Festka Spectre review: A custom carbon bike from Czechia

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to fly into Prague and explore the Czech Republic before riding to Vienna. I could have brought any number of bikes from our list of the best road bikes but I wanted something different. Instead of bringing an American, Italian, or British bike across the world, I wanted to share the experience of riding a local bike.  

For years I’d been getting press release emails from a Czech brand called Festka. Each email had a new bike and each time the design seemed more unique and outrageous than the last. The bikes were bright and bold with a particular flavour and graphic quality that meant you’d know it was a Festka long before reading the name. Each one was a showpiece but for all the show, Festka is still making bikes designed for riding. I wanted to know what it was like to ride one of these show pieces and riding a Czech bike while in the Czech Republic was the perfect opportunity. 

As it turns out, Festka has a new version of the brand’s top model all-around race bike. The Festka Spectre continues using the same style of construction as previous bikes from Festka but now it’s disc brake only and has room for wider tyres. If you are considering something more unique than the big brands, or are just curious what it’s like to ride one, keep reading.

Design and aesthetics