Ostro VAM Rennrad - Schwarz

Excellence is more than the sum of its parts. But what if the initial product is already very close to excellence, if the existing OSTRO VAM is already one of the fastest bikes in the pro peloton?

Then you have to look at every detail and optimize the interaction of these individual parts. And that's exactly what Factor has done in the development of the new OSTRO VAM.

Although Factor focused on aerodynamic improvements, the need for precise handling in sprints, comfort on bad roads and low weight when climbing was never forgotten. The result, broken down into fork, head tube, top tube and rear triangle, is impressive.

As a significant part of the airstream attack surface, the fork has a major influence on the aerodynamics of the entire system. Factor has tried to reduce drag by reducing the frontal area and optimizing the shape. This also included investigating flow management in the area of the fork crown and down tube to improve interaction with wider tires. The lower height of the fork crown in conjunction with the smaller frontal area reduces the overall surface area of the fork and improves stiffness, responsiveness and ride feel while maintaining the same weight of around 460g.

The head tube has been optimized for a smaller frontal area, which is created by a pronounced hourglass shape. The variable profiling enables a significantly longer airflow and therefore lower air resistance. Several head tube profiles and sizes were simulated before deciding on a profile that delivers excellent results both at 0 degrees and at higher yaw angles. Reducing the frontal area has the side effect of also reducing the amount of material in this area, resulting in weight savings. The smaller fork crown also means a smaller frame cut-out, while maintaining a seamless transition between fork and frame. As with the fork, stiffness is also maintained in this area, which is crucial for the precise handling of the OSTRO VAM.

For the top tube, the focus of the optimization is on capturing the smoother airflow from the new head tube profile and maintaining it all the way to the rear of the bike. The tapered top tube leads to a reduction in the amount of material required and a further slight weight reduction. The rear triangle is designed according to the new UCI regulations, which abolish the 3:1 rule and reduce the required minimum tube thickness. A thinner seat post was developed, resulting in the new shape of the seat tube. This also enables the aggressive tapering of the top tube, as mentioned above. Overall, air resistance and weight have been significantly reduced in this area. In addition, the seatpost clamp has been changed from a wedge in front of the post to a plate at the rear end, which requires less material and saves further weight.

The lower part of the seat tube, where it meets the bottom bracket, remains unchanged and guarantees excellent stiffness in this all-important area.

To summarize: The new OSTRO VAM is lighter and more aerodynamic with the same stiffness as its predecessor. And therefore faster. By a calculated 2:21 minutes for Michael Woods in his Tour de France stage win in 2023.

One more word: aerodynamically optimized bottle cages specially designed for the OSTRO VAM are included in the scope of delivery.