Graham Shrive - Engineering speed
Over the years, I have developed close relationships with some of the brands we carry and some have even evolved into amazing partnerships where our feedback genuinely influences product development. One relationship that truly has a PRW connection, and one that I value immensely, is with the brand Factor—a brand that I feel is more Canadian than most people realize. Factor’s Director of Engineering, Graham Shrive, is a close friend and a former staff member. After leaving Edmonton, he became the head of Engineering at Cervélo, where he was responsible for iconic bikes such as the S5 and the Aspero. His passion for engineering bikes is as deep as his love for riding and racing them. He still lives in Canada, as does much of his design team, who design and test bikes here. He’s also the most humble guy in the bike biz you will ever meet; you wouldn’t even know after meeting him that his mind is behind some of the fastest bikes and wheels raced today. I think he lets his designs do the talking, but I’m here to give you a peek into the mind of one of my favorite humans, because he never will!
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to see Graham’s process from initial thought to final product, and all the cool stuff in between. This past year, I spent a day in the wind tunnel where Factor was testing the new Ostro, along with the bike that helped Australia win the gold medal in the Team Pursuit at the Olympics, all while breaking records along the way. As a bike nerd, I absolutely love witnessing the entire process and the immense effort it takes to design and build bikes that professional athletes put their faith in. Us mere mortals are lucky to ride the same machines that win stages in Grand Tours.
In January I spent a week in Girona with Graham, who was there to present the new Ostro to IPT and go over the bike with the team and staff. This was my first time in Girona, and I can see why it has become the cycling mecca that it is. Amazing terrain and 20 degree weather in January made for the perfect week. I had the chance to spend time at the IPT Service Course and meet some of the incredible staff and mechanics. I got to pick the brain of Coach Ciaran, went on stunning rides with some of the team riders and everyone’s favorite Canadian, Riley Pickrell. David Millar even joined us for a quick ride and I had a chance to sit down with him and talk about his life after racing. Graham always ensured I received VIP treatment and let me play the role of super fan. I even played model for the launch of the new Ostro, and my not-so-great mug graces Factor's website. Sorry, but I guess they were looking for slow old guys.
While I was there, I was lucky enough to ride the new Ostro back-to-back with the old model. The best way to test a new bike is to ride both on some of the most breathtaking roads. I was blown away by the difference between the two, and that’s saying a lot. The previous Ostro is still one of the best riding bikes out there and outperforms many top-tier road offerings from other brands. Knowing what it took Graham to make a great bike even better, I was really excited for him. I knew it would be a success, and I wasn’t wrong.
Fast forward to 2025, we all saw some of Factor's latest bikes win Olympic medals, Grand Tour stages, and many more Pro and Amateur races. The Australians setting Olympic records on the track will surely get Graham’s phone ringing, as that did not go unnoticed in the bike racing world. These bikes are designed right here in Canada. His team is also located in Canada, with industrial designers Stewart and Mike contributing to the process. Even the man behind the stunning paint designs, Jay Gundzik, is based on the West Coast. It’s a true Canadian team that sometimes butts heads, but that’s what makes the process so good; they care about what they produce. Having shared a few beverages and late nights with them, you can see why Factor is one of the few brands with steady growth after the Covid bike boom and bust. I feel privileged to witness firsthand how some of the fastest bikes in the world are made, and as long as Graham lets me tag along, I will continue to be the sponge I am—continuously learning from one of the best engineers in our world of bikes. Having just returned a few weeks ago from the wind tunnel, I know what is in store for 2025 and it will definitely push the envelope of what a performance bike is. That’s all I can say for now…. Old dog learning new tricks, thats me.
