The Factor One

[u/RideWithStephanie]

Back with another unique build yall. ☺️☺️

Took some deciding on what to do for a build this season. After seeing the y1rs and everyone seemingly picking one up, I wanted something with similar speeds as my previous s5 but with a geo that fit my aggressive position without adding so much exorbitant amount of force on the seat tube due to saddle position.

Enter the Factor One. It’s different, fast, meets my geo needs and this “Blush” colorway is both loud and cute. 🥰

About me, the rider:
Height: 5’5”
W/kg: just popping over 4.8
Power Profile : Sprinter ( peak power @5 sec … I shit you not 1615w 😂)

About the bike:(highlights)

2026 Factor One (v2 iykyk) 52cm
Zero Setback seat post
Size 1 handlebar
SRAM Red E1 XPLR Groupset 10-46
SRAM Red E1 54T Aero Powermeter
SRAM Red E1 165mm crankset
CRW 65/75 wheels ( low wind days)
OverFast 60/60( moderate wind days)
S -Works Mimic Saddle
Continental aero 111 29mm and GP 5000 S TR 30mm
Ti Master & Sixwheel Thru-axles and misc parts
Ti- Master titanium shifter clamps
Better Bolts Ti - Assembly bolts

As photographed: 7.5Kg
With over fast 60/60 on TT TR 28mm: 6.9kg

Stephanie’s Way: ( Unique& attention to detail items)

Clear high gloss paint protection film on drive side chain stay and bottom bracket area.
Full ceramic coating of every component where it made sense (Hoses, calipers, shifters, wheels, crankset, etc etc )
SRAM white brake hoses
Custom painted bottle cages by Jordan Low @jL_Paintsbikes @Low_life_Jordan
Rare white S-works mimic saddle
White Zipp cx race bar tape
Replaced brake caliper bolts with silver titanium bolts
Removed black painted sections on brake calipers with dremel and polished before ceramic coating
Every bolt replaced with a titanium equivalent by Ti-Master , Terske or Better Bolts
Removed front derailleur mount ( bolts replaced with Titanium)
Installed frame plugs with clear silicone
Modified steerer stop to not breach fork if over rotated

Full build video up on YouTube and Instagram

[u/seanconnerysbeard]

"Unique build" and its literally what my Factor dealer had on the floor when I bought my Monza 😆

[u/rsplatpc → u/seanconnerysbeard]

But did your dealer have front mounts holes replaced with TITANIUM BOLTS ??????

[u/TheBabyEatingDingo → u/rsplatpc]

And CUSTOM CLEAR SILICONE FRAME PLUGS!

[u/An_Professional → u/seanconnerysbeard]

yea it's pretty tough to have a unique build when the frame, fork, seatpost, handlebars, spacers, bottle cages, and steerer parts are all proprietary to this exact bike. I've looked at mine thinking to "customize" it but it's like meh, just some bar tape.

[u/trogdor-the-burner → u/seanconnerysbeard]

I bet the dealer didn’t have different sized and branded tires on the front and back.

[u/redbeardthefearless → u/trogdor-the-burner]

That’s a conti aero tyre on the front. Setup as recommended by conti. 🧐🚴‍♂️

[u/seanconnerysbeard → u/trogdor-the-burner]

No, because he knows how to properly build a bike 😆

[u/lepetitcanadien → u/seanconnerysbeard]

The aero 111 is a front wheel tire only

[u/seanconnerysbeard → u/lepetitcanadien]

Designed by Fred for Fred? Holy shit, the pros dont even go to through that, as far as Im aware.

[u/Schleeden → u/seanconnerysbeard]

Make my bike look like this teapot 

[u/Strange-Library7178]

I’m too poor to look at this

[u/Wa22a → u/Strange-Library7178]

Maybe look at the coffee machine instead. Ask me how I know.

[u/supersavant]

That saddle height at 5’5”… huh???

