New year, new goals, new bike. Festka Scalatore

Better late than never, but thought I’d do a build thread for this.

Having decided I wanted to race some hill climbs this year, I wanted to get a lighter alternative to my Field. I pontificated over choice of frameset for ages and had the Cannondale SuperSix Hi Mod and the Trek Emonda SLR on the shortlist, but ended up going for something I considered a little more ‘special’ - Festka’s lightest frameset to date, the Scalatore.

It turned out Festka had a demo bike in my size, so the price was pretty good. By chance, the frameset arrived on Christmas Day.

5 Attachments

Around the time I ordered the frameset, I decided on the components, having spent a lot of time looking into what existing parts I could re-use and considering the weight, reliability, etc. of new parts.

I decided to go for SRAM Red mechanical paired with Cane Creek ee brakes for the groupset. Aside from that, I could put my Chris King R45 / Light Bicycle wheels to use again so, apart from those parts, I tried to stay at least a little conscious of weight.

3 Attachments

The final build was finished a couple of weeks back, but a mixture of periods of snow and a pretty hectic family/work schedule meant I couldn’t get a proper shakedown done for a while.

A friend of mine in Japan, Tobias, has a YouTube channel (RidesOfJapan) and so we did the vast majority of the build together with a British mate of mine who lives here. Tobias then also did some filming on the shakedown ride last weekend.

The weight came in a pretty svelte (not ultra light) 6.17kg. Now I have to knuckle down with the training ahead of my first race of the season in mid April (around 25km and 1,300m of climbing).

3 Attachments

The build and shakedown video is linked, for those who’re interested.

RidesOfJapan YouTube

I just saw that video! Awesome build.

why no etap tho :(

haha but seriously very nice

This looks far too much like a 'normal' road bike for hill climbs. Needs more ultra-light-ultra-questionable-functionality parts bin rat to it.

gotta get on the "cutting parts off" train for hill climbs.
You only need one seatstay right?

Damn right, but I was thinking maybe some lower hanging fruit, like binning the power meter in exchange for a direct mount single ring. Maybe the weenie-obsessional stage comes later?

That’s the biggest compliment someone could pay! Weight weenie builds tend generally to look quite unbalanced and fragile. I wanted something I can race on, but that I can also do normal weekend rides on without feeling like I am ‘treading on egg shells.’

No one really uses drops anyway right?

It’s around the perfect weight for me now. If I could drop below 6kg without much expense with different parts, I probably would, but it’s definitely light enough for me for now!

No cutting bits off on this bike (just not committed enough!).

.

1 Attachment

Saw the video yesterday, restrap t-shirt made me wonder if you're on here.
Sweet bike!

It looks really mint, the carbon work is really nice ! and reminds me of my first Time .

kind of wanting to get on the hillclimb ladder now

reminds me of my first Time

ha

How did owning this go? Do you still have it?

For some reason I didn’t get a notification, so have only just seen this (apologies).

In short, yes! I ended up going against everything I said about not caring about getting it sub-6kg…

A bunch of Darimo parts and some Extralite tubular wheels with Sapim Super spokes later, and it got down to 5.5kg. However, it also has a “daily ride” set of CK R45 laced to Farsports 45mm deep wheels that puts it at 6.1kg.

I should say that this doesn’t get as much use I’d like because: (i) work and family life is mad busy; and, in the meantime (ii) I ended up buying an S Works SL7. The RD died on the SL7 though, so I’ve been lucky enough to get reacquainted of late.

In terms of the photos:

1. The muddy ones are from a race called Gran Fondo Myoko - 150km race, but 20km on gravel. 28s did the trick, just about.
   
2. The Four Boroughs jersey shot is from central Tokyo, close to my team mate’s shop (also my mechanic).
   
3. The Tekkerz jersey shot with Mount Fuji in the background is from a 270km, 7,000hm ride (aptly named Project 7,000).
   
4. The one with skinnier wheels is in “ultralight mode.”
   
5. The one with tan walls is from a recent cross-Japan ride and is how the bike currently stands.
   
   

Separately, I’m actually now considering selling the Festka given that my SL7 is now definitely all the bike I need (however much this is the nicer bike to ride!).

6 Attachments

in the meantime (ii) I ended up buying an S Works SL7

Classic lfgss

Gorgeous bike, looks just so

Do you have any pictures of your new SL7?

The Festka still looks awesome! What's the reasoning for going with the SL7 over the Festka? Discs?

Just more the type of bike I ride more these days, but disc plays into it. My team training is a bit less “climby.”

The SL7 is getting a few new bits, so I’ll do a thread or something then!

Couple of shots from a solo #solsticecentury ride today.

Hellish headwinds, but a good time nonetheless.

3 Attachments

Amazing. Where is the last photo taken?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ddVnj8SveVB571XH7

The last photo is Enoshima, near Kamakura in Kanagawa prefecture.

It is around 30km into the ride and every time I do the Solstice Century, I make sure to time it for this sunrise!