Looking at a good do it all bike that I can have some fun with on weekends. Did some research and the Nicasio+ fits my budget and appears to fit all of my needs.
Commute is 9 miles with light gravel and paved trail. Do have some single track near me that I want to goof off around.
Am I missing more affordable options or anything?
by Potatoes-and-Turtles
6 Comments
You couldn’t build a bike that cheap, great price. Nice looking rig as well. Microshift is a solid groupset, I have the Sword group on my gravel bike. Go for it!
I purchased a Nicasio + last year and i absolutely adore it. made some mods to have it suited to my needs, but even the stock bike was great!
I love my Nicasio +
It ticks all the boxes for everything you’d need in a solid gravel bike. The only gripe I’ve had is it’s a little heavy and the stock mechanical brake calipers suck, but for $100-$150 you can always get better ones down the road. Other than that, you can’t go wrong.
I recommended this bike to a friend a couple years ago based on his preferences and budget and it’s been great for all sorts of uses. He absolutely loves it!
LOVED my Marin Nicassio when I had it.
All depends on your preference. Just want to point out some key specs.
* Steel frame. Some like steel; some don’t care; others do not.
* 650b wheels. Previous generations bike use 650b wheels so they can fit wider tires. Today, gravel bikes with 700c have clearance up to 50mm and up. 650b is a bit limiting in terms of tire options.
* Mechanical disc brakes
If you are good with these, then getting this bike from large bike brand like Marin is a plus.
For comparison shopping, alternatives are some smaller, direct to consumer brands.
* Primos Dame: Also steel frame; 650b wheel; Microshift, but 10-speed. $150 less than Nicasio +
* Poseidon X.
* Polygon Path or Tambora or Bend. (If you are in USA, go to bikesonline to check prices. The actual prices are lower than MSPR on Polygon’s website.)
* REI has Van Rysel. You might have to wait for sale or use coupon to get close to Nicasio + pricing.