Factor has officially entered the track cycling segment with the launch of its HANZŌ Track pursuit bike, RAIDEN Track mass start bike and dedicated Black Inc ZERO disc and SIXTY wheelsets.
HANZŌ Track
Factor’s first CFD-led project, the HANZŌ Track was developed in partnership with AusCycling over the past three years, with the goal of creating the fastest track bike for the Australian national team to ride for gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Optimized according to UCI’s latest design regulations, the HANZŌ Track offers aerodynamics and rigidity for power transfer and is crafted for pursuit racing. With the goal of maximising the chord length of the airfoil sections and keeping the width minimal, the Factor engineering team used rapid CFD interactions to test a variety of combinations to find the optimal performance while staying within the UCI regulations,” boasts Factor.
Focusing on the interaction of the airflow between the bike and athlete, the HANZŌ Track features a wide fork and seat stays which are intended to isolate the spinning wheel from the pressure change from the fork moving through the air. Similarly, the rearward position seat post acts to straighten the turbulent flow coming off of the rider’s legs and decrease the amount of mixing taking place.
RAIDEN Track
To complete Factor’s track bike range, the RAIDEN Track offers an option for riders focusing on mass start endurance and sprint events. Utilizing the knowledge the Factor engineering team gained during the development phase of the HANZŌ Track and Factor’s OSTRO VAM road racing bikes, the RAIDEN Track design balances the requirements of straight-line speed and maneuverability required when racing in a group in the velodrome.
Featuring aspects of the OSTRO VAM’s headtube and leading edges while also utilizing standardized parts, including a 1”¼ round steerer, the RAIDEN Track boasts versatility for maintenance, service and rideability
ZERO Track Disc
Complementing Factor’s move into track racing, its in-house label Black Inc has also concurrently released two sets of track wheels to complete the set-up. Optimized in collaboration with AusCycling, the Black Inc ZERO Track disc wheels prioritize stiffness and aerodynamic performance enhanced for the airflow experienced in the velodrome.
SIXTY Tubular Track
Black Inc also wanted to complete its offering of track wheels by introducing the SIXTY Tubular Track wheelset. These are positioned for hard training sessions or as a gateway wheel to track racing.
The Australian Men’s Team Pursuit four-man squad, aboard the HANZŌ Track and Black Inc ZERO Zero disc wheelset, set a new world and Olympic record time of 3:40.730 in the qualifying round and went on to snatch the Olympic title from the Great British team in the gold medal ride off on August 7, 2024 in Paris.
Rob Gitelis, Factor and Black Inc founder said “Three years ago when Factor / Black Inc began a new partnership with AusCycling, our collective vision was to develop the world’s fastest pursuit bike and help Australia reclaim the top step of the podium in Paris this summer.
“To take this vision and manifest it into reality is a testament to the hard work and engineering excellence of everyone involved. We look forward to our continued pursuit of being the fastest bicycle brand in the world, and helping even more riders unlock their maximum potential.”
www.factorbikes.com www.blackinc.cc
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