Factor O2 and złoooo

Here I am. I stand soaked in front of the apartment door. The mud is trickling down my back - maybe because of this downpour, what Grzegorz brought it, maybe by a gale or maybe because I just sprayed myself with a pressure washer. The teeth make a similar noise as the bike's drive, which I have next to each other - every move is a rasp and some internal pain - after all, something is missing, something disappears. I have not been feeling my hands and feet for some time - I forgot how to dress for such temperatures. I bow my head at the door, because my hands are both occupied - Panda opens me. I am still undressing on the cage because I will never climb the floor if I come inside. What will the neighbors think when they see a naked guy in a helmet? I do not know, I may say that I am a gas collector and a frame, naked, I like it so much. And how is this new bike? - I hear.

Well, what should I say: a bicycle like a bicycle, a black one, two wheels, a lot of coal - it travels with the wind, it would be difficult to go out of the pajamas only if it is for a warm soup Pho. This bike is Factor O2I have not seen in Poland yet. It was worth it.

Welcome stranger - who are you?

I confess without being beaten - I know little about Factor bikes. I saw them chasing them on the tour of the AG2R La Mondiale, I know that GCN has been doing a lot of stuff about them recently, but it never occurred to me to check what it is. Another British painted Chinese, I thought.

I thank you for using the bike PS Distribution. If you would like to buy such Factor or look at current prices, I invite you to their side.

I rarely throw here the history of companies that have produced a bike, but this one is interesting and I am guilty of it to the British. It looks something like this: near 2007, a company from England, which worked on super cars, Formula 1 and stuff, released a bike for the fun, which, as it turned out, really appealed to people.

It was Factor001which with bikes has as much in common as concept car presented at the motor show, with those that drive the streets. The mere fact that it was a highway with shields and integrated electronics gives a more or less conception of their vision. Then, on its basis, in cooperation with Aston Martin, they did ONE-77which still had nothing to do with the classic bike, and it cost ... £ 25,000. Then he arose Factor Vis Vires, still inconsistent with any standards and supposedly infernally fast.

The company (or at least the cycling faction) was taken over by some enthusiasts and they were begging. The Factor people admit to creating the first frame with a weight below 900 grams, the first under 800g and the machine constructions that won the stages and general in the Tour de France and in Giro.

What's most important in this paragraph is that Factor has a factory that only makes these bikes - Factor Engineering Center - and that's impressive. Apart from Factor, only Giant and Merida have their own factories ... only they are Giant and Merida. Equally nice is that they only produce 3 models: traditional, aero and time. Without the so-called poverty-version - you have Factor: you paid a lot, but you definitely have a bike top. It's a good move, because seeing Colnago bikes for 6,000 PLN, it's getting bad.

Factor O2 - bicycle as a bicycle

This model supposedly intended for mountains and pavements - the most classic bike that this company ever released. And actually, you look at him - you think: no bike. Bike like a bicycle. Coming to him for Kolarski, I saw in front of me these beautiful colors: blue-white, white-blue, gray-blue, orange - these pastel-colored paintings are beautiful. You can see all of them on the Factor website, here. So I enter the store, full of hope, excitement and happy thanks to the thought that after leaving the store's door, the eyes of the whole city will be turned to me. But they will not. I've probably got the most boring bike this year, because it's not enough that it does not pay attention, it has nothing to cling to. Unless we start talking about the price - then it gets interesting.

In the middle of the store, a black and black bike with black components, a few silver screws and beige-rim tires await me. I look inside and I'm crying because what I write about it. It's just an ordinary bike. A regular bicycle, whose frameset (with saddle, seatpost and cockpit) costs with us ... PLN 21 255.75! The whole bike is somewhere between 30 and 40k PLN (I have not found exactly that anywhere, so I estimate).

edit: I could not find it because Factor tries to sell the same extended frameset (ie frame, cockpit, saddle, seatpost) instead of full bicycles. The idea is good, because some people prefer aluminum instead of carbon, while others prefer cables instead of eTAP. And the uniqueness is greater. Is the price for the frameset huge? Yes, but looking at what we get, it comes out like most top models of the best brands.

