Factor just dropped what might be the boldest aero bike we’ve seen in years. We’ll…we’ve actually seen it already, and it’s already winning WorldTour stages. But, this is the first time that we’ve seen it formally, with a name, explanation, and method to the madness. You can read all about it in our speculative story here, and a more formal Eurobike greeting here, but nothing could be as wild as what’s on paper for the Factor ONE.
The new Factor ONE isn’t a refinement of the brand’s current aero bike, the OSTRO VAM. It’s a whole new monster, and pushing what a UCI-legal road bike can be. It’s pretty much in its own category in the Factor road line. Plus, according to Factor’s own engineering data and WorldTour testing, it’s not just faster than the OSTRO; it’s faster than everything in the category.
Factor sums it up in one line: “Any faster, and it would be illegal.” Slightly heavy words in a sport constantly looking to outrun its doping past… but this story IS about the bike, and the Factor ONE is coming in hot.
Born From a Rule Change
The Factor ONE story began when the UCI relaxed dimensional constraints on the fork box. Most brands saw a minor opportunity; Factor saw a wide-open corridor to push the limits of aerodynamic design. The design looks very similar to the Hope Track bike and the Stromm Raktt. All have the same idea on the front end, but it’s more than just a fork upgrade.
Backed by lessons from the Factor HANZŌ Track project and the OSTRO VAM, the ONE was developed entirely in-house. Factor designed, prototyped, and refined the platform under one roof, allowing them to change small designs quickly without waiting for contract-factory tooling. This in-house (and secret) design allowed Factor to surprise everyone with a near production-ready bike at this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné.
Aero Weaponry: Bayonet Fork + Ducted Chin Fairing
The ONE’s front end is its defining feature. Factor widened and pushed the fork legs forward, then added a ducted “chin” fairing beneath the head tube. This structure controls the dirty “spillover” airflow coming off the front tire. One of the most significant sources of turbulence on aero race bikes.
Factor Wind-tunnel and CFD testing showed:
- Airflow stays attached longer and deeper into crosswinds
- Drag remains low across a wide yaw range
- Competitors stall aggressively above 5–10 degrees of yaw, while the ONE “continues generating usable thrust”.
Was it enough to notice? Well, one rider noticed immediately. During testing, Jake Stewart reported a distinct “lift” sensation around 50 kph as the bike’s aero profile activated. That sensation aligns with tunnel data showing a substantial drop in drag at higher yaw angles.
Geometry Built for Modern Race Positions
Today’s racers are increasingly rotated forward: saddles shoved ahead, shorter cranks, narrower bars, longer reach. It comes from lots of wind tunnel testing and the UCI outlawing the “puppy-paw-position”. Riders were forced to reduce their frontal area in different ways.
That means spending more time with the forearms on the bars, in line with the shifters. It’s a fast position, but not the best for steering. Factor and most riders agree that these positions can destabilize handling. So on the new ONE Factor, updated the geometry to excel to steer better in those applications.
What’s Up With Fit?
Factor built the ONE’s geometry around modern racing positions, starting with a decoupled handlebar mount that enables extreme reach without relying on custom 140–150mm stems.
They paired this with an increased bottom-bracket drop to stabilize the rider’s raised center of gravity created by shorter cranks and larger tires.
Every size uses identical steering geometry. It’s a pretty uncommon move and one that should eliminate the handling compromises often found in smaller frames. If that wasn’t enough, riders can adjust their seat tube angle, ranging from 73.5° to 77°. Letting riders adopt an aggressive forward position without sacrificing stability.
However, with all the updated fit and geometry tweaks, Factor says “the ONE preserves the core coordinates of the OSTRO VAM.” Basically, meaning, if you ride an OSTRO VAM, you should feel right at home on the new ONE.
Factor ONE Tech Overview
- Frame: 900g (size 54)
- Fork: 540g bayonet design with ducted chin fairing
- Cockpit: 210g integrated system (size 3)
- Seatpost: 230g, with zero and 30mm setback options
- Tire Clearance: 34mm measured (optimized around 28mm)
- Shifting: Electronic only
- Crank Optimization: 165–170mm
- Cockpit Options: Standard and Hi-Rize systems with size-specific reach equivalents
- Paint Options: Onyx Black, Nimbus Grey, Blush, Silverstone
Factor ONE Pricing and Builds:
- Ultegra Di2 – $10,899 USD / €10,499 / $16,799 AUD / $14,499 CAD
- Dura-Ace Di2 – $12,599 USD / €12,099 / $19,399 AUD / $16,799 CAD
- SRAM Force AXS w/ power meter – $11,099 USD / €10,699 / $17,099 AUD / $12,899 CAD
- SRAM Red AXS w/ power meter – $12,899 USD / €12,399 / $19,899 AUD / $17,199 CAD
- Campagnolo Super Record Wireless 13s – $13,199 USD / €12,699 / $20,299 AUD / $17,599 CAD
- ONE Premium Package (Frameset): $6,899 USD / €6,599 / $10,599 AUD / $9,199 CAD
- ONE Premium Package w/ Black Inc 62 Wheels: $9,499 USD / €9,099 / $14,599 AUD / $12,599 CAD