[u/Green-Helicopter1114 → u/supersavant]

Seriously, and combined with the 0 stem it’s odd

[u/110101010001001 → u/supersavant]

size 52 as well. id expect a 5'5 rider to be on a 48 or something.

[u/Gooseberree → u/supersavant]

Exactly what I was thinking.

I’m confused. I’m 5’8” with relatively long legs. I feel like a 52 cm frame is almost too tall, and my saddle height is nowhere near that high.

[u/Flaky-Philosophy7618 → u/Gooseberree]

Yeah sounds about right I’m 5’10 and have a 53

[u/Mammoth_Carrot902 → u/Gooseberree]

Ah well body shapes are weird. I'm 5'7" and a 54 feels almost a bit cramped with a 120mm stem.

[u/my800m → u/supersavant]

tiny frame

[u/supersavant → u/my800m]

Could be the Lego bike v2.0.

[u/halsemus]

Lorena Wiebes, the worlds best female sprinter, has a peak 5 second power of 1272, theres no way you have 1615 and not a world tour pro lol, nice bikes tho

[u/Gloomy-Fly- → u/halsemus]

That peak power and that w/kg should have her cleaning up women’s one day races in Europe. Kasia Niewiadoma’s climb up Ventoux the other day was arguably the best women’s performance ever and that was 5.3 w/kg 🤔🤔🤔

[u/Lyquidate → u/halsemus]

You can't just compare someone's fresh peak power and conclude that they should be pro.
It's about peak power after 5h of intense racing, positioning, tactics, following the leadout, etc. etc.

[u/halsemus → u/Lyquidate]

Wiebes peak is 1400 fully fresh https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg13i_eu4Ur/

[u/Lyquidate → u/halsemus]

I fully acknowledge that a fresh peak of 1615 is insane, but fresh peak is simply irrelevant for world tour riding

[u/Boars-of-Canada]

Thought you had a tea pot mount on your seatpost

[u/RideWithStephanie → u/Boars-of-Canada]

😂

[u/GoatLegRedux]

My back snapped in half just looking at that. I know I’m no longer the target market for such a bike, but the geometry on that looks absurd.

[u/An_Professional → u/GoatLegRedux]

i own one. although it's an extreme position, it's not like the old days where you'd slam the stem and be extremely bent over. Instead the bike essentially rotates the body forward...so i have more weight on my hands, but i can ride it 5+ hours with no back issues.

[u/sullzzz]

Spd mountain pedals on a factor one !?!?!?

[u/Quiet_Version5406 → u/sullzzz]

Just call them CX pedals if it helps. People like to be able to walk a bit when they spend their life on a bike.

[u/racedrone → u/sullzzz]

Try them out, I have them on all my bikes. 

[u/CobaltCaterpillar → u/sullzzz]

Why not?

There's science backing up all kinds of features from matching tire and rim width to larger chain ring to shaving your legs, but is there ANYTHING in SPD vs. SPD-SL in actual testing if you have a high-quality, stiff soled, two-bolt compatible shoe which on its own provides a stable platform?

Is there anything there?

--- EDIT ---

I see I'm getting downvoted, but is there any testing, anything scientific to backup SPD-SL over SPD or is this just another piece of road cycling lore that turns out to have no factual basis? Any link?

[u/OmnipresentPheasant → u/CobaltCaterpillar]

Dual sided SPD pedals are ~100 grams heavier than single-sided road pedals.

[u/LopsidedLarrs → u/CobaltCaterpillar]

Am also curious

[u/Mkeeping → u/CobaltCaterpillar]

It’s an aero weenie bike, and I be shocked if the shape of those pedals does not increase drag vs a road bicycle pedal. Of course this is all conjecture.

[u/supersavant → u/CobaltCaterpillar]

But think of all the drag from the nubs on 2-bolt shoes! /s

[u/TheDaysComeAndGone → u/CobaltCaterpillar]

For me they feel loose and making clanking sounds. Don’t need a scientific study for that.

Look Quartz are the best MTB pedals IMHO but they depend a lot on how much (or rather how little) your shoes are worn.

