Bikes for the upcoming Paris Olympics are debuting with perplexingly high price tags.Factor Bikes, makers of the Australian indoor track pursuit team, unveiled the newly designed Factor Hanzo, which retails for $97,979 (AUD) or $59,999 (USD).Yes, you read that correctly.The price is not indicative of market inflation or outrageous customization, though there are some extreme features. Instead, it is a tactic to ensure that Factor’s bike is in compliance with the UCI requirements in preparation for the summer Olympic Games in Paris.To meet UCI guidelines, any equipment—helmets, cycling kits, and bikes—used in the Olympics “shall be of a type that is sold for use by anyone practicing cycling as a sport.” As such, Factor made the bike available for an eyebrow-raising price, in part to deter competitors from other teams. “We’re pushing the boundaries together to create not just a bike, but a legacy,” said Rob Gitelis, CEO of Factor Bikes, in the media announcement.The Hanzo is Factor’s first track bike. In partnership with AusCycling, Factor’s Hanzo includes a one-of-a-kind fork, 3D-printed titanium aerobars, and customized wheels. The futuristic design is intended to give Australia’s track cycling team the edge in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome this August, when 12 medals are up for grabs.When asked for specifics about the Hanzo, former Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory simply replied, “You can report that it’s ‘the fastest bike in the world,” according to RideMedia.The Hanzo will need to be exceptionally fast, considering the competition. The last time the Australian pursuit team won the gold medal was almost two decades ago.Despite its mind-boggling price, the Hanzo is not the most expensive bike on the market. According to Global Cycling Network, the British track team plans to use a 3D-printed bike—the UKSI-BC1—which costs £55,000 or $70,022 (USD) or over $106,634 (AUD).“We don’t set the price,” said AusCycling executive general manager Jesse Korf, according to the Guardian. “But in essence a bike has to be commercially available to meet regulations – there’s no regulation about the price,”Whether the hefty price tag is worth a gold medal is yet to be seen. However, Korf estimates that the changes are worthwhile and meaningful.“It is very fast – much faster than what we had – but whether or not it is the fastest, nobody can know,” said Krof. “That’s part of the thrill.
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