Look.

Factor O2 is technologically advanced (yes, they say), but it looks ordinary. In painting I have, my eyes are not attracted. I suspect that even among the cycling brothers will not arouse interest, until someone notices the black lettering on the black frame. Even then you have to rely on the luck that just associates the company. For me, the rest of the painting is a bullseye. After seeing GCN materialI do not know if I want more white and blue or blue and white, but both are beautiful ... and they weigh 6.2 kg each.

Black painting, of course, is not a disadvantage. You can not blame the dog for being a dog. The black varnish is very nice and elegant, along with other components, which, as you can guess, are also black, creates a coherent whole. The black cones of Black INC (the sister company from which other elements come from) give it an additional racing character.

The only thing that is brave here is the cockpit: an integrated steering wheel with a bridge. On the steering wheel, a large, gray FACTOR inscription. According to Panda, it looks pretty bad - she mentioned something about tracksuit and Adidas company. According to me? I'm not sure. If I had Lambo, however, I would like the logo to look at me from the steering wheel all the time. The steering wheel with the bridge is shiny, the rest of the bike is matt. As if that was not enough, the bridge is quite massive, and mounted on a regular steerer tube and ordinary washers. The whole looks like it was moved from another bike. Well, those silver screws ... I'm clinging to myself, I know. However, this is a matter of taste. I think in the described recently Canyon it's somehow more in harmony with each other. Massive pads allow you to level a heavy (visually) bridge with a thin head.

Generally, as a whole it is simply a bike. He could stand in Sèvres as a model. Black, like an expensive, well-tailored suit or exclusive watch - no outsider will notice it at first glance, and colorful everyone will be envious (unless he does not like a particular color). The big plus is that with a very light frame, it managed to hide this horrible fiber structure, which is both in my Roseas well as other light inventions, e.g. described Fuji once.

Because it actually is a bit like expensive watches. Everyone knows Rolex, Rolex is Colnago. You enter the room and people know. But Patek, Bvlgari, Audemars Piguet, Hublot are not necessarily familiar yet. Who knows, he knows. You stand on the side of the set and see how guys are bidding their bikes for 20k, you smile slightly under your breath and you say nothing. Style.

Factor 02 - technology

The bike is available on Dura Ace Di2 or Ultegra Di2 - simple, why would it be available on something else? ;) Both Ultegra and DA go perfectly and differ mainly in weight and appearance, so I will omit describing the same for the fateieth time. Although I'm not sure, because the official Factor website claims that at the moment you can buy only in three variants: on DA Di2 and soon on eTAP (yes, they are 3).

The frame is 740gr (although it is not known in what size and whether the manufacturer does not lie) carbon fiber, equipped with Ceramic Speedy.

I respect the overall construction of the bike for the lack of non-standard solutions that work well, but their service and maintenance make for ulcers. We do not have any strange screws, brakes to be found in the frame, etc. The seatpost clamp is tightened from the inside (on the vertical pipe), thanks to which it is practically, reliably and aesthetically.

wheels

The wheels are Black INC - fifty C (they sound like they were about to start rapping). They cost 2200 euros. In the version for the tire it weighs 1450g (and paradoxically it has 45mm), and for tubular goods 1350g (and height 50mm). The width is 25mm, although after measuring it turns out to be 27mm - very good. Generally very nice wheels. With stronger climbs, they bend very slightly (on a dry surface and an even path, I could not see any bends). Interestingly - just like most other carbon wheels - they do not stop in the rain. After pressing the handle, nothing happens, so I press harder, wait a moment, the bike begins to slow down. I think I've got used to my allusses too much.

With a serious, side wind it throws me sideways, but for such a height, it's definitely not bad. There is no comparison to the standard Chinese, on which I would have been in the ditch for a long time. The producer claims that it is a good choice for both flat and top. Not only that - he believes that these are the best wheels on the market - boldly:

"Black Fifty is more aerodynamic, durable, comfortable and stable than any other aero wheel on the market."

Well, the wheels are very cool, but in spite of everything I would not let them find myself in the mountains during a downpour. Unless in the shield version ....

