"The Factor Ostro Gravel pulls out all the stops to help you win," announces the young British brand. To this end, Factor has focussed on aero development in particular. The Ostro Gravel frameset is designed to achieve values in the wind tunnel comparable to the Ostro VAM competition racer with the same name. When viewed from the side, there are hardly any differences between the gravel and road models. Our test in TOUR 11/2022 will show how the aero-optimised frame affects the weight.
When it comes to tyre clearance, Factor follows the latest developments and allows the frame and fork to be fitted with tyres up to 45 millimetres wide. 40-millimetre tyres (Goodyear Connector Ultimate) are fitted ex works. The geometry is intended to be aggressive in line with the category, with the stack/reach ratio (1.44) indicating a stretched riding position. The versatility of the Factor Ostro Gravel is said to be a special feature. According to this, the riding characteristics can be shifted towards a road bike with narrower tyres in the range between 30 and 35 millimetres.
The equipment is of high quality. The fully integrated aero cockpit and the 34 millimetre high carbon wheels come from the subsidiary Black Inc. For the gears, Factor relies on the electronic SRAM Force and Red groupsets - optionally as an off-road version XPLR and/or with a power meter.
This exclusivity has its price. The "cheapest" model of the Factor Ostro Gravel with SRAM Force eTap starts at 8520 euros. The high-end version with SRAM Red eTap and integrated power meter is priced at 10,800 euros. The frameset alone costs 5450 euros, including the wheelset 7430 euros are due.
Julian Schultz
Editor
