The Underdog That Attacks: Matej Lovše Rides the NICH Faith

Test Ride Summary

Overall feelBalancedKey strengthsSpeed · HandlingBest terrainAll-round (surprisingly strong on climbs)Stiffness9/10Stability9/10Cornering9/10Comfort7/10One-word verdictUnderdog

Introduction

There are bikes that impress on paper. And there are bikes that impress at 50 km/h, when the road drops away and your hands are light on the bars.

The NICH Faith belongs to the second category.

To find out what the Faith really does under pressure, we handed one to Matej Lovše — ex-amateur World Champion, lifelong racer, and someone who has ridden more frames than most shops have stocked. His verdict was immediate and unambiguous.

"One of the stiffest bikes I've ever ridden." — Matej Lovše

First Impression

Lovše noticed the Faith's character within the first few pedal strokes. Not loud. Not flashy. Just a quiet directness that revealed itself through the cranks.

The word he kept returning to: balanced.

Not soft. Not harsh. The kind of bike that doesn't announce itself — it simply responds.

Acceleration & Response

Ask Lovše about acceleration and the answer is short.

"Practically instant response. Very immediate." — Matej Lovše

There's no wind-up, no lag between effort and speed. The Faith translates power the moment you ask for it. On flat roads, where aerodynamic drag becomes the dominant force, the bike simply refuses to slow down.

But the real surprise came on short climbs. Despite not being a pure climber's frame, the Faith delivered stiffness that caught even Lovše off guard — particularly out of the saddle.

"I'm not a sprinter, but I can say with confidence — it's superb on short climbs. Surprisingly stiff, even during standing sprints." — Matej Lovše

Stiffness Under Power

Nine out of ten. That's how Lovše scored the Faith's stiffness — and he added the word "nearly perfect."

This isn't a frame that flexes under load and asks you to wait. It's a frame that meets your power and holds it. Standing acceleration, seated efforts, full-gas attacks — the chassis stays composed.

For context, Lovše called it one of the stiffest bikes he has ever ridden.

Handling & Cornering

The Faith's handling is neutral. In plain cycling terms: the bike goes exactly where you point it, without pulling you into a tighter line or drifting wide. No surprises, no corrections needed.

"In corners it feels very predictable." — Matej Lovše

Predictable is the highest compliment a racer can pay to a frame's geometry. It means trust. It means you can commit to a line at speed and know the bike will follow.

Cornering confidence: 9/10.

High-Speed Confidence

Above 40 km/h, the Faith wakes up.

Compared to his previous bike, Lovše was direct: the Faith is faster, especially once speed builds. On descents, his confidence grew rather than retreated. The frame tracks straight, absorbs road noise without wandering, and gives you the composure to push harder.

"At high speed it feels confident." — Matej Lovše

High-speed stability scored 9/10. For a bike Lovše described as an "underdog," that number says everything.

Comfort & Climbing Feel

Comfort sits at 7/10 — honest for a frame this stiff. The Faith prioritises response over plushness, and that's a deliberate trade-off. Over broken tarmac, you'll feel the road. But the payoff is precision everywhere else.

On longer climbs, the character shifts. Lovše described the climbing feel as "very light and playful" — a word you don't expect from a bike that scores 9/10 for stiffness. The Faith climbs like a lighter bike than it is.

Who It's For

Lovše called the Faith a true all-rounder — and then went further.

"A very balanced bike. Fast, responsive and very stable at high speeds. Surprisingly very good on climbs as well. One of my favourites so far." — Matej Lovše

It suits the rider who wants one frame for everything: flat group rides, punchy climbs, fast descents, and the occasional race. It rewards aggression without punishing endurance. It gets better the harder you push.

The sprint feel? Stable and explosive — pushing you into an aggressive position naturally. Attacks feel natural. The most addictive part, according to Lovše, is the smoothness.

Would he race it tomorrow?

"Of course."

Final Word

The Faith doesn't shout. It doesn't need to. It's the bike that sits quietly in the group, then gaps everyone when the road tilts down and the speed climbs past 40.

Matej Lovše — a rider who has won at the highest amateur level — called it an underdog. That might be the best thing anyone has ever said about a race bike.

It means it surprises. Every ride.

If you want a build that feels like this, start your NICH build at nichcycling.eu.