Yes, attention to minor detail/craftsmanship/fine tunning is somewhat lost thanks in a way to suspension.Craftsmanship isn't something new. They had well crafted bikes long before I was alive. The Zerode is nice but it doesn't really change the game. Though it's a nice example. Nicolais are just very capable bikes. What's a Cavalerie I have no clue.
Yeah the Nicolais of days gone buy are crazy over engineered. The newer ones are a bit more refined luckily. There's some beauty in them sticking with straight gauge straight tubes and what they know IMO. Would be great for a carbon wizard to join their fray, but it's probably not going to happen, so good to see them using their skills better with every new bike it seems. Riding my new Helius when it arrives will let me know how right or wrong I am LOL.I never really understood why Nicolai bikes had always been mentioned as beeing well engineered.
Although they don't have to follow the "KISS" (keep it stupid simple) principle, it is not a sign of well engineered bikes to weld gussets everywhere- not in case of efficient production, and also not in case of frame durability, where every hydroformed tube offers more potential.
If you design a frame, that needs tie rods, you're doing it wrong.
I have to admit, that they build nice looking frames and I appreciate their love to experiment.
Ha ha.I think you misunderstood the term overengineered.
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