no drag penalty in the valleys, as the climbers might see it. Instead of battling to get them on a bike made for the cobbles, we decided to build them what they wanted, and it turns out to be a hell of a bike.”
Key features
- Frame weight – 780g for a painted frame in size 54 Flicker design.
- Mid-chord aero profile – the truncated NACA profile down tube has the same cross-sectional surface area as the down tube of a Factor O2 VAM, optimising aerodynamic performance versus weight.
- Wide stance fork – optimises aerodynamics for a pro-spec 26mm tubular by widening the gap between the fork legs and the spokes, reducing the turbulence caused by the forward rotating spokes meeting incoming airflow, and gives clearance for a 32mm tyre.
- Reversing Flow Energising Channel – A Factor innovation, this channel built into the crown of the fork claims to relieve the stagnant airflow that is drawn up by the forward rotating wheel and tyre and collects behind the fork, where it disturbs airflow around the outside of the fork onto the down tube. Incoming airflow to the fork is focused through a converging nozzle to accelerate the reversed flow out of this area, reducing the pressure changes in this area, improving laminar flow and cutting drag.
- 32mm tyre clearance – Generous tyre clearance means the OSTRO is ‘ready for Paris-Roubaix, super-long rides or your favourite back roads, and all without compromise to handling characteristics.’ Specifically, the OSTRO has ISO clearance for 32mm tyres mounted to rims of 21mm internal width
- Fully internal cable routing – Drawing on technology from the new O2 VAM, the OSTRO routes all of its cables 100% internally. It does so while retaining a 1⅛ upper headset bearing for minimal frontal area and drag, whereas other brands may resort to a 52mm upper bearing.
- Cockpit options – to give customers more choice, the OSTRO is compatible with the one-piece Black Inc Barstem for fully internal cable routing, and also with all separate bars and stems (cables enter below stem).
- Three different fork offsets – claimed to ensure optimum handling characteristics across all frame sizes so that every customer has the best ride experience.
- New lightweight seatpost – Mid-depth profile seatpost balances weight and aero, available in 0 and 25mm offset options.
- Compliant rear triangle
- Identical geometry to the Factor O2 and O2 VAM
- High frame stiffness
- Electronic shifting only
- T47 threaded bottom bracket
The OSTRO aero road bike launches with the Black Inc FORTY FIVE wheelset.
Factor adds that this wheelset is designed with an ‘optimal balance of aerodynamic performance and lightweight for riders who want a single wheelset to do everything from high mountain gran fondos to flat road races to long training days, and everything else in between.’
