Every day can be new bike day, but we have a couple of Valentine’s Day releases from Factor, Revel, and Ritchey for you to love.
Factor Ostro Vam
Factor Bikes has announced the next generation of the OSTRO VAM. Designed and developed for all-round speed, the new model has been shaped around precisely managed aerodynamic gains while offering riders an uncompromised and highly responsive racing bike.
Factor’s engineers sought to find balance across weight, stiffness and aerodynamics; refusing to concede any one of these three critical components at the expense of another. The result is a modern racing bike for riders who demand pinpoint handling, immediate power transfer, comfort on unforgiving roads and low weight for optimum performance on the climbs.
The new OSTRO VAM has already been proven to perform in the pro peloton by Stevie Williams, general classification winner of the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under.
Beyond straight-line speed with a ‘front-to-back’ design approach
Beginning with the aero-critical leading edge of the bike – primarily the fork and head tube – the engineering team captured and systematically reassessed aerodynamic gains as the design moved rearward. Each of Factor’s design concepts were CFD modelled and assessed in three ways to ensure these performance gains are passed on to the rider: independently, as a complete bike, and dynamically with rider input.
Designed, tested and manufactured in-house by Factor, each design idea underwent hundreds of simulation runs throughout the development cycle before wind tunnel verification and real-world testing. Key areas of optimisation compared to the previous OSTRO VAM frame include the forks, head tube, top tube, and seat post.
Factor’s rapid design iteration, analysis and optimisation process has resulted in a 70 gram reduction in drag (a seven-watt saving) compared to the previous OSTRO VAM frame, with aerodynamic benefits becoming more pronounced at five- to ten-degree yaw angles that most represent real-world riding conditions.
Developed alongside the new OSTRO VAM, the new Black Inc 48/58 wheelset delivers speed in all conditions. Providing a predictable ride feel without compromising on weight or aerodynamics, the rounded profile is optimised for 28mm tires with a 23mm internal rim width, promoting aerodynamic performance at larger yaw angles and giving the rider a greater feeling of control in gusts and crosswinds.
The high-flange carbon spoke hub has been engineered to maximise ride feel through an increased bracing angle and wheel lateral stiffness, with an offset spoke bed achieving a balanced tension across the carbon spokes. At 1,270 grams a pair, the Black Inc 48/58 wheelset is the perfect complement to the OSTRO VAM.
Purpose in every gram
Each gram has been modelled, tested, and proven to deliver aerodynamic benefits and elevate the OSTRO VAM’s point-and-shoot ride feel. With a frame weight of 820 grams in a size 54 (painted), savings have been drawn from both Factor’s aerodynamic improvements and in response to recently updated UCI tube width regulations. As such, a size 54 OSTRO VAM with off-the-shelf components can be readily built up as a sub 6.8 kilogram complete bike when paired with the new Black Inc 48/58 wheels. This marks a 267.8 gram weight saving versus the previous generation.
In the relentless pursuit to seek out every aerodynamic gain, Black Inc has also developed a set of OSTRO VAM water bottle cages to bridge the gap that is created between the frame and the water bottle cages, reducing localised drag both with and without a bottle present. The Black Inc OSTRO VAM Sprint Bottle Cage has been developed to be most aerodynamically functional when a rider ejects their bottle before the final sprint; the foil profiles and precise spacing with the seat tube act to funnel air tightly across the tube and to the rear wheel.
Rob Gitelis, Founder of Factor Bikes and Black Inc, said: “With the launch of the new OSTRO VAM, we are pushing the boundaries of carbon bicycle design and production to improve on what was already a proven winner. Overall victory in the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under was a dream debut for the OSTRO VAM, and we look forward to seeing pro riders and consumers alike reach new heights with this bike.”
Pricing and availability
The new Factor OSTRO VAM is available exclusively from factorbikes.com and authorised Factor dealers worldwide. It can be purchased as a frameset, frameset with Black Inc 48/58 disc brake carbon wheelset, or as a complete bike in sizes 45, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61.
See frame geometries and learn more here: https://factorbikes.com/bikes/ostro-vam
Revel Tirade Titanium Hardtail
Revel Bikes is proud to welcome the latest model to their lineup: the Tirade. The ultimate titanium hardtail featuring geo slack enough to manage the rough stuff with ease while being just steep enough to make the pedal up, just as fun as the ride down. The Tirade boasts a 140mm fork, progressive geometry, and adjustable chain stay length for you perfect set-up.
Hand-crafted from cold-formed 3/2.5 titanium tubing, this frame is more than just beauty–it’s a masterclass in strength and compliance. And with CNC machined headtube, bottom bracket shell, and dropouts, you can bet your bottom dollar this bike means business. Single speed or gears, it’s your call. But one thing’s for sure: when you ride the Tirade, you’re not just riding a bike, you’re riding a whole new beast.
The Tirade draws inspiration from Revel’s full-suspension Rascal. Incorporating a 140mm fork, progressive geometry, and adaptable chainstay lengths, it embodies a dream hardtail trail bike. Shorter seat tube lengths with ample insertion depth have been designed to accommodate longer dropper posts, allowing riders to tailor it to their preferred riding style. Slam those sliders in, and the 425mm chainstays make for a manual-friendly jib machine. Slide them back a bit, and you get a stable, capable trail shredder. Whether opting for a single-speed setup or multiple gears, the choice is yours.
The heart and soul of this bike is Revel’s modern take on traditional titanium. This frame is made using cold formed 3/2.5 titanium tubing to achieve its stunning looks while optimizing stiffness and compliance. To meet the demands for increased strength, the headtube, bottom bracket shell, and dropouts are CNC machined from solid blocks of 6/4 titanium, emphasizing durability and resilience.
Details and Key Features:
- Frame Material: Titanium
- Front Travel: 140mm
- Wheel Size: 29”
- 5 sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL
- Frame weight: 2,290g (5.05lbs) size Large
- Size-appropriate seat tube angles. Slightly steeper on XL and XXL
- Shorter seat tubes with long insertion depths to run longer dropper posts
- Internal cable routing – clean, quiet, and simple
- SRAM UDH derailleur hanger
- Sliding Dropouts with 17mm of chainstay length adjustability
Ritchey Road Logic Framesets Return
All three versions of the modern classic Ritchey Road Logic framesets are available once again.
Wonderfully comfortable for long days in the saddle, nimble and stiff enough to win town limit sprint, and adequately adaptable to endure roads that might lack proper pavement.
Road Logic
Rim brake loving traditionalists will surely covet the Road Logic, the heart of Ritchey’s road bike offering. And it’s wrapped in a delicious Sally’s Macaron’s paint. Buy the Road Logic now!
Road Logic Disc
The Road Logic Disc features disc brake mounts, of course, and all the modern touches you demand – including routing for semi-wireless Shimano Di2 groups. Get your Road Logic Disc Now!
Road Logic Break-Away
Perfect for riders who travel and want to easily bring their bike, the Road Logic Break-Away is a traditional frameset in every way, but it also effortlessly splits in half to fit in its own airline fee-dodging travel case. Get ready to ride!
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
Websites:
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Current Bike Quiver:
Bird Bikes Zero 29 29″ hardtail mountain bike
Commencal Absolut 26″ Dirt Jump/Pump Track bike
Commencal Tempo 29″ full suspension mountain bike
Felt ZA 700c race bike
Kona Kilauea vintage 26″ mountain bike
Niner RLT9 700c road/gravel bike
Specialized Stumpjumper vintage 26″ mountain bike
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