Festka Rover X gravel bike on test: Gravel dream with option to measure

Test: The Rover is a real "both-rounder" that shines on asphalt and off-road with fantastic driving characteristics. Also available made to measure, the exotic frame creates a beautiful, highly individual bike.

The Prague company became an insider tip soon after it was founded in 2010. At that time, the "look" of cycling was changing fundamentally, and Festka attracted attention with unique paintwork. Even then there was a lot of technology under the paint, namely carbon tubes that came from a supplier on the edge of the Bohemian Forest - an absolute specialist for composite materials, whose products can be fine-tuned to the respective application in terms of torsional and flexural rigidity. They also fascinate with their unique fiber structure, which also adorns the test bike - a rare special model for the company's tenth anniversary in 2020 with gold decoration, of which only ten were made.

Slim shapes and unique tubes

The Rover is very reserved in terms of design: slim tubes with changing cross-sections, which are visibly connected with fiber layers in the tube-to-tube process, plus a very delicate fork and a partially integrated headset.

The Festka also looks very classic due to the only slightly sloping top tube. The seat geometry is balanced and typical Gravel, i.e. not too deep and too long; with a relatively steep steering angle and short wheelbase, however, the Rover is clearly based on the racing bike. The 40 mm wide tires have enough space all around, but even a 30 would not look lost in the frame and fork.

This closeness to racing bikes can already be felt on the first meters. The light, stiff bike is easy to accelerate; Filled with 3 bar, the Tufo tubeless tires roll smoothly, and the deep carbon rims also help to set the pace. The Festka runs smoothly and steers pleasantly neutral without being sluggish; On the first gravel path, the overall high level of comfort becomes apparent, which is at most reduced by the uncomfortable saddle - and the extreme propulsion that the bike also offers on loose ground. If you switch from the road to nature trails, you only have to adjust the air pressure, because the bike itself excels in every situation: even on a trail with a gradient of more than 20%, the Festka can be steered very safely at a single-digit speed.

Perfect all-road translation

Of course, this is only possible with an adjusted gear ratio, and here Festka has made the best possible choice with the Sram Force Wide. The Gravel-specific electronic groupset comes with 43/30 teeth at the front and 10-36 at the rear on the test bike, which corresponds to a gear ratio of 516% - as described, it is also suitable for steep sections, and downhill you still put pressure on at almost 60 km/h Pedal. The overall shifting comfort is high, the "Flattop" chain runs quietly even when the bike is skewed. The nice thing about this group is: Sram offers a 10-28 cassette with seven single jumps that you can mount if you only ride on the road. There, the eight-kilo bike inspires with its harmonious, balanced character - a pure racing bike that lets you forget the off-road aspect for the moment.

As befits an anniversary bike, the Rover X is equipped with extremely high-quality "SES 5.6" wheels and carbon attachments from Enve; If you order a frame from Festka, you naturally assemble the components yourself. The made-to-measure frame option finally turns the bike into an individual gravel dream; But such a one-off is still not more expensive than the top products of the major manufacturers...

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