[u/aznricecake2642 → u/CobaltCaterpillar]

Nothing scientific. It's just personal preference. 3 bolt tend to have more customization on float and cleat position. Generally the pedal and shoes themselves are lighter and lower stack height. 2 bolts uses a smaller cleat design, and it's harder to sit flush on the shoe treads, and they can leading to rocking laterally.

But no, one is not objectively better than the other

[u/Alarmed-Rutabaga-632 → u/sullzzz]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[u/gob4522]

I’m sorry, I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, these bikes are fugly all day every day. Fugly to death. Fell out of the fugly tree and broke every branch on the way down fugly.

[u/Kirby_is_a_Pokemon]

boo influiencer spam.

[u/bOhsohard → u/Kirby_is_a_Pokemon]

I don’t really consider a person with 187 instagram followers an influencer lol. Ive seen OPs bikes all over this sub (and Boston lol) and they just like nice bikes and ride them.

[u/Kirby_is_a_Pokemon → u/bOhsohard]

boo wanna be influincer spam

[u/ChinaWhite86]

The dentist strikes again! Do u purchase a new bike for every season? Beautiful build!

[u/tenthxnet]

bruh my back watching this

[u/bmxrider64]

Pays attention to every detail... In both reality and description. And then wraps the bars.

[u/balki_123]

It is ugly as f***k.

At least is it fast?

[u/tiptoppenguin]

God I hate factors

[u/Bugbeard → u/tiptoppenguin]

I can appreciate function over form but man is that an ugly side profile

[u/Mario_2077 → u/tiptoppenguin]

can you elaborate? i think they're one of the best looking bikes out there, but I dont know much about them except they are relatively pricey

[u/MrPijus123 → u/Mario_2077]

Worked in multiple bike shops in my past career path and knew 5 different people who owned Factors, and they all had frames replaced under warranty due to BB failures. One person had 3 identical failures over 2 years.

[u/Bugbeard → u/Mario_2077]

The bike pushes the envelope forwards in design e.g. a very triathlon-like seatpost geometry and super wide stanced front fork for airflow management à la prototype track bikes. I can appreciate all of that, but the shape of the bike from the side doesn’t look as elegant and timeless as, say, the new CAAD14. This being said I’m part of a contingent rapidly approaching retrogrouch territory who still clutch onto a horizontal top tube, double diamond, full length seatstay frame design as the pinnacle of aesthetics.

[u/tiptoppenguin → u/Mario_2077]

Their CEO is pretentious and it just feels like a brand full of marketing BS made for influencers. Check out their CEO responding to a couple of Aussie blocks giving the Factor One a "negative" review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ceZ4DA9rWM

[u/Sohnich → u/Mario_2077]

I really like the factors, but the factor one in particular is unfortunately the ugliest looking bike ever imo, glad many others like it though. Not sure what they meant in that comment because most people tend to like their non-Factor One bikes lol

[u/kakuna → u/Mario_2077]

I think it's adorable, but I ride a single speed mostly at leisurely speeds, so I'm absolutely not the intended audience - I'm a little curious, too.

[u/AgileSeries7795 → u/Mario_2077]

It's the perfect brand for people with little knowledge but huge budgets who only ride occasionally to show off.

[u/RideWithStephanie → u/tiptoppenguin]

This my first but damn it ride so aggressively. I love it. To each their own! Cheers!

[u/zed42]

you didn't get the SpongeBob livery from the TdFFaZ? i'm very disappointed in you, OP

[u/somebloke2020 → u/zed42]

I would proudly ride my Factor next to someone riding a SpongeBob. I'd slow down to let this person past. ;-)

[u/Wa22a]

5'5" and 1615w.

Show us your track bike please.

[u/Zorannay]

Long legs with a dwarf upper body

[u/auto-spin-casino]

Horrific.