And other crap

The Black Inc company is also the seatpost, which rests Fizika carbon saddle that is part of the frameset and wheel clamps.

Dashboard.

Cockpit - our bravest colleague. I am a huge supporter of aero dashboards, especially Canynowy, so when I saw this - I was full of fears. A thin steering wheel, as in the good old days. It is not often seen in integrated solutions. I do not know if it's a matter of winter gloves (6 degrees outside) or something else, but it was going exceptionally well. Stiff, comfortable, and also the rubber wraps hold well. My unjustified phobias are a bit smaller when I know that the steering wheel will not turn over on the bridge - it is always one point that can fail less.

As if that was not enough - the set is also obscenely light. In the middle I have a dedicated mount for Garmin, I wish I had only one at home Wahoo Elemntwho will not enter it and Garmin 1030, which is too big to fit there. You probably need a longer handle. And why this screw is silver again ?!

rubber

25mm Challenge Stripes (measured 27mm width) are a bit heavy, because the set weighs about half a kilogram, but it's worth it. At least for me and in wet conditions. The Internet definitely says that for those 40 euros for one you can buy something much better, for example Vittoria Corsa G +. However, I can not complain - I did not have one unexpected slip on the water. I will not say anything about vitality, although apparently the walls are very susceptible to punctures. Beige side gives the whole bike a character, although we know that beige is the first dirtier ride, and then it is always in muddy lines.

So we already know that paper is good. It could not be otherwise, looking at the producer's portfolio and the fact that the bike, however, rides in Pro Toura.

Factor O2 - but not like an ordinary bike

It often happens that the paper is great, and then you sit down, but not ... or vice versa. This is certainly an individual matter, because sometimes you sit on something and you know that it is the only one, and sometimes you sit down and immediately think about returning to your (what a sentence is wrong!). That was the case with my very expensive review, for example Merckxwho, on the Internet, generally praised.

The first thing you feel after planting the back of the carbon Fizika Arione R1 is the sportiness of the bike. It's low, it's long and most importantly - it's super rigid. I'm sitting on size 56, I'm 188cm - it's ok, although I know that any stand-up attempt will sooner or later end in the soil - I hate it toe ovelap (when the foot touches the front wheel). Nothing sags anywhere, watts do not run anywhere. I feel fast on this bike. As I am riding in long trousers, which, after all, take away from 70W, and the wind blows in my face, my speed drops drastically - it does not fit. This bike is designed for fast, aggressive driving. If you need something for touring brevets or weekend trips, I suggest looking elsewhere.

The model I'm testing is heavy - it weighs 7.7kg. I do not know what's going on, everything is light here. Maybe my professional, Chinese fishing tackle for 20 PLN broke down. Especially when you are driving, you do not feel this weight. You can say that 7.7kg is not enough - not at all. We are talking about one of the lightest frames in the world and a very expensive bike. You can believe przemekzawada.com when he says that there are no cheap and expensive things, because everyone has different criteria, but this is an expensive bike. If someone thinks otherwise, I invite you back to reality.

EDIT: In fact, it turned out that my weight is broken or it is this water, because when weighing a few days later, another weight came out less than 7 :-)

This is one of those machines on which you can feel like a Lamborghini in a traffic jam if you are unskilful. You'd have to go out and change into something else, not to look stupid. But that does not matter, as soon as you manage to get the right speed, everything else ceases to count. This bike is great.

Best?

For Mazowieckie conditions, the aero model (or ONE) would certainly be much better, but I do not regret it. Factor O2 has something cool about it. The pavement and irregularities go much better than most other bikes I have tested. I can not say how much the wheels and tires are, and how much the frame, which was designed for long hours of racing, mountains and classics, but the comfort is unprecedented (for a lightweight race course, there is no approach to endurance bikes).

I think that for such Tatry Tour, or the long route of the Beskid Loop is the best bike you can choose. I do not know how the engineers made it so good on such a light frame, which in addition is sensibly painted. This may of course not be true. Adaptation to the bike is an individual matter - for me it is exactly as I write.

