Factor Launch Ostro Gravel Bike
Introducing the ultimate gravel racing bike that combines elite gravel performance with best-in-class aerodynamics
Factor has applied its road and time trial engineering expertise to construct a new bike that is fast across a variety of surfaces. Designed with high-end gravel racing in mind, the Ostro Gravel combines elite aerodynamics with gravel riding/racing design details to deliver a gravel bike that is in a class of its own.
Providing tire clearance of up to 45mm and weighing in at 900g (size 54 fully painted frame in Naked Grunge), the Ostro Gravel draws inspiration from Factor’s highly successful Tour de France stage-winning Ostro VAM and adapts it for the nuances of gravel racing in the form of lower speed aerodynamics, more rugged construction, geometry and handling, and versatile mounting options.
Optimised Aerodynamics
As elite gravel racing continues to evolve and winning times continue to come down, aerodynamic optimisation on a 200-mile race can spell the difference between a podium or a top-10 finish. By manipulating the behaviour of airflow (specifically the laminar separation bubble) around the head tube before it can be disrupted by the rider and the bike itself, Factor’s engineers were able to give the Ostro Gravel its unique lower speed aero-efficient characteristics.
Constructed from a blend of TeXtreme®, Toray® and Nippon Graphite® pitch-based fibre, the Ostro Gravel balances Factor’s signature lightweight design with a strengthened layup to handle the challenging conditions of gravel racing. A T47A threaded bottom bracket, rounded steerer tube, and fully-internal cabling further maximise the Ostro Gravel’s security and robustness, while multiple mounting points provide versatile mounting options for essential gravel accessories.
Many all-road and gravel bikes struggle to deliver steering that’s effective and confident both on- and off-road, typically ending up with an unsatisfying compromise of soft handling and modest tire capacity. The Ostro Gravel breaks that mould by making the tire size an integral part of the geometry. Wider tires also have a greater outside diameter (or rolling circumference) which increases the true, or ‘resulting’ trail of a bike; narrower tires have a smaller outside diameter which reduces the resulting trail.
Factor’s engineers selected a trail value on the slightly faster handling side for gravel use, given the bike’s racing focus, while prioritising head tube angle when selecting fork rake. This leads to a fast-handling gravel bike on 43mm tires and an equally satisfying and precise all-road machine on 32s, with no low-speed wheel flop.
Colour Options
Black Inc Components
Black Inc completes the build for the Ostro Gravel, providing the wheelset and integrated aero barstem, both specifically optimised for gravel performance. The Black Inc Thirty-Four wheelset is engineered for gravel and all-terrain riding, offering a modern hookless rim profile specifically to host 30mm tires or wider, all while maintaining Factor and Black Inc’s racing pedigree with a svelte weight of 1,489g, custom CeramicSpeed bearings and Sapim CX-Ray and CX Sprint butted aero spokes.
The brand new Black Inc Aero Integrated Barstem has been developed to complement the agile frame. Featuring a gently flared design to give the rider confidence without creating strange shifter orientations, it houses internal cable routing and wireless shifting to maximise aerodynamic efficiency. The ergonomically designed profile of the handlebars also provides significant power savings of up to 9 watts in comparison to a regular bar stem set-up, as validated through Factor’s wind tunnel testing.
Shop Now
Order now and be one of the first to ride Factor's latest innovation
Available in the UK exclusively through Vires Velo
- Premium Frameset Package: £5,200
- Complete bike with SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS & Black Inc Thirty-Four Wheels: £8,300
- Complete bike with SRAM Red XPLR eTap AXS & Black Inc Thirty-Four Wheels: £9,450
