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Factor Bikes Launch the ONE with Baden Cooke

Written by Jayson O'Mahoney
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FactorOneTDU2016-1

Late in 2015, we revealed Factor Bikes new models, the UCI Legal ONE, O2 and ONE-S. All of these bikes are linked to a project with the UK’s first Professional Continental Cycling team, One Pro Cycling. Originally starting as a side project from motorsport and automotive company bf1systems, Factor Bikes has grown into a showcase for innovation. In 2009, the company released the Factor 001, a carbon machine that featured split downtube and aerodynamic fork, disc brakes and integrated power meter.

In 2014, Australian ex-professional cyclist and winner of the Tour de France’s green jersey, Baden Cooke, joined Factor Bikes as a consultant. Baden was tasked with creating a UCI legal bike to showcase in the world of professional cycling. Nowadays, Baden is a co-owner of the company with Rob Gitelis, an American who owns a manufacturing company in Taiwan. The 2016 Tour Down Under was chosen as the venue to officially launch the Factor ONE, O2 and ONE-S bikes. I was fortunate to get a few minutes of Baden’s time away from the Factor pop-up booth, and gather details and photos of the Factor ONE.

FactorOneTDU2016-5

The most interesting feature of the ONE is the bike’s split downtube. Designed to be the most aerodynamic bicycle available, the company claims that turbulent air from the front wheel passes through the downtube, rather than around it. According to Factor, the split downtube saves 100 grams of aerodynamic drag compared to a regular downtube in wind tunnel testing. That’s a claimed saving of one second per kilometer.

FactorOneTDU2016-4

The feature sure to draw the ire of some is the ONE’s location of Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 Junction A box. Typically slung beneath the stem or in a concealed compartment on some aero bikes, Factor places it below the cage bolts of the rear bottle cage. Factor cite the location as convenient for charging or adjustment of the system. While convenient, there is no denying this is a dirty area of the bike, attracting the sweat from water bottles or road grime on a wet day.

FactorOneTDU2016-2

Aerodynamics continue to the ONE’s integrated handlebars and stem.

FactorOneTDU2016-12

FactorOneTDU2016-8

Factor eschews potentially troublesome and proprietary aero brakes with their choice of Dura-Ace 9000 series calipers.

FactorOneTDU2016-7

Junctions around the seatpost and seatstays are kept clean, devoid of aerodynamic drag. The Dura-Ace rear brake is shifted to the underside of the bike, behind and below the bottom bracket.

FactorOneTDU2016-11

The Dura-Ace 9000 series crankset interfaces with the ONE’s BBRight bottom bracket, rotating on CeramicSpeed bearings.

FactorOneTDU2016-3

CeramicSpeed bearings are also installed into the ONE’s Black Inc 50mm carbon clincher wheels and headset. Those bearings add a considerable premium to the ONE’s overall retail price.

FactorOneTDU2016-6

Priced at $13,200 USD including tax, the Factor ONE isn’t within the budget of every cyclist. However, compared to the offerings of big-name aero bikes, the ONE is priced competitively and remains exclusive.

FactorOneTDU2016-10

Coming soon, the Factor One S of ONE Pro Cycling’s Steel Von Hoff. Watch this space!

Photos and article by Gravel Cyclist.
Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience..

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Dave
Dave
9 years ago

I don’t buy the aero comments, but the downtime is pretty trick… in a showroom. That thing would get so nasty with grime, bugs, worm guts…

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DangerDirt
DangerDirt
9 years ago

“Priced at $13,200 USD including tax, the Factor ONE isn’t within the budget of every cyclist. However, compared to the offerings of big-name aero bikes, the ONE is priced competitively and remains exclusive.”

This is mental. Makes me think of the interview with the owner of Spank on Pinkbike when he talks about the cycling industry is pricing itself into a small niche market only the rich can afford.

This pursuit of the ultra high-end is cutting out the legs of the consumer base and what does it offer? A split down tube.

To each their own I suppose.

