Israel-Premier Tech’s Simon Clarke riding updated race bike with new Black Inc wheels
Factor has teased a new version of its lightweight climbing bike, the O2 VAM.
BikeRadar is currently in Bilbao ahead of the 2023 Tour de France Grand Départ this Saturday. The new O2 VAM we spotted will be ridden by Israel-Premier Tech’s Simon Clarke.
The new bike has been given the aero-yet-lightweight treatment with new tube shaping, dropped seatstays and low weight on the BikeRadar scales.
Like a Giant TCR?
!["Simon]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2584-9b68644.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
The previous Factor O2 VAM had seatstays that met the seat tube near the seatpost clamp, but the new bike has dropped stays, giving it a profile that’s very similar to the current-generation Giant TCR.
In fact, the O2 VAM’s new integrated seat mast means its silhouette is similar to a Giant TCR SL.
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2591-5f34697.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
These are often used in order to reduce the weight of a bike, because they do away with the excess material of a seatpost and even the need for a wedge clamp, in some instances.
Elsewhere, the new O2 VAM has a thin, tapered top tube, which appears to drop at a slightly more extreme angle than the outgoing O2 VAM, furthering its similarities with the TCR.
!["Simon]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2602-7b8ea02.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
However, unlike the Giant TCR, Factor’s new climbing bike has all its cables routed internally, which appears to be one of several features intended to improve the bike’s aerodynamics.
The frame looks to have been designed to reduce aerodynamic drag, with a refined front end and a D-shaped seat tube replacing the round seat tube on the outgoing model.
How much does the new Factor O2 VAM weigh?
!["Scales]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAMGEORGE3-1476702.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Factor")
On BikeRadar’s scales, Simon Clarke’s new Factor O2 VAM weighs 6.925kg, which is just over the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg.
The low weight is in part due to Clarke himself, who is 175cm tall and rides a 52cm frame, which is sure to keep the bike’s overall weight down.
!["Simon]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2609-c08c4f7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
We’re not sure if this bike is completely ready for the Tour de France just yet, but Clarke appears to be running a single bottle cage, which will also keep the weight down by a few grams.
Clarke also has an FSA crankset with carbon crank arms, which will also save weight compared to Shimano’s alloy cranks.
New wheels, to boot
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2596-152f2c9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
Clarke’s bike is also fitted with a set of new Black Inc wheels.
Black Inc is Factor’s in-house component brand and, while our team on the ground hasn’t weighed the wheels separately, they will likely be featherweight from the visual cues.
The carbon road bike wheels have carbon spokes and the front wheel has a shallow 28mm rim and a 33mm-deep rim at the rear.
!["Calipers]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAMGEORGE1-8ea4f1e.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Factor")
The wheels are fitted with 28mm-wide Continental GP5000 S TR tyres. Mounted on the Black Inc wheels, the tyres measure up to 30.6mm wide, suggesting a generous internal rim width.
The tyres have also been given the permanent marker treatment, with the markings on the tyre wall scribbled out.
!["Black]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2598-4e65258.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
Teams often do this when a product they’re using has not yet been released, or when a component isn’t from one of its sponsors. In this case, it’s the latter with Israel-Premier Tech’s official tyre sponsor being Maxxis.
Simon Clarke’s cockpit
!["Simon]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2615-7797cf2.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
Simon Clarke rides a small frame size, but clearly favours a stretched-out position.
The one-piece Black Inc cockpit on his Factor O2 VAM has a 150mm-long stem section.
!["Simon]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/06/Factor-O2-VAM20230629SvBA6300BR2595-50202fc.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Simon")
The handlebar is 38cm wide and Clarke has his shifters turned inwards, which is something of a trend among pro riders looking to eke out every aerodynamic saving.