FACTOR MONZA

The Monza offers WorldTour-level handling without the pro-salary pricetag

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Factor is unashamedly premium in its intentions, with prices to match.

The Ostro VAM with Dura-Ace costs £11,000, give or take. Drop down a tier to Ultegra and you're still parting with £8,995 for a second-tier groupset on its flagship frame.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, only having bikes at that level in your inventory can't be that much fun and so Factor has produced the Monza. Designed to meet the needs of the 'everyday racer', it's £3,000 less than the Ostro VAM and looks like a serious effort to bring more people to the brand.

The fit geometry is adjusted in what Factor calls a move towards 'democratisation'. In reality, that means an extra 9mm of stack over the Ostro VAM, rising at the front end to 574mm in a size 56, and shortening the reach a tad, by 3mm to 389mm. It's not a lurch to the centre ground, but it will be welcome for many. At the very least it means fewer spacers, but it's certainly not what you'd call an endurance fit, so that shouldn't put anyone off.

THE MONZA PLAYBOOK

The Monza is intended as a stripped-back, more practical version of the Ostro VAM. Factor has had to make some compromises along the way, of course, but all have been delivered with that 'everyday racer' in mind.

First, the geometry. The handling geometry remains exactly the same as the Ostro VAM. No added chainstay length for greater stability, no extra trail with that additional tyre clearance, which is 34mm.