Loud and in-your-face. Radical. Modern. The Festka One LT is never going to make a quiet entrance. But is it going to be a case of dazzle by name, dazzle by nature?
Festka is at the pinnacle of Eastern European cycling culture, taking the world by storm with its wild and stylish approach to design and originality. In the case of our test model, the One LT comes with a price tag of €6,169 for the frame (hand-made in the Czech Republic) with forks and Chris King headset. The eye-catching Dazzle paint job demands an extra €910. The model in question, the LT, is Festka’s top-of-the-range bike in the One collection, and has a different, lighter carbon lay-up and integrated seatpost which results in saving a third of the weight. What you’re essentially buying is extravagance, aesthetics and originality – and Festka’s core appeal comes from their customized bikes and builds which can feature virtually any component around.
Fitted with the Campagnolo Record groupset, we were keen to see how the Dazzle would take to the tarmac. Much lower than the saddle, the short frame and 130 mm stem demand an aggressive and aerodynamic riding position, a feature that’s further enhanced by the lack of layback on the integrated seatpost. To really do justice to the Festka, you’ve got to push hard so a certain level of fitness should be present before purchasing.
The frame’s bottom bracket housing gives good power transfer and is a good foundation to riding fast, but unfortunately, while the 3T handlebars and stem perform satisfactorily, the front is let down by the flex in the THM Scapula F forks, which is most noticeable during cornering and sprints, and ultimately results in poor brake performance and compromised handling. However, customers can choose to fit a fork from 3T or Enve, which we would recommend.
On a purely visual level, the way the EPS V2 interface is attached to the brake cable using a zip tie didn’t get us excited considering the bike’s price tag. Festka understand this and the new V3 interface for the Campagnolo EPS groupset is going to be tidily hidden underneath the stem. Much better.
Festka One LT Dazzle in datail
Specifications of the Festka One LT
- Drivetrain: Campagnolo Super Record EPS 2×11 SP
- Gears: Chainrings: 53/39 | Cassette: 11-27
- Brakes: THM Fibula
- Tyres: Tufo Elite Ride 23
- Wheelset: Campagnolo Bura Ultra 50
- Weight: 6.07 kg
- Price: From € 6,169 (Frameset)
Conclusion
Even with its dazzling look, the dazzle on the One LT Dazzle isn’t enough to stun us into submission. Given the extremely high price and in-your-face persona, we would have appreciated a better ride. Fortunately, hope isn’t lost, though, as Festka can go full custom – so if you know what’ll make your ultimate ride then go for an individual build, unique design and even custom geometry.
Strengths
- Extravagant, exclusive designs
- Custom builds
Weaknesses
- Flex in the forks
- Limited use, exclusively suited to well trained riders capable of holding an aggressive position for hours in the saddle
- Attachment of the EPS V2 interface
For more information check the Festka Webiste.
About the test
With 10 test riders descending on Barcelona from across the globe, we dedicated 9 days to pushing this season’s most exclusive and exciting and exciting bikes to their limits in a one-of-a-kind group test. Each rider brought his or her own specific experience to the process, with a test team comprised of four women and six men, including former Tour de France riders, biomechanics, bike shop owners, tour guides and amateur riders. In short: a gathering of highly experienced and well-versed road riding enthusiasts. Our goal was a simple one, to give you all the information needed to make you a winner: Why? Becuase life’s too short to ride the wrong bikes.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The 10 most exclusive and exciting bikes in Test
All bikes in test: Storck Aernario Platinum G1 | Specialized S-Works Venge | Ritte Ace | Focus Izalco Max Disc“ | Crema Doma | Cervelo C5 | Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 | Bianchi Specialissima | Trek Madone 9.9
[/emaillocker]Words: Markus Ybanez, Robin Schmitt, Emmie Collinge Photos: Constantin Gerlach, Klaus Kneist, Christoph Bayer
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