NBD: Factor Ostro VAM — Lightweight Aero

New bike day! Been eyeing the Factor Ostro VAM for over a year and finally pulled the trigger.

This bike somehow manages to be both aero AND lightweight. 7.2 kg with a full SRAM Red AXS groupset and Black Inc wheels.

The ride quality is phenomenal — stiff but not harsh. Factor's OTIS (One Three Integrated System) bar/stem combo is gorgeous and surprisingly comfortable. Internal cable routing is the cleanest I've ever seen on any bike.

First big climb test tomorrow — taking it up the Muur van Geraardsbergen. Will report back with times vs my old Émonda!

Prachtig! I've seen a few of these around the Vlaamse Ardennen recently. How does it handle on the cobbles? The bergs around here are brutal on stiff frames.

Looking forward to your Muur time — I did it in 2:48 last weekend on my Dogma, curious how the Factor compares.

@Wouter — Did the Muur this morning! 2:41 from the bottom of the cobbled section. The bike handles cobbles surprisingly well — the seatpost and frame have more compliance than you'd expect from an aero bike. Still not as smooth as an Endurance frame obviously, but very manageable.

@Marco — The Black Inc wheels are manufactured by DT Swiss (it's an open secret), but Factor specs them with their own rim profiles and spoke patterns. They're excellent — stiff, aero, and tubeless setup was painless. Whether they justify the price over stock DT Swiss ARC 1100s? Probably not. But they look incredible on this frame.

The Factor Ostro VAM is one of the best-looking bikes ever made. That matte black with the minimal branding is chef's kiss.

How's the Black Inc wheelset? I've heard mixed reviews — some say they're excellent, others say they're just rebranded DT Swiss with a markup.