{"id":59769,"date":"2024-02-14T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/78802eba-df44-4497-9749-aa0bcc295978"},"modified":"2024-02-14T11:59:48","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T10:59:48","slug":"factor-says-updated-ostro-vam-is-faster-than-specialized-tarmac-sl8","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/factor-says-updated-ostro-vam-is-faster-than-specialized-tarmac-sl8\/","title":{"rendered":"Factor says updated Ostro VAM is faster than Specialized Tarmac SL8"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new challenger for the throne? <\/p>

By Simon von Bromley\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 10:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Factor has announced the new Ostro VAM, its second-generation all-rounder aero road bike.<\/p>

The 2024 Ostro VAM is claimed to be seven watts more aerodynamic (at 48km\/h) and 267.8g lighter than the first-generation Ostro VAM<\/a>.<\/p>

Factor also claims it\u2019s more aerodynamic than two of its key competitors, the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8<\/a> and the Cerv\u00e9lo S5<\/a>.<\/p>

The 2024 Factor Ostro VAM is said to hit the UCI\u2019s 6.8kg minimum bike weight limit thanks to improvements to the frameset and a new 1,270g Black Inc 48\/58 aero wheelset.<\/p>

Prices for complete builds start at \u00a38,999 \/ $9,199 \/ \u20ac8,849 for a bike with the Black Inc wheels and a Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100<\/a> groupset. The top-of-the-range model is equipped with SRAM Red eTap AXS<\/a> and costs \u00a311,399 \/ $11,499 \/ \u20ac11,049.<\/p>

The modern race bike<\/h2>
The 2024 Factor Ostro VAM is the latest all-rounder aero bike for the Israel\u2013Premier Tech WorldTour team. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

According to Factor, the first Ostro VAM represented its ultimate take on \u201cthe modern race bike\u201d \u2013 \u201cthe manifestation of our story\u201d and \u201ceverything that Factor Bikes stands for\u201d.<\/p>

The second-generation version, then, has big shoes to fill.<\/p>

The brand says its primary goal was to make the new Ostro VAM faster and lighter without compromising on handling or comfort.<\/p>

The story here, then, is one of refinement rather than reinvention. It\u2019s evolution, not revolution, as the clich\u00e9 goes.<\/p>

\"2024
The 2024 Factor Ostro VAM maintains a similar silhouette to its predecessor. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As with many WorldTour<\/a> race bikes, aerodynamic improvements were a key focus.<\/p>

Factor says it considered how the frameset could \u201csteer the air favourably around the rider\u201d, and how the front end of the bike affected everything downstream of it.<\/p>

The frameset was then split into five \u2018zones\u2019, each of which was optimised according to the latest UCI equipment regulations<\/a>.<\/p>

Improvements to aerodynamics were made in four out of the five zones, while weight was reduced in three out of five areas, Factor claims.<\/p>

It also says stiffness levels were maintained across every zone, despite the aerodynamic and weight improvements.<\/p>

Zonal optimisations<\/h2>

Zone 1 \u2013 Fork<\/h3>
\"2024
The new fork uses deeper, thinner legs and a higher crown. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Factor designated the fork as Zone 1, because it forms (along with the head tube) a significant part of the leading edge of the bike.<\/p>

The brand says it was able to improve the fork by making each leg narrower and deeper. This reduces frontal area while also making the aerofoil length longer and therefore more efficient.<\/p>

Factor says it also optimised the fork crown to improve stiffness and aerodynamic efficiency with wider tyres, without increasing weight.<\/p>

The brake caliper mounting point and thru-axle integration were also refined.<\/p>

Cryptically, Factor says \u201dvery small surface details were added to the inside of the fork legs to promote better airflow next to the rotating wheel.\u201d<\/p>

Exactly what form these \u201csurface details\u201d take remains to be seen, but we hope to get a test bike soon and will break out the magnifying glass if needed.<\/p>

Zone 2 \u2013 Head tube<\/h3>
\"2024
The head tube on the new Ostro VAM is distinctly narrower and curvier. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The head tube on the new Ostro VAM has taken on a more shapely, hourglass profile.<\/p>

Factor says this causes the airflow to stay attached to the bike for longer, therefore reducing drag.<\/p>

It\u2019s also said to direct the airflow from this area between the rider\u2019s legs, for a reduction in overall system drag.<\/p>

\"2024
The depth of the head tube aerofoil has also been extended for further aero gains. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Multiple profiles were developed and simulated using CFD modelling to attain a head tube shape that\u2019s slippery in both low- and high-yaw situations (or headwinds and crosswinds).<\/p>

