Nostra is probably the only manufacturer to produce carbon frames in series in Switzerland. The experts for carbon laminate combine mould construction on their own CNC milling machine, an experienced development department and an in-house paint shop under one roof. Numerous other components, such as other milled parts or screws, are also manufactured locally and come from the company's own country. Overall, Nostra even claims to produce around 99 percent of its frames in-house and only one percent in the neighbouring town. It is therefore hardly surprising that the frameset of the cross-country and down-country bike costs at least 6,700 Swiss francs - a collector's item for uncompromising bikers who appreciate local production.
The Nostra Crosscountry in detail
- Range of use: Crosscountry / Downcountry
- Suspension travel: 120-130 / 120-130 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Frame set weight: from 2.2 kg
- Weight of complete bike: from 10.5 kg
- Price frameset: from 6700 CHF
- Complete bike price: from CHF 11,360
- Special features: Production and painting in Switzerland
Carbon specialists through and through
Originally, the parent company Brasch Design Composites focussed on repairing carbon frames, among other things. However, when Roman Braschler realised that he could not be satisfied with the quality of the frames that were often manufactured in Asia, he decided to develop his own project. The result: the Nostra Crosscountry Bike. After testing the prototypes, creating the CAD data and producing the moulds, the first Nostra is now ready for series production. The bike can either be built with 120 millimetres of suspension travel at the front and rear as a cross-country and marathon fully or with 130 millimetres of travel each as a downcountry bike. The carbon prepregs for all frames are machined by hand at Nostra in Einsiedeln in central Switzerland. The main frame is made from two parts with 148 individual carbon pieces, while the complex rear triangle is made from nine individual parts. Complete bikes can only be ordered with high-quality parts and a customised paint finish.
Geometry
Nostra currently only offers its frames in sizes M and L. The aim is to cater for riders between 170 and 190 centimetres tall. The geometry has a modern design and fulfils the requirements of a progressive race bike. The short seat tube and slack steering angle are particularly striking.
- Seat tube: 409 / 424 mm
- Reach: 468 / 490 mm
- Stack: 615 / 626 mm
- Top tube length: 599 / 624 mm
- Head tube length: 115 / 125 mm
- Steering angle: 65°
- Seat angle: 78°
- Bottom bracket drop: 30 mm
- Chainstay length: 445 mm
- Wheelbase: 1235 / 1262 mm
Models and prices
In addition to the frameset, Nostra offers two complete bikes each with downcountry and cross-country equipment. There is also an exclusive Dreambuild, which leaves nothing to be desired.
Nostra Downcountry Bikes
- 11,360 CHF / 12.3 kg: Fox Performance suspension, Shimano XT drivetrain, Reynolds carbon wheels
- 11,890 CHF / 12.0 kg: Fox Factory suspension, Sram X0 AXS Transmission drivetrain, DT Swiss carbon wheels
Nostra Crosscountry Bikes
- 12,900 CHF / 10.5 kg: DT Swiss suspension, Shimano XTR drivetrain, DT Swiss carbon wheels
- 13,650 CHF / 10.9 kg: Fox Factory suspension, Shimano XTR drivetrain, DT Swiss carbon wheels
Crosscountry-Fully in Dreambuild
For the show bike of the Nostra Crosscountry Bike, Brasch Design Composites goes all out. The lightweight carbon frame is fitted exclusively with parts of the highest quality. The Intend upside-down suspension fork from Intend stands out in particular, which is fitted with a Rockshox Charger Race Day cartridge with smart electronic Flight Attendant control. The Dreambuild shown here is made up of these parts:
- Suspension fork: Intend Samurai 120mm with Rockshox Charger Race Day Flight Attendant
- Shock: Rockshox SID Luxe Ultimate 210 x 50mm Flight Attendant
- Gear system: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brake: Trickstuff Piccola HD
- Wheels: DT Swiss XRC 1200
- Tyres: Schwalbe Rick XC
- Handlebars: Bike Ahead Composites The Flatbar
- Stem: Intend Grace XC 77mm
- Saddle: Selle italia SLR 3D Carbon
- Seatpost Rock Shox Reverb AXS 125mm
- Price: 14,250 CHF
- Weight: 10.9 kg
Jan Timmermann
Editor
