Factor

Factor Bikes is a British bicycle manufacturing company founded in 2007 by Rob Gitelis and Baden Cooke. They create high-end bikes for road, gravel, time trial, triathlon, and mountain. The brand was conceived from a commitment to innovation, speed, and performance through advanced engineering. Its soul lives in the union of technology and integration, while its heritage stems from advanced motorsport and aviation. In 2007, Factor Bikes was born in an industrial unit in Norfolk. Originally an offshoot of BF1 systems, Factor began as a leading engineering firm dedicated to working at the highest levels of design with brands including Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Maserati, and many F1, Moto GP, and WRC teams. It first entered the cycling world in 2009 with the revolutionary FACTOR001: its unique take on the road racing bicycle was a “marvel as much for its beauty as its unique sophistication”. In 2012, Factor launched a collaboration with Aston Martin – the Factor ONE-77 Hyper Bike. In 2013, it unveiled its first production bike, the innovatively aerodynamic Vis Vires. Combining all that had come before, it included a bf1systems-developed power meter, its proven Twin Vane split down tube, and a split external ‘Dual Bayonet’ fork. Early the following year, Factor’s engineering team began developing its next generation of frames: the ONE, ONE-S, and the O2. While the brand has worked closely with pro riders in the past, it felt the changes it envisioned required a more critical, race-proven, eye. Baden Cooke was a top professional for 14 years, an Olympian, winning over 50 races. In 2003 Baden sprinted his way to a stage win and the overall Green jersey in the Tour de France beating both Robbie McEwen and Erik Zabel. Baden rode for powerhouse squads such as Orica GreenEDGE and Saxo Bank. The more Factor’s engineering team worked with Baden, the more it realized his feedback was not only discerning and accurate but also the perfect match for Factor. As Baden worked more with the design team, he “fell in love” with Factor’s vision and ideal. Shortly after his first ride on the Vis Vires, Baden cultivated a partnership with some cycling industry experts and, along with Vis Vires engineer Gitelis, purchased Factor Bikes from BF1systems. Factor has been an official supplier to numerous professional teams and world-class athletes for many years. These include the World Tour team Israel Premiere Tech, a partner of Factor since 2020, and world-class athletes such as André Greipel and David Millar, who actively collaborate in the development of bikes for superior performance.