A reader recently emailed us on this (thanks!); It looks like Beru F1 has updated the website for their Factor001 road bike with more tech info and photos.
Shown here in final form factor, the bike drips with technology, but it’s well hidden for a clean, sleek looking ride that’ll all but give you a physical. Jump on past the break to see the latest deets…
Starting at the front, the integrated CPU and display capture the load measurements from sensors in the frame and combine that data with speed, heart rate, cadence, power and location (via a built-in GPS receiver) to provide a complete performance picture. All of the information can be displayed on screen, and buttons on the brake hoods let the rider switch screens without changing their riding position. When you’re done with your ride, the info is stored on a small drive that’s removed and synced with your computer for analysis.
Although the bike uses Shimano’s Di2 electronic shifting group, the OEM brake hoods are removed and replaced with custom carbon fiber caps that integrate the CPU controls.
Foregoing UCI approval, the Factor001 uses a double crown fork because Beru says the standard design inherently places uneven stresses on the headset bearings. Their design offers better strength and precision as well as longer bearing life and less maintenance. Note the slick wire runs between the fork legs into the frame.
Beru says the wheels were one of the toughest parts of the bike to design. Because they wanted disc brakes, the hubs had to be narrower, and they wanted to minimize spoke size and count to improve aerodynamics. And, of course, the whole package had to be lightweight and offer some bump eating compliance. About those brakes, the carbon composite rotors shown on the original prototypes are offered as a dry weather option. The hydraulic brake “hoses” are actually rigid titanium tubes that are inserted into the frame during construction, making brake performance highly responsive with a very lightweight system.
The cranks are custom aluminum units mated to a custom bottom bracket and spindle. Inside them are power measuring sensors, the same strain gauges used in F1 driveshafts, to measure torque and power for each leg, letting you see which leg is stronger and by how much. This feeds into the bike’s stated goal of being the ultimate training device.
The frame’s “Twin Vane” carbon composite design was chosen for it’s ability to build in the desired stiffness and compliance characteristics, and each frame is custom built to fit the purchaser. The integrated tailights are just gravy.
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