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Veganpotter
Veganpotter
9 years ago

I know from friends testing, that the Oval Concepts, twin bladed forks are fast so I don’t have many doubts with this. However, I really do wonder how those blades react with a water bottle, my gut feeling is very poorly

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BT
BT
9 years ago

The 100g of air drag saved by the split downtube is negated by the di2 box location

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Erik
Erik
9 years ago

Okay, I’ll be the first to bite. Where is this integrated power meter?!

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Frippolini
Frippolini
9 years ago

I wonder how big the annual market for USD10k+ bikes is?

Bikerumor, can’t you use your fantastic network, connections and impeccable reputation to get some of the main manufacturers view on the market size? Would become a nice article and a good reference point for everyone inside and interested in the bike industry.

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Moby
Moby
9 years ago

Love the di2 junction mount. The stem mounted junction just kills me. On both my di2 bikes I have the junction mounted to the brake line instead of the stem, which is better but still just OK. I wouldn’t worry at all about the dirt aspect of that location. I have been hammer di2 in PNW winters for 4 winters with zero issues. One of them sees 100+ miles a week outside all winter. I really thought that the rear derailleur wire port would eventually develop corrosion but despite my best efforts I have not been able to get it to fail. More reliable in bad weather than mechanical cables.

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Pit
Pit
9 years ago

The frame looked great in the race in Dubai.

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Insider
Insider
9 years ago

@Frippolini:

I know from an other company that they made about 100 pieces a year of USD10k+ bikes.

You can do the math for yourself 😉

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Frippolini
Frippolini
9 years ago

@ Insider,

Thanks. 🙂

From my perspective the market size of the USD10k+ bikes should be really small (in number of bikes sold per year) and I doubt that all companies pursuing this market are able to churn out a profit from their effort.

Going for the USD10k+ market requires so much more than hanging expensive parts and wheels on a frame (DuraAce Di2 + top of the line wheels + top components = USD4k in wholesale prices?), suggesting that the value of the frame alone should be somewhere around USD6k? With this in mind, I seriously doubt that there is payoff for many frame manufacturers in developing a competitive bike frame in the USD6k class that can actually deliver value (bang-for-the-buck).

Looking at a company like Factor (which the article covers): how much would they have to spend on R&D, mould making, production, tooling and production setup to make a competitive USD6k frame, and can a company like Factor (or any of the others) sell enough USD6k frames to make a profit?

BikeRumor – what is your opinion on this?
How often do you encounter USD6k frames that deliver competitive value (bang-for-the-buck)?
What is the feedback you get from bike companies on the idea of pursuing the USD10k+ market?

Otherwise, nice looking bike!

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El Pablo
El Pablo
9 years ago

@Frippolini, anything over $5K is probably above the ‘bang for you buck’ conversation. That’s where the trickle down ‘compromise this to save that’ bikes come into play. Every major manufacture is making a top level race frame at or above $5K USD, some go well beyond (S-Works McClaren, Cervelo RCA). Obviously someone is buying the bikes as they keep producing them and pushing the bar. We can ascertain that Factor isn’t looking for wide spread adoption with their price points, so competitive value would turn consumers back to the big three (Spec, Trek, Giant). At least this is my take from 10+ years in the industry (retail & manufacture).

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Benjamin
Benjamin
9 years ago

To be fair – Baden Cooke did reply and was very helpful.

However,
This was the reply I got from Peter Appleton when asking for information like geometry charts, paint schemes, frame variations compatibility with different groupsets, delivery lead time

I hope nobody contributes to this arrogant person’s $100/hr. Peter is also the co owner of Sako7 cycling apparel and SBSportsinc

Guys

This person is a time suck.
Its going to happen. Jo blow sees our site, gets excited and ask 10 questions, yanks chains and moves on.
We need to be prepared to walk away from sales from time to time if theyre too much work.
Website will be up and running in 2 weeks . He can buy then.

We all cost $100 an hr, we cant chase these types down forever

Cheers guys

Peter Appleton
peter@sbsportsinc.com
http://www.sbsportsinc.com
+1 905 301 8169
S – peteapp2

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