Switchback Sports adds premium brands Factor Bikes and Black Inc components to their portfolio.
Founded in 2017, Switchback Sports distributes a range of premium cycling products to over 200 South African bicycle stores. From April 2022, the Cape Town based outfit will add Factor Bikes to their portfolio. The prestigious British bicycle brand joins a stable of products which include the Swedish outdoor brand, POC, Easton components and wheels, Rondo bikes, Panaracer tyres, Wheels Manufacturing hangers and bottom brackets, and Geosmina bikepacking bags.
Founded in Great Britain in 2007, Factor Bikes began as a leading design and engineering firm and offshoot of bf1systems: working for cutting-edge brands like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Maserati and other F1, Moto GP, and WRC teams.
The OSTRO VAM is an all-round quiver killer. Searingly fast, incredibly light, supremely comfortable. Image by Factor Bikes.
Their first carbon bike, the FACTOR001 was launched in 2009 was ground-breaking in terms of performance, technology, and aesthetics: setting the precedent and DNA for all future Factor Bikes.
Today Factor Bikes owns and operates its own carbon production facility and is the only premium bike brand in the world overseeing and controlling every step of carbon bike production, from concept to final assembly.
Factor bikes can be seen proving their pedigree at the highest-level of racing, piloted by Chris Froome and the UCI World Tour professional cycling team Israel–Premier Tech and the UCI women’s continental professional cycling team, Parkhotel Valkenburg.
Best known for their cutting-edge road bikes, Factor have recently made a move into the realm of mountain-biking with the launch of the Lando XC and ultra-light Lando hardtail.
The Lando XC is a progressive dual-suspension cross country bike, sporting 115mm rear travel paired with a 120mm fork. This hits the sweet spot for many South African riders dabbling in marathon stage races, who also want to get the most out of weekend rides on their local trails.
Fast and fun. The LANDO XC elbows its way to the front of the start line with a race-oriented geometry and suspension working together. Image by Factor Bikes.
“We’re excited to be able to bring a premium brand like Factor to South African customers. We aim to be able to showcase the full Factor Bikes product range and meet market demand. We believe in supplying the best quality cycling products to our customers, and Factor is an incredible addition to our portfolio” said Charles Keey, founder of Switchback Sports.
“The fact that they own their factories and control every step of the R&D and manufacturing process mean that they can innovate quickly and produce truly outstanding bicycles with unmatched build quality. For me, the Ostro VAM is a quiver-killer and I can’t wait to lay hands on mine”
Factor bikes can be seen proving their pedigree at the highest-level of racing, piloted by Chris Froome and the UCI World Tour professional cycling team Israel–Premier Tech.
In addition to Factor Bikes, Switchback Sports will be bringing in Black Inc wheels and components including the popular Black Inc Integrated Barstem.
Like Factor Bikes, Black Inc wheels and components are produced and tested in-house, allowing for rapid iterations and total control of the manufacturing and quality control process. Thanks to this approach the Black Inc product line only has one level: the highest, making them the first choice for discerning riders.
Switchback Sports will initially be bringing a range of Factor Bikes framesets and Black Inc wheels to market, allowing customers the flexibility of a custom build to create their dream bike.
While availability of stock has been limited by the supply chain crisis currently affecting most of the cycling industry, framesets and Black Inc wheels will be available in South Africa from June 2022.
To view the range of Factor Bikes bicycles and framesets, as well as Black Inc wheels and components sold by Switchback Sports please visit www.switchbacksports.co.za.
Interesting to see so many brands from Pure Motion move to Switchback....
First POC and now these.