The slimming down of this area also reduced the amount of carbon fibre<\/a> required to build it to the same stiffness level, which helped save a small amount of weight.<\/p>

Zone 3 \u2013 Top tube<\/h3>
\"2024
The top tube forms one long aerofoil shape, helping the airflow stay attached for as long as possible. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The goal for the top tube was to \u201ccapture the smoother flow\u201d from the updated head tube and carry it through to the rear of the bike as efficiently as possible.<\/p>

A new, slimmed shape also helps reduce weight, though Factor says this hasn\u2019t come at the expense of stiffness, because the new shape can \u201cdissipate loads over a greater distance\u201d.<\/p>

Zone 4 \u2013 Seat tube and seatpost<\/h3>
\"2024
Factor split the rear of the bike into three sections. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Thanks to updates to the UCI\u2019s equipment regulations<\/a> that came into force for the 2023 season, Factor says it was able to redesign the rear end of the bike for significant improvements to aerodynamics and weight.<\/p>

Specifically, the removal of the 3:1 rule (which meant frame tubes and components could have a length-to-thickness ratio no greater than 3:1) and a reduction in the minimum thickness required, enabled Factor to slim down the rear end significantly.<\/p>

The new seatpost, for example, is 36 per cent slimmer than before, while the upper section of the seat tube is 20 per cent thinner.<\/p>

Factor has also remodelled the bottom half of the seat tube to include a more prominent cut-out for the rear wheel.<\/p>

The new shape now arcs rearwards to ‘nest’ a 28mm-wide tyre and the rear rim into a single, continuous aerodynamic shape.<\/p>

\"2024
The seatpost clamp has been moved to the rear of the seat tube. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Factor has also updated the seatpost clamp, replacing the wedge system at the underside of the top tube with a plate-based one at the rear of the seat tube.<\/p>

This saves weight, according to Factor, but also appears to address one of our key criticisms of the first-generation Ostro VAM (the design of the previous wedge system required the use of a special tool to access it).<\/p>

Zone 5 \u2013 Bottom bracket area<\/h3>

At the bottom of the bike, Factor says it avoided making changes simply for the sake of it.<\/p>

\u201cSubtle refinements\u201d were made to the shape that bridges the down tube and seat tube, which resulted in small aerodynamic improvements, but Factor focused on maintaining stiffness in this area for a responsive ride feel.<\/p>

Faster than the rest?<\/h2>
\"2024
Is this one of the fastest bikes in the pro peloton? Factor thinks so. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A painted, size-54cm 2024 Ostro VAM frame is claimed to weigh 820g, compared to 865.2g for the previous version.<\/p>

Curiously, when the previous-generation Ostro VAM launched, Factor quoted a frame weight of 780g in a size 54cm.<\/p>

The 780g figure related to Factor\u2019s ultra-light \u2018Flicker\u2019 paintjob, though, whereas the 2024 weights are based on Factor\u2019s new \u2018chrome\/black\u2019 paint.<\/p>

\"Factor
Factor’s new ‘chrome\/black’ paintjob may be a little heavier than its previous ‘Flicker’ one. – Factor<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As many hill climb racers know, a lightweight paintjob \u2013 or forgoing one altogether \u2013 can be an effective way to make your bike lighter<\/a>, so this may account for the discrepancy.<\/p>

Overall, Factor says the 2024 Ostro VAM is 267.8g lighter than the previous version. This includes the frame, fork, updated seatpost, a Black Inc integrated aero handlebar and the new Black Inc 48\/58 wheelset.<\/p>

<\/colgroup>
\ufeff<\/th>Factor Ostro VAM 2024<\/th>Factor Ostro VAM v1<\/th>Weight change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Frame<\/b> (grams, size 54, ‘chrome\/black’ paint)<\/td>820<\/td>865.2<\/td>-45.2<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork<\/b> (grams)<\/td>463<\/td>454<\/td>9<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat post with hardware<\/b> (grams)<\/td>168.6<\/td>182<\/td>-13.4<\/td> <\/tr>
Small parts<\/b> (grams)<\/td>268.4<\/td>267.6<\/td>0.8<\/td> <\/tr>
Black Inc Aero Barstem<\/b> (grams)<\/td>376<\/td>376<\/td>0<\/td> <\/tr>
Frameset package<\/b>(grams)<\/td>2,096<\/td>2,144.8<\/td>-48.8<\/td> <\/tr>
Black Inc 48\/58 wheelset \/ Black Inc 45 wheelset<\/b> (grams)<\/td>1,270<\/td>1,489<\/td>-219<\/td> <\/tr>
Frameset package with wheels<\/b> (grams)<\/td>3,366<\/td>3,633.8<\/td>-267.8<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>