Czech framebuilding duo Michael Mourecek and Ondrej Novotny, also known as Festka, released a list of their most popular bicycles of 2020 this week and we have to share it. Honestly, we can’t help ourselves. Some of these designs are mind-blowingly beautiful… read on below.
Festka Rover Camo➧ Gravel bikes are becoming extremely popular. Festka Rover offers road bike performance on asphalt and great fun off-road. The frame’s readiness for bags and racks makes it the perfect companion for bike-packing. The light yet sturdy frame, wireless electronic shifting, and fantastic ENVE wheels put this bike at the top of its class.
Festka Scalatore Mummy➧ Scalatore is a very versatile bicycle. However, with a weight of less than 6 kg, it mainly tempts cyclists to use it for the highest, longest climbs. Except for the US-made wheel rims, all the other components are of European provenance. Something that’s quite rare these days. The design scheme was originally created for a lover of ancient Egypt, hence the stylized mummy bandage and the name.
Festka Scalatore Samurai➧ The order for this bicycle came from Costa Rica: not a place we often hear from. The customer’s brief was for a light, custom geometry machine with an exclusive choice of components and exceptional design. The unique, hand-drawn motif is the work of leading Czech painter and illustrator, Michal Bačák. Work on a piece like this usually takes a whole year and its price is close to that of a family car.
Festka Spectre Splash➧ Built for Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom, everything on this super race bike says performance: four-spoke wheels, ceramic bearings, special aero handlebars… Not a bike for lazy-day wandering! All this is further highlighted by the brilliant colours and the design scheme inspired by 1990s skiing outfits.
Festka Scalatore Silver Bullet➧ This subtle looking bicycle invites a second look if you wish to truly appreciate its perfect paint job. The sunny clime of Thailand, its current home, surely gives it plenty of opportunity to shine. It takes our paint shop several days to prepare the base needed to achieve such a level of perfection. The inconspicuous looking components rank among the best money can buy. However, you may not notice this straight away as they were either repainted or the original logos were removed.
Festka Spectre Floyd➧ Another racing machine where all construction was done with performance in mind. The 80mm deep rims require a lot of experience on the part of the rider, as a strong cross-wind might land a novice cyclist in some trouble. The Floyd design takes its original inspiration from spectral dispersion of light: the phenomenon most of us know from using prisms. The stripes are painstakingly painted or gilded in 24 carat gold leaf. It takes 100 hours to complete the paintwork! The bicycle pictured is ridden by one of Festka’s co-founders.
Festka ONE➧ This bike is a testament to the fact that we can build a beautiful machine even on a budget. It was its simplicity and attractive colour that grabbed the attention of our Instagram audience. They liked it to such a degree that it became the 7th most popular Festka bike of 2020. You might come across it if you ride in and around Prague.
