OVERVIEW
What's in a carbon frame? In today's cycling, carbon frames are about as common as round wheels. While every manufacturer touts "sub-900grams", "ultra high modulus", and a myriad of other buzz phrases that highlight too little in terms of ride quality, dynamic handling, and durability, Cyfac has conceived the GOTHICA to stand in category all its own.

The GOTHICA is the fruit of Francis Quillon, Cyfac's founder, and his love for history and architecture. Long an admirer of the cathedrals peppered throughout Cyfac's Loire Valley home, Monsieur Quillon marveled at the flying buttresses, pointed arches, and ogive shapes characterising Gothic architecture. The GOTHICA frameset honors this same spirit, attention-to-detail, master craftsmanship, and avant-garde construction.

Using the most-advanced carbon fiber available, Toray 800H, paired with the world's leading 1K fine-braid carbon fiber weave, Cyfac scrimps on no detail in the design, fabrication, and finish of the Gothica. The industry standard is 1 layer of carbon weave at joint intersections. Cyfac uses 3. IM carbon fiber tube sections receive a layer of Kevlar-weave support at all tube junctions. A second layer of multi-directional carbon fiber is applied to ellicit the desired properties for stiffness, compliancy, and bottom bracket reactivity. A 3rd layer of unidirectional 1k carbon fiber completes the process to provide additional vibration dampening, strength, durability, and a beautiful finish. Each Gothica takes more than 30 hours to produce.

A truly light-weight frameset, the GOTHICA is designed to deliver reactivity, comfort, and high performance in a superbly beautiful package. 100% hand-made, featuring the highest grade of carbon fibre that, frankly, most builders do not choose to use as they pass off a lower grade of carbon on their customers, Cyfac offers a frame of uncompromised quality and style.

STIFFNESS -- this term is thrown around all too easily...What does it mean? Why does it matter? "Stiffness" in bicycle frames is a relative thing. Important in some respects but detrimental in others, "stiffness" certainly cannot be held up as the only standard to reach with respect to a frame design. Considering that a rider's power output is in constant decline through the course of a ride, it's important to understand the nature of the materials and frame design in choosing the right bike for you. For shorter events and among bigger/stronger riders, greater stiffness is beneficial. But, with longer efforts and rides that start to go above the 3 hour mark or for riders who are more slightly built/less powerful, too much stiffness has a negative impact.

Frames are dynamic. As such, there should be some flexibility/movement to one because, when done correctly, this increases the reactivity of the frame, boosts efficiency, and improves performance. A rider who is on the wrong frame cannot elicit the dynamic nature of the frame correctly and will suffer a negative impact on performance/comfort/efficiency.

Because no single frame is ever going to be perfect for every rider out there it is important to provide options among standard and custom designs in order to deliver the best material choice for the individual. Our goal is to make amazing bikes that optimize the rider-machine couple. With our two carbon frames, the TIGRE and the new GOTHICA, we have options to cover all riders.