My Custom Factor O2 VAM
I have been working in collaboration with the team at Factor UK to design my dream bike.
I have to admit, I don’t quite fit the mould… But like me, Factor operates on zero-compromise, so thank you, for being so patient and accommodating.
How do you design and build your dream bike? Where do you begin? The endless possibilities are overwhelming. So, I deconstructed the challenge and it all fell into place.
Performance & function
Comfort & fit
Aesthetics & personalisation
Concept
I like to combine the heritage and aesthetic of the old with the function and performance of the new. My custom VAM is an understated modern-classic with a backstory that makes it truly personal to me.
I have considered the build as a whole and not just focused on the paint job. My grandfather is the inspiration for my build. I wear his old medal from a time trial that he won in 1949 around my neck when I’m out cycling, so he can share the road with me. This medal represents who I am and where I come from.
I have felt his presence in otherworldly ways while out cycling…
So, grandad, this one’s for you.
Performance
Q: “What task will my bike be carrying out?”
A: “Everything.”
You see, I am a Rouleur (an all-rounder).
“
A rouleur is somebody who knows the race and has the specialisms for it. Not really a good climber, but he can defend in the mountains and do some great things on the flat. A rider with a big engine who can ride alone, who waits to attack in the last ten kilometres, not for the finish. A rider who is always at the finish fast: that’s the meaning of rouleur for me.”
These day’s, I’m on the lighter end of the rouleur scale. I’m not a true climber (a grimpeur), but I can hold my own. A gradient is a great way for me to wear-down my clubmates or set some PB’s. A lighter bike would certainly add to my advantage.
The Factor O2 VAM is the obvious frame choice.
Our lightest road bike frame, the O2 VAM excels like none other when the road points up, and up, and up. Floating up the road when the grade tilts skyward, yet carving authoritatively and predictably through corners while descending. A sub-700 road frame for both disc and rim brakes, it provides class-leading integration and ride dynamics.
Comfort & Fit
I have one thing in common with the G.O.A.T (Eddy Merckx), we both obsess over: fit, size, details and component selection (unfortunately, this is my only Eddy-attribute. I wish I had his power and ability to suffer 😉).
I have to hand select and experiment with each component before it meets my approval. Feeding my cycling habit is probably more expensive than being addicted to class A drugs…
I don’t look for the most expensive components - I look for the right components. Whether that is the right size, fit, shape or aesthetic.
Groupset (Gruppo)
I’m a Campagnolo rider.
Growing up, most ‘LAD’S’ have a nudie-mag stashed under their bed; filled with shapely women that are well-oiled, scantily-clad and smoothly-shaven…
…My magazines had well-shaped, well-oiled, scantily-clad, smoothly shaven… cyclists. Aside from staring at oiled legs, I spent a lot of time drooling over bikes. The polished Italian components were too much for my young mind to handle. ‘No ones in… are they?’
My parents and grandparents rode Campagnolo, at least on their best bikes. I love their heritage, performance, pride and aesthetic. ‘La Famiglia’, I grew up with Campy and they have continued to support me as a rider.
Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record (five-arm) 170mm
Chainrings: Campagnolo Athena Silver 53x39
Cassette: Campagnolo Record 11x29
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Chorus
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record
Chain-catcher: Campagnolo
Chain: KMC X11SL
Brakes: Cane Creek Direct Mount eeBrakes
Bottom Bracket: CeramicSpeed (as standard with all Factor Bikes)
Headset: CeramicSpeed (as standard with all Factor Bikes)
Pedals: Speedplay Zero Stainless
Finishing Kit
Stem: Black Inc Road Stem 130mm
Handlebars: RSP Women's Mini Bicycle Handlebar
Seat Post: Black Inc Zero Offset
Bar Tape: Fizik Classic 2mm (classic perforated style)
Saddle: San Marco Rolls Titanium
Bottle Cages: Arundel Stainless Steel
Why such a heavy saddle on such a lightweight bike?
The San Marco Rolls is more than just a saddle. Yes, it’s a bit heavy in the hand (even the Titanium version is 302g), but this is my saddle, I have one on every bike (five, currently…). Once you’ve ridden a new Rolls for a few hundred kilometres, the leather fuses with your posterior to create a single entity.
Known as ‘the Flemish armchair’ due to its size, comfort, and being the saddle of choice for old school classics riders, such as Peter Van Petegem, Brian Holm, Johan Museeuw and Andrea Tafi. In fact, most of the pro-peloton of the ’80s and ’90s chose the ‘armchair’, including Greg LeMonde and Bernard Hinault.
Gert-Jan Theunisse didn’t use his ‘armchair’ very much during stage 17 of the 1989 Tour de France, he famously moved ‘en danseuse’ (dancing out the saddle) as he scaled the Galibier and went on to take the stage win on l’Alpe d’Huez. His unused saddle looked great on top of his PDM Concorde with Campagnolo components.
If a climber like Theunisse can sacrifice a bit of weight for a neatly pinned, riveted, polished and embossed classic saddle - then so can I.
Okay, maybe he sat down once or twice. 📸 Graham Watson
The ‘Flemish armchair’ on a carbon bike? Enough said.
“Gareth, just stick a Rolls on it. You don’t have to justify yourself.”
My grandad used a Rolls. This bike is for him. Enough said.
Wheels
Wheelset: Black Inc FIFTY
Tyres: Vittoria Corsa G2.0 Clinchers 28mm (Tan sidewalls, of course)
Inner tubes: Sigma Sports
I have chosen the Black Inc THIRTY carbon wheelset. Black Inc is a Factor ‘sibling company’, so naturally they share the same ‘zero-compromise’ ethos.
30mm rims are my go-to-wheel for most riding. They’re not as fast as 50mm rims on the flats, but due to the profile, the Black Inc’s still have an aerodynamic advantage over most 30mm rims. These wheels are great on the flat and exceptional on the ‘up’. The wide profile rims handle like a dream, descending becomes transcendent when coupled with the VAM.
Rather than offering a bearing ‘upgrade’ like other companies, Black Inc fully partnered with CeramicSpeed, so their bearings come ‘as standard’. These things are smoother than the shaved legs of my aforementioned magazine collection…
Aesthetics
I drew out my build. I have my grandfathers medal as my starting point, but there are a few other chapters of my life that need punctuating.
Like many other cyclists (especially in Britain), Sir Brad’s 2012 palmarès was a huge inspiration for me. I challenged myself to become a better cyclist, to stop pottering around and see what I was capable of.
I met Brad through my creative role in the cycling partnership team at Sky. They say ‘never meet your heroes’ - that’s bullshit. Brad’s influence continued to deepen my cycling addiction and push myself further than I thought possible.
I have his 1998 Jnr Individual Pursuit Championship winning Condor track frame. It’s stunning… made from Reynolds 853 steel, with custom geometry and a pearl white paint job.
Inspired by Sir Brad’s Condor, I have chosen pearl white decals for my VAM.
‘Refined sporting elegance’ is a design principle that I share with Alludens. Pictured below is my ‘Patron’ watch, inspired by the wrist decorations of Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Francesco Moser, etc. The combination of perforated leather and silver detailing match my cycling aesthetic perfectly.
‘Refined sporting elegance’ is the benchmark and aspiration for my custom VAM.
Here it is, a visual of my VAM. It may look simple in the world of custom paintwork, but it’s my story. The silver componentry, perforated bar-tape, saddle and tan wall tyres reflect the style of the past, the gold KMC chain represent the gold from my grandad’s medal and the pearl white decals are a ‘nod’ to Sir Brad.
Ride on, grandad.
Gareth.
