Jochem's Festka Spectre Gravel
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A NEW DREAM PROJECT – THIS TIME ON GRAVEL
After my very positive experience with the fully custom build of my Mosaic RT-1 (see blog), I couldn’t get the idea of another project out of my head when we got to know our new brand Festka. After seeing Jasper’s Festka Spectre road bike and experiencing the level of quality and craftsmanship that went into it, I became truly excited. Once again, I decided to go through the full custom process. The journey is part of the destination, as we say — and the anticipation is half the fun!
ABOUT FESTKA
First, let’s talk about Festka. We’ve already introduced the brand to you, but I want to go back to the first time I spoke with Michal Mourecek (CEO and founder of Festka). From the beginning, our companies felt like a great match, and in our conversation we quickly realized that our visions aligned. Exciting! That feeling of being able to offer something exclusive and made with passion to our clients really motivates us to go that extra mile every time, and to look for what can be improved — and above all, what can be improved for each specific client. This is where Festka truly stands out, and I believe we can offer a beautiful custom alternative to the big-name competitors.
PAINT AND FINISH
Let’s start with the paintwork. Festka lets you choose from different color schemes with a wide range of options. Their configurator (see link) is a joy to use and gives a realistic impression of the chosen colors. Of course, you can also go fully custom, but the additional cost is significant.
To me, Festka represents elegance and craftsmanship. I wanted a finish that was classy but still eye-catching. At the same time, the craftsmanship — the beautifully woven carbon — had to remain visible.
In the end, I went for the RAW scheme with Aristocrat Red Glossy as the main color and lettering in Saffron Glossy. The frame was finished with a matte clear coat, which I think makes the lines of the frame stand out even more.
It’s always a matter of taste, but I think it turned out beautifully — a true Festka.
THE PRODUCTION PROCESS AND MY CHOSEN GEOMETRY
We already touched on the production process briefly. Festka uses filament-wound carbon tubes that are hand-joined. It’s a classic framebuilding method that, combined with a modern aesthetic, results in something truly unique. Building a Festka frame requires countless hours of skilled work and attention to detail, and the brand continues to refine their frames through small but well-considered changes executed with the highest precision.
Festka offers standard sizes as a guideline for finding your ideal geometry. In Jasper’s case, the 56 cm Spectre was a perfect fit. In my case, however, the standard sizing of the Spectre Gravel wasn’t quite right, so I discussed my ideal geometry with Michal. Earlier this year, I had already spent a lot of time with Jasper fine-tuning the fit of my Mosaic, and luckily, we had saved all the measurements. I passed those along to Michal, and after some back-and-forth, we quickly arrived at the “perfect” geometry. For gravel, geometry differs slightly from a road bike, but in this case the differences were minimal, since the Spectre Gravel is quite race-oriented by design.
In short, we ended up with a slightly longer top tube and a shorter head tube, giving me the sporty riding position I was looking for. And let me tell you — it worked out perfectly! It’s such a joy to have a bike truly tailored to your body. More people should do this ;)
BUILD
Once the color scheme and geometry were finalized, I took my time deciding on the build. Producing a Festka frame takes about 4–6 weeks, and that waiting period feels long...
For the groupset, the choice was simple: SRAM RED AXS 1x XPLR. It’s the benchmark in gravel, and I was eager to put it to the test. I went with a 44T (Aero — yes, they now offer smaller chainrings too) chainring, as I believe this setup can handle everything I plan to ride. Crank length: 170 mm.
Normally, I’m a big fan of ENVE components, but this time I wanted something a bit more special. I decided on German brand Schmolke. Everything is custom-made to order — which fits perfectly with the spirit of this build ;) Looks also played a big role for me: everything in raw carbon, perfectly complementing the frame. A complete success, if you ask me!
As for the wheels, the choice was easy once Scope released their new Artech gravel wheelset, the 4.G. I simply had to test these, and this project was the perfect opportunity. With 3D-printed hubs, carbon spokes, wide rims, and an impressively low weight, they are truly a perfect match.
There’s been a lot of discussion about tires recently, and I had read many positive reviews about the Rene Herse Corkscrew Climb (44 mm). It’s a semi-slick with integrated tread, offering plenty of grip in corners while still rolling fast. Available in different casings, I (of course) opted for the most supple one, aiming for that cyclocross-like feel and maximum feedback.
The saddle is the Prologo Nago R4 3D PAS, which has been extremely comfortable for me — I can ride on it for hours! So that was an easy choice. And finally, a small but important detail: the Arundel Mandible bottle cages. Honestly, these are the best bottle cages on the market — super secure and they look great too.
BRINGING THE FESTKA HOME & FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After placing my order, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jan from Festka to our shop. During a ride together (yes, our meetings often happen on the bike... ;)) he invited us to visit Festka in Prague, to see the production process and meet the people behind the brand. And so we did: after my first rides on the Spectre Gravel, I traveled to the Czech Republic in August for the annual Festka Day and then on to Prague, where Jan, Michal, and Ondrej gave me a behind-the-scenes look at everything Festka. It was an amazing and inspiring experience — I witnessed firsthand how meticulously every frame is finished. Naturally, I brought the Spectre Gravel along and had the chance to put my dream bike to the test on home soil. Sometimes, things just come together perfectly...
So, my first impressions? Free Speed! I knew this was a race-oriented gravel bike, but I didn’t expect it to feel this fast. Yes, I went with a racy geometry and top-tier components, but the ride still has to come together in the right way. The handling is neutral, and already in the first rides I felt confident throwing the bike into corners and really pushing it. I love that!
That’s enough for now — this story is long enough already. Later (probably after winter, since I’ll be riding the Festka all through the season), I’ll share more in a long-term ride review.