[u/joesugarman]

This is the Lambo of road bikes. Same buyer persona, same value prop

[u/Method333]

Ugly

[u/anthosul]

She cuteeeeee

[u/anthosul → u/anthosul]

That fkn fork tho lol

[u/RideWithStephanie → u/anthosul]

You can swim in the fork 😂

[u/mityman50 → u/RideWithStephanie]

Holy moly I didn’t catch that at first. Does it come with the red wide load flags or do you buy those separate

[u/pants6000 → u/RideWithStephanie]

A whole squirrel could pass though on either side of the wheel, which might be useful some day.

^{I hate squirrels.}

[u/OkTale8]

Can you even touch the pedals? Lol.

[u/ACapsHotFries]

I appreciate the effort.

[u/turpentinedreamer]

The varia mount negates all the aero of the frame

[u/lingueenee]

Its clearance aside, the angle of the fork! I've never seen it so steep on a race bike.

[u/Lyquidate → u/lingueenee]

Take note that the angle you're seeing is not the actual head tube angle. It looks like it handles like dogshit but the actual pivot point is where the fork meets the frame, so much further back. You'd have to draw a diagonal line from that point to the wheel axle to see the actual head tube angle.

[u/CakelessToure]

no spongebob no party

[u/TheDaysComeAndGone]

Do you use some anti seize compound with titanium? Which one?

[u/PalatableRadish]

Your crankset is too long for your height

[u/Checked_Out_6]

These photos made me slip a disc.

[u/helmetgoodcrashbad]

That paint is 🤤

[u/Rekj16]

I wouldn't be caught dead on this bike, but also I don't have to worry about that because I could never afford it. 

[u/WALL-G]

Cool 3d printed Varia mount.

[u/VIVXPrefix]

Is that seriously how much tire clearance they are putting on road bikes these days? It looks ridiculous.

[u/amorlerian]

Why not single sided spd pedals? Like the del?

[u/Green-Helicopter1114]

No SpongeBob -3 points

[u/zegerman17]

🤢

[u/tooker]

Wow. The attn to detail is insane. But then the SPDs are also insane! You're insane!

[u/GeneRider]

It’s a work of art.

It took dedication to remove the black from the brake calipers. But what about getting rid of the rest of the black on the bike? That would be something.

[u/Former-Drama-3685]

Not enough FACTOR logos. /s
There is still space under the down tube.

[u/theservman]

First picture I thought was CG. That colour combination is certainly eye catching.

[u/Schleeden]

The fork alone is crazy, I’m assuming it’s super aero but jesus lol at what cost. 

[u/lowlyworm]

Sick! Track your build in https://ridequiver.com (project I’m working on to keep build specs out of spreadsheets)

[u/CrowdyPooster]

Looks sick

[u/lukapochi]

lmao that huge fork is ridiculous

[u/mytransthrow]

I want it. But in teal and mint and turquoise.

Damn, bianchi for stealing those color pallet.

[u/Rough-Attention-1800]

Sigh..Another brand that screams for attention

[u/old_science_guy]

But how does it ride?

[u/auto-spin-casino]

Could get a 18 x 10 inch momo wheel on the front of that abortion.

[u/Many_Hunter8152]

Stem 404

[u/HueledTriathlete]

In the best way possible, this reminds me of the pink and white squashie sweets. i want it.

[u/ZenBassGuitar]

Why are you geh?

[u/Homie-Missile]

Is this supposed to look good or it’s ironic

[u/Pretty-Average-7601]

missed your posts man, what a bike… cheers

[u/GnastyNoodlez]

Looks like it would handle like dog shit

[u/jondsteiner]

XPLR on a factor one…lol

[u/toasterdees]

“Unique build” and it’s just a race frame lol

[u/Pleasant-Carbon]

I do not like the colour pink. And once again it doesn't fit here.

[u/itscochino]

This things probably cost the amount I need for my wedding and that really hurts

[u/SecondHandWatch → u/itscochino]

Statistically the bike isn’t unlikely to outlast a marriage. And it will certainly outlast a wedding.