Would I buy? Of course not and why?

Because it does not fit in this configuration. I prefer low wheels because I can not ride. Brakes prefer disc, because somehow more secure and safer. And this is where the Factor website comes to my aid, claiming that ... you can have this bike on the shields for an extra thousand euros. With Dura Acem, that's about 12,000 euros, which is over PLN 50,000! Great, if the money did not matter - I would buy!

For whom?

One would like to say that it is a bicycle for a professional who has finished his career, but he wants to keep chasing on a slightly better and lighter bike ;-)

Factor is bikes for people who want to have top-notch equipment trite solutions. You can argue about whether the O2 Factor is more technologically advanced and better than Canyon Ultimate, Trek Emonda or a few others. From an amateur's point of view (and possibly a professional too) - we will never know it. Probably the laboratory would have a problem to objectively assess it.

Trek Emonda is still Trek - cheap Trek can be bought for 3000 PLN. And Treki are available in every third store in Warsaw. Like Specialized Tarmac SL ... and Cannondale HiMod Evo ... and several others. Let's be honest, however, are the bikes that have already emblazoned. The market is full of stimulants.

Canyon to Canyon. Everyone knows that you have a great bike at a good price. Are you sure about that?

Fuji SL series 1 series and X-Lite TEAM - something in the depths tells me that in terms of technological advancement, these bikes are, however, rungs lower (of course, they are also half cheaper). And the visible carbon structure makes them like the Benjamin Button - they are born old and wrinkled. Factor is definitely more elegant ... and has a shield version.

In my opinion, Lightweigt Urgestalt may stand against Factor. Unfortunately, the version for the shield is heavier (850g frame + 350g fork). The price ceiling is similar, the crowd among buddies is probably bigger and I personally like a bit more. How I drive - I do not know and I will probably not find out soon.

Next, we still have inventions like Cervelo R5CA, which is an extravagant variation Cervelo R5, with a price oscillating within the magic limits of £ 7,500 (for a frameset). Let me not compare them ;-)

Factor O2 is definitely a bike that does not look at its price and characteristics. Is it worth the equivalent of a new, small car? I will not answer this question. If you are looking for a top bike that you will probably not meet in the near future either on your Sunday round or even on the Italian Gran Fondo, then this is it. He drives perfectly, built uncompromisingly by a company with exemplary technological traditions. Available in colors where no one will ever notice it, or alive, that every preschooler will look after you and the girls will be envious of you.

And if all this is not true ?!

Of course, it may turn out that it is all marketing mumble that this bike is no better than others, cheaper by half or twice. That I read on the Internet that the high price has done its job and marketing in general. That it is not more comfortable and everything is different at all. It's possible, I'm not saying that it is not - after all, my much cheaper bike than the Factor O2 tested here has wireless derailleurs, braking and armored wheels and more than a kilogram less. It does not matter.

How Kazik sang: Debil does not know that he is a moron, and the wise knows it. Because if someone lied to me and I believe in it and I'm happier with it, then this is bad?

It's like walking and telling people: someone tells you that you are happy because of materialism. And you try to convince them to think about it - they are not happy at all. Is not it hypocrisy?

I spent the last two days reading every review, advertisement and description about Factor. It's hard for my brain not to think that they are unique bikes. When I was buying my own, I was looking for everything for Rose bikes for two weeks - then it turned out that they would be the best bikes ;-)

One factor O2 - 20 years of eating kebabs

I give okejkę, but the more expensive version with shields I would probably give 10 times more ;-) And in painting gray-blue and eTAP I would give 50 times more and I do not know if anyone has the chance to catch up in the near future (literally and figuratively). Although not ... maybe more in this white and blue - I do not know myself. I do not have to make this decision fortunately. On the other hand, it is a bike for over PLN 50k, which means that we pay as much as a kebab for a gram of the bike. Damn ... .. Almost 20 years of eating one kebab daily!

Finally, I would like to thank Factor very much for making such expensive bikes. Thanks to this, equipment that costs half less (ie PLN 20k) seems to be very reasonable and affordable.