Factor Chpt. /// Special Edition (2018)

At this point in his career David Millar can ride any bike he wants. He’s ridden bikes that by his own admission were alternately good, great or awful. Because of Baden’s relationship with David, he was able to approach him and invite him to help in the development of a new line of bikes. David’s vast experience as a racer is an indelible part of the Factor DNA.

What happened next surprised us.

David said he liked the One so much he wanted to offer a personalized version. Of the many bikes on the market, the One is David’s bike of choice, the bike he thought special enough he wanted to co-brand a special edition for his brand, Chpt.///.

David’s Special Edition One is spec’d with a SRAM Red eTap drivetrain with CeramicSpeed pulleys added to the rear derailleur. We created special plugs to close the ports for the Di2 wires for a clean, finished and aerodynamic surface.

In a nod to David’s English heritage, we build it with Brooks’ C30 saddle, which David helped develop and is Brooks’ first performance saddle in more than half a century.

Stopping the bike are direct-mount EE brakes, the lightest rim caliper brake available and the most powerful brake you can put on a bike short of going to discs.

In his racing for Garmin he saw first-hand the value of an aerodynamic road bike, but he also knew how hard it is to produce an aero road frame that has the responsive feeling of a traditional road frame. He understood immediately the value, which is why he saw the advantage the Twin Vane Split Down Tube offered.

David also helped us develop OTIS, our One Total Integration System, that sees the bar and stem integrated into a single unit and that bolt to an aerodynamic external steerer fork. OTIS is lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic than a traditional bar/stem/fork combination.

David’s most important contribution to the One may be its ride quality. The fact that the One rides like a great carbon fibre road bike is no accident. Those aero tube shapes don’t usually result in a bike that sprints well or offers any comfort on rough roads. David helped us find the right blend of stiffness, comfort and aerodynamic performance. As a result, the One isn’t just a special-occasion bike. It’s the bike he rides every day.

We are offering only 51 bikes in the Chpt./// configuration. Why 51? The number 51 has legendary significance in the Tour de France. More riders have won the Tour while wearing the number 51 than any other number. As a result, it’s considered a lucky number among Tour riders.