State-of-the-art bike comes fully loaded with wireless ANT+ speed and cadence sensors, bike computer and power crank seamlessly integrated into the aerodynamic frame

Cochrane, Alberta – July 1, 2013 – FACTOR® Bikes, part of a visionary firm that has revolutionized the aerospace industry, Formula 1 racing and some of the most advanced supercars in the world, has transformed today’s road bike with the highly anticipated Vis Vires. With electronics incorporated from the ground up, data is captured like never before with a complete, accurate and fully integrated system of high-end monitoring devices. Needing flexible and reliable technology, FACTOR used ANT+ as their wireless sensor technology of choice making the Vis Vires compatible with the millions of ANT+ devices that dominate the cycling market today. Two models will be sold, Vis Vires Ultegra Di2 (£7999 with Factor Power Cranks and £5999 with Ultegra cranks) and the Vis Vires Dura-Ace Di2 (£9999). The Dura-Ace model will be available in August 2013, while the Ultegra model will be available in January 2014.

With engineers, designers and an extensive expertise rooted in Formula 1® racing and supercars like Bugatti and Aston Martin, the team at bf1systems® (parent company of FACTOR) set out to design the ultimate road bike for serious cyclists wanting speed, data and detailed performance feedback. Using ANT+ ultra-low power wireless technology, the FACTOR team designed the Vis Vires from day one to capture data accurately, efficiently and easily with a full system of ANT+ compatible electronics seamlessly built into the bike frame. The stem features an integrated mount for either a Garmin Edge 510 (Ultegra Di2) or 810 (Dura-Ace Di2) bike computer allowing riders to view heart rate, speed, cadence and power data from the included ANT+ sensors. Riders can also mix-and-match sensors and displays from any other ANT+ devices that support the same profiles. The ANT+ enabled FACTOR Power Cranks included as standard on the Dura-Ace model and optional on the Ultegra model measure left and right leg power individually, and output this as total power with a detailed left/right leg power balance. The reliability, flexibility and ease of use with the widely adopted ANT+ devices, provide cyclists with a well-known, customizable and trusted system for performance monitoring.   

“This bike was carefully crafted to incorporate the best in design, components and electronics so ANT+ technology was our natural choice,” stated John Bailey, Managing Director at FACTOR. “Apart from allowing us to transition seamlessly between modes, ANT+ also immediately links us to an established ecosystem of best in class interoperable cycling devices, which is important as we will also be offering our Power Cranks as an after-market product.”

Both models of bicycles use the same Vis Vires frame, and have total weights of 15.2lb for the Dura-Ace and 16.3lb for the Ultegra model. Each also comes equipped with full carbon clincher wheels, custom all internal cable routing and an ENVE Composites Compact handlebar. Using industry juggernauts like Cervelo and Specialized bikes as benchmarks, FACTOR’s Vis Vires excels in terms of stiffness, aerodynamics, comfort and weight, specifically performing its best at high yaw angles.

FACTOR’s Vis Vires features include:
• Built-in handlebar mounted ANT+ Garmin Edge 510 or 810 with heart rate strap (depending on model)
• FACTOR Power Crank with internal torque and force measuring circuitry, allowing left/right leg performance monitoring (Dura-Ace model)
• Included AeroComfort TSA travel bag protecting bike frame from impacts and vibrations during transport
• Dura-Ace 15.2 pounds (Power Crank and Garmin included) / Ultegra 16.3 pounds (Garmin included)

“We pride ourselves on enabling the very best possible monitoring solutions and are excited to have ANT+ integrated into this state-of-the-art road bike,” stated ANT Wireless VP, Rod Morris. “This industry excels because companies such as FACTOR bring a new level of quality and design to the market.”
The FACTOR Vis Vires is available from August 2013 at www.FACTORBikes.com. Contact PR representative Brad Hobbs at 305-374-4404 x119 or [email protected] for more information.

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About FACTOR® Bikes (www.factorbikes.com)
FACTOR® Bikes was created by bf1systems®, a visionary firm developing electrical and composite engineering and hardware for the automotive and aerospace industries and other high-tech sectors. Their expertise has revolutionised Formula 1 cars and is used in the world’s most advanced supercars, including those from Bugatti and Aston Martin. Within the aerospace industry, bf1systems®’ specialist composites are being used for the next generation of airframe and engine applications on civilian aircraft.

About ANT / ANT+ (www.thisisant.com)
ANT is a proven protocol and silicon solution for ultra-low power (ULP) practical wireless networking applications. With over 60 million devices in the market, ANT+ facilitates interoperability between ANT+ devices and the collection, automatic transfer and tracking of sensor data. Applicable in sport, wellness management and home health monitoring, ANT+ (built on the base ANT protocol) defines device profiles that specify data formats, channel parameters and network keys. The ANT+ Alliance is an open special interest group of companies who have adopted the ANT+ promise of interoperability. The Alliance ensures standardized communications through optimized brand value and partnerships with other top tier products.
The company behind ANT Wireless is Dynastream Innovations Inc. (www.dynastream.com).   Dynastream was established in 1998 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. in December 2006. Dynastream is based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, and is a world innovator in the research and development of inertial and wireless technology.

Source ANT+ Certified Products (www.thisisant.com/directory)
The ANT+ Product Directory is a complete inventory of all ANT+ certified or verified products. It is a tool designed specifically to help consumers source hundreds of industry-leading devices and all compatible products within the vast ANT+ ecosystem. Devices may be searched by product name, brand, activity or product category, allowing the consumer to create a monitoring system that meets their specific needs.

For further information on how the directory works, please visit:
www.thisisant.com/directory/d/getting-started.

Media Contact:
Brad Hobbs
Account Director
Max Borges Agency
[email protected]
305-374-4404 ext.119

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