Factor officially launches two track bikes dedicated to performance

The new Factor pursuit bike won gold and set a new world record with the Australian men’s pursuit team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The HANZŌ and RAIDEN track bikes are now available for purchase online and at authorized Factor dealers worldwide.

Source: Press Release

Factor Bikes and Black Inc have officially announced a dedicated track range; the HANZŌ track pursuit bike, the RAIDEN, and the Black Inc ZERO and SIXTY wheels.

The HANZŌ

Factor’s first CFD project, the HANZŌ Track, was developed in partnership with AusCycling over the past three years. The goal was to create the fastest track bike for the Australian national team to compete for gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Optimized according to the latest UCI design regulations, the HANZŌ Track offers ultra-efficient aerodynamics and maintains supreme stiffness for power transfer, perfectly designed for pursuit. In an effort to maximize aero profile sections and maintain minimum width, Factor’s engineering team used rapid CFD interactions to test a variety of combinations to find optimal performance while staying within UCI regulations.

With a focus on the airflow interaction between the bike and the athlete, the HANZŌ Track features wide fork legs and chainstays designed to isolate the rotating wheel from the pressure change of the fork moving through the air. Similarly, the seatpost acts to straighten the highly turbulent flow coming from the rider’s legs and reduce drag.

The RAIDEN

To complete Factor’s track bike offering, the RAIDEN Track provides riders focused on mass start endurance and sprint events with a bike optimized for victory. Using insights gained by Factor’s engineering team during the development phase of the HANZŌ Track and the OSTRO VAM on the road, the RAIDEN Track’s design balances the demands of straight-line speed and handling required during bunch races on velodromes.

Featuring aspects of the OSTRO VAM’s head tube and leading edges while utilizing standardized parts, including a 1″¼ round steerer tube, the RAIDEN Track offers versatility for easier maintenance, service, and rideability.

ZERO Disc Wheel

Complementing Factor’s entry into the track world, Black Inc also simultaneously launched two pairs of track wheels to complete the setup. Optimized in collaboration with AusCycling, the Black Inc ZERO Track disc wheels prioritize stiffness and enhanced aerodynamic performance for the perceived airflow in the velodrome.

SIXTY Wheel

Black Inc also wanted to complete its track wheel offering by introducing the SIXTY Tubular Track wheelset. Ideal for intense training sessions or as an introductory track racing wheel, the wheels offer exceptional power transfer while remaining agile and quick to accelerate.

The Australian men’s four-man pursuit team, equipped with the HANZŌ and Black Inc ZERO disc wheels, set a new world and Olympic record of 3’40”730 in qualifying and then snatched the Olympic title from the British team in the gold medal race on August 7 in Paris.

Rob Gitelis, founder of Factor and Black Inc, said: “Three years ago, when Factor / Black Inc entered into a new partnership with AusCycling, our collective vision was to develop the fastest pursuit bike in the world and help Australia reclaim the top step of the podium in Paris this summer. Bringing that vision to fruition is a testament to the hard work and technical excellence of everyone involved. We look forward to continuing our quest to become the fastest bike brand in the world and helping even more cyclists unlock their maximum potential.”