Paul Smith and Factor Announce Limited Edition Ostro VAM Frameset

Factor Bikes and the renowned British designer and cycling enthusiast Paul Smith have announced the Paul Smith Factor Ostro VAM Edition – an exclusive, limited-edition colorway available for purchase worldwide starting today.

Source: Press release

This collaboration is a true celebration of Paul Smith’s love for color in general and Factor’s expertise in particular. Each color block is inspired by bikes loved by Paul, past and present, in both color and texture. Featuring shades of blue, green, and the famous Paul Smith pink, the glossy and matte lacquer finishes add another layer of contrast to the raw carbon areas visible through a clear gloss.

Fast, light, and comfortable, Factor’s Ostro VAM has proven itself in every flagship race on the professional cycling calendar; from the legendary cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the mountain passes of the Tour de France. The placement of the color blocks throughout the frame reflects how Factor engineers lay carbon fiber into the Ostro VAM mold to achieve its comfort on all road surfaces – ensuring vertical compliance without sacrificing power transfer efficiency.

Paul Smith chose to highlight the positioning of these different carbon fiber sheets and draw a parallel with how patterns are cut and constructed in clothing design.

Paul Smith’s iconic design features are integrated throughout the frame. A gold foil Signature logo is centered on the Black Inc combo, a Signature stripe runs along the seatpost, and large-scale abstract Signature logos are positioned on the fork and down tube, echoing the tradition of oversized logos in the professional peloton.

Factor and Paul Smith are thus united by a passion for the sport of cycling and an attention to detail. To complement this collaboration, Paul Smith and Factor’s component and accessory brand (Black Inc) have worked closely on an exclusive bar tape design featuring embossed Paul Smith logos on the bar tape and bar ends.

Paul Smith said: “I was a cyclist when I was young and have remained close to the whole world of cycling. Factor is a company whose technological approach to bike manufacturing has been truly impressive, and so it is with great pleasure that I have customized one of their new bikes. I hope you like it.”

Rob Gitelis, CEO of Factor Bikes, said: “Paul Smith’s passion for the heritage of cycling and motor racing is no surprise, but working so closely with him and his team on this limited-edition design illustrated how deep the details and performance DNA run. It was particularly fitting that this limited-edition bike made its racing debut at the Tour de France Critérium in Singapore, followed by the Tour de France Saitama Critérium in Japan the following weekend, ridden by Grand Tour winner and Factor investor Chris Froome.”

The Paul Smith Factor Ostro VAM Edition is available exclusively from Factor dealers and select Paul Smith stores worldwide.

It can be purchased as a frameset, a frameset with the Black Inc Forty Five carbon clincher disc brake wheelset, or a complete bike in sizes 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 61.