Festka Mist at NAHBS 2014. © James Thomas
This titanium ’cross bike from Festa features beautiful CNC machined rear dropouts and connector on the drive side that attaches the bottom bracket to the chainstay, similar to Redline’s old Conquest ’cross model. This unique configuration allows clearance for wide tires, while still allowing for a large chaining (up to 52 t), meaning the bike can easily switch from ’cross to road.
The Festka’s tubing mimics the peculiarly-positioned shoulder rest between the top tube and seat tube that the Colnago previously ridden by Sven Nys featured.
Single ring, the latest ’cross fad, on the Festka at NAHBS 2014. © James Thomas
The Mist frame is made of thin walled oversized titanium tubing, which they claim is designed to absorb vibration while adding stiffness to the ride. The frame is Di2 electronic compatible, and the show model was equipped with Shimano Dura Ace 9070 with Rocket Wheels and Tufo tires.
CNC machined rear dropouts on the Festka at NAHBS 2014. © James Thomas
Pricetag? A cool $4400 for the frame.
Festka is also one of the few companies at NAHBS to not be from the US—actually, Festka is based in the Czech Republic where they make bikes in titanium, carbon and steel.
Stay tuned for plenty of cyclocross, gravel and general bike eye candy from NAHBS 2014 in the next few days.
