I was first introduced to the Primos Cycles Dame through one of my favorite cycling YouTube channels – Path Less Pedaled. In their video they provide a fairly comprehensive review on an early model (current models do not have top tube mount like shown in video). My goal in this review is to offer the opposite end of the spectrum from PLP and other “experienced” reviewers. I have only been seriously involved in the cycling industry for a short time (about a year) so I do not have a huge pool of bikes to compare the Dame to… for better or for worse. This was also the first bike I bought brand new, which is why I wanted to wait till I had really broken it in to give my thoughts.

Who is Primos Cycles?

Primos Cycles was founded in Portland, Oregon by two friends: Carlos and Pascual. Pascual has had a huge influence in the fixed gear scene in Chile over the past decade, while Carlos combines his experience in building planes as an aviation engineer with his love for cycling (read more about them on their site!).

Why the Primos Dame?

I already had been ignoring the itch for a gravel bike for months, convincing myself my 10+ year old Surly Karate Monkey was good enough. Once I heard that they are based in my hometown of Portland, Oregon AND are trying to make a point of proving quality bicycles could be affordable and bad-ass I was hooked.

The Dame is proof that mass-market companies are capable of offering an affordable high quality option but choose not to so they can squeeze every last dollar out of you. My favorite reviews / comments I’ve seen on this bike is “I don’t know how a $3k gravel bike feels like, but it can’t be 4 times better than this”. I have currently have only ridden the Primos Dame 460 miles at the time of writing this (07/13/2025) and can tell I am still only scratching the surface in terms of what it can do!

Components / Specs / Geometry:

I would love to pretend I could do as good of a job explaining as the beautiful graphics Primos has made for their site, but I can’t. If you’re interested in reading about any of the components, specs, or geometry for the bike – click here!

Personal Thoughts and Opinions:

Riding the Dame has been exactly what I hoped it would be. It is light, fast, and super stable at speed. I have had the opportunity to take it on multiple group rides going at least 20+ miles and even down some single track! The Continental Terra Hardpack blends high traction with low rolling resistance whether on concrete, gravel, dirt, or sand I never had a moment of feeling uneasy about how much traction I had. I was also impressed with how the paint and frame held up when I carelessly leaned it against a rock wall during one of my outings and it slid down it (photos above).

I plan to make a Bike Breakdown article when I feel I have gotten the Dame to its “final form”, I am thinking at the minimum of adding a front pizza/randonneuring rack and possibly swapping out the bars for something wider or with more flare and breaks with more stopping power at some point.

Grade

Pros and Cons List

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion I think the Primos Cycles is a great option to consider as a do-it-all bike for any type of riding or experience level. Not only does it come well below the average price point for an “entry level bike” but also offers what most $1k+ frames offer. I think now adays it’s really important to vote with your dollar. Are you wanting massive corporations to take control of the market and intentionally only offer $2,000+ entry level complete bikes as the floor and encourage serious enthusiasts to spend upwards of five thousand dollars? I will fully admit I am heavily biased as they’re from my hometown (as I have mentioned) and pursuing the exact goal I feel is not prevalent enough in the cycling industry: affordable quality products for the average consumer.

Thanks so much for reading this article! If you have any questions or want to share your own experience with your Primos Cycles Dame drop a comment below. 🙂