First Photos: Soma Rush Special Edition

The Rush has been rocketing around for about 8 years. Some of you might consider that it's an old geezer among modern fixed gear frames. But ask anyone young or old who has ridden one.... the Rush is aptly named.

This Special Edition Rush frame features newly developed Tange track ends, a hometown-inspired headbadge, and is bottle boss-free. Will be available in shops in a couple of weeks. Matching fork has been delayed a couple of months; we recommend one of our chrome-plated lugged forks in the mean time... available threadless or threaded. (Click on images to +)



The Rush in its original configuration is still available in Slick Black or Pearl White.

First Photos: 2010 Stanyan and Smoothie

The Stanyan is our lugged frame with traditional road sport geometry. It has a pretty level top tube for those who appreciate that aesthetic, but it might not have the taller head tube height some of you might want in road sport frame. Head lugs are polished stainless steel. Comes with a matching steel fork.

The Smoothie is our TIG-welded race frame with modern and efficient semi-compact geometry.

Both are constructed of Tange Prestige heat treated tubing.
Both are in stock at our distributors. If interested call a shop to hit one of them up.

Sneak a peak....Colorful NEW New Xpress tires

We just got these samples today, fresh from our Japanese factory. Four colors (in the order that they're shown): green middle/black center/ skin sidewall, center+middle brown/skin sidewall, center+middle burnt orange/skin sidewall, center+middle black/white sidewall.

How do you like 'em? They're gonna be launched in a couple of months but we couldn't wait to show them off, we're pretty excited about them!

Wend Magazine Photo Contest

Wend Magazine puts on a Photo Contest each week. This month the theme is "Bike To Work". You can win schwag from Soma, Chrome, Nutcase and Planet Bike. One more Friday left in May, so if you have photos, submit them to Wend. Photo at right is from the latest winner James Dorsey.

2 Wheels For Girls

Photographer Rides To Improve the Lives of Girls Everywhere

An American living in Shanghai asked us last year to hook her up with a Saga frame set. She was planning an audacious trek through China, Russia, and Mongolia. She set off May 1 and has over 1000km under her wheels. She is a talented photographer so we can't wait to see the pictures.

Here is an excerpt from an article in English.news.cn

Armed with just a bike, a tent and a camera, American Eleanor Moseman is setting off on Saturday on a solo cycling odyssey from Shanghai to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and back again.

The trip will cover 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers and Moseman plans to return by mid-February, 2011.

Along the way, the freelance photographer plans to raise US$15,000 for women's education, and invites any woman interested to join her for a stretch anywhere on the journey.

Setting off from Shanghai just as the World Expo 2010 opens, Moseman will cycle along the Grand Canal of China up to Tianjin, then through Jilin Province, cutting west to Inner Mongolia.

After exploring the whole of western Mongolia, she will ride on to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and its city of Kashgar, returning via Chengdu in Sichuan Province and Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The project has taken a year to plan and will raise funds for Girls Education International, which supports educational opportunities for women in developing countries, and for the charity Stepping Stones, which helps children of migrant workers' families in Shanghai.

"I've always been a girl to defy gender boundaries and roles," says Moseman, who is in her late 20s. "But in China so many (Chinese) female friends have told me that their parents discourage them from pursuing PhDs or masters' degrees because they think getting married is more important.

"While being a mother and wife is valuable, I think pursuing your dreams is also important - personally it makes me feel complete, and feel like I have just as much to bring to the table as men," she says.

The trip stems from Moseman's frustrations, as a freelance photographer, in traveling by train. In her previous China travels, there were many, many places where she wanted to stop and snap, but the train didn't stop - biking was the only way.

We invite you to read more about Eleanor and the charities she is raising funds for:

Official Blog: 2wheels4girls.com (you can donate online right on the site)

Interview on ChinaTravel.net

Girls Education International

Stepping Stones