Tour Tech: Romain Bardet Factor O2 replica race bike. Yours for $18,460

The Tour de France hasn’t even started yet but I reckon the two new O2 paint jobs Factor Bikes has just unveiled could be a contender for the prettiest bikes of this year’s race. 

But want the frame with all the same parts as Bardet is using? You’re in luck, Factor is offering 10 exact replicas of his race bike. So that's a Dura-Ace groupset, SRM power meter and Mavic Cosmic Comete Ultimate wheels. You’ll even get a pair of Mavic Comete Ultimate shoes in a livery to match the frame and a jersey signed by Romain Bardet.

You’ll need deep pockets though. It’ll cost $18,460…

If you just want a frameset, Factor is offering two versions. They'll be strictly limited edition, however, but if you’re quick you can snap one up for yourself. Considering most custom painted Tour special bikes never go near a shop it's nice that Factor is offering them for sale.

There will be just 200 O2 Bardet Limited-Edition frames and 100 O2 Champs-Élysées frames going on sale, costing $5,499 and $5,249 respectively. 

Last year Factor provided a custom painted bike for AG2R La Mondiale team leader Romain Bardet. This year they’ve decided to put all the team riders on the limited edition bikes, so they don’t feel left out.

If you can’t decide between disc or rim brakes, the frames will be available with either. The frames will include colour-matched bottle cages and one-piece handlebars, and come with a seatpost, CeramicSpeed headset and bottom bracket.

The O2 Bardet frame was produced in collaboration with the French cyclist Romain Bardet and is aimed at raising funds for his children’s charity. There’s his motto on the top tube which sums up his riding style, “Take the risk or lose the chance.”

The leading edge of the frame sports an illustration of Vercingetorix who is a local hero in Bardet’s home region of the Auvergne, where Vercingetorix united Gallic people against Julius Caesar and fought backstopping Caesar advancement.

The downtube is the silhouette of the Puy de Dome, the dormant volcano visible from Bardet’s home in Clermont-Ferrand. Finally, the plaque behind the bottom bracket sports Bardet’s signature and a limited edition build number between 011 and 200.

“I'm delighted by this new bike,” said Bardet in regards to his new O2. “The design, colour, and all-around aesthetics are amazing. This is a classy bike.”

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