Another Grand Randonneur from Seattle

Chris @ Rosebud sent us this excellent build he put together.

It strikes a nice balance between old and new style components. I especially like the Nitto Craft quill stem, Nitto Campee mini rack, fluted Honjo fenders, Green Mercia saddle and Grand Bois Hetre extra leger tires. Should be a sporty and fun little bike!

2014 Frame News: Soma Saga Disc Touring

Our heavy duty touring frame finally gets the disc treatment. It took a little longer than we anticipated, but we didn't want to rush things "just to get it out there." Some folks think that a touring frame should be easier to design since it isn't built for competition, off-road use, or features fancy lugwork, but that just isn't true. Each frame project presents its own design challenges.

Photos are of the second prototype. The fork and chainstays have been redesigned. The dropouts are totally new and they have proved pretty stiff.

We expect the first batch to be ready mid-March 2014. Geometry is same as the current Saga. (The cantilever brake model Saga remains unchanged from 2013.)

Dave's Tricked Out Rivendell

Dave sent over some pictures of his Rivendell Hunqapillar with a customized Soma Porteur rack.

In addition to the Porteur rack, this build features lots of nice Japanese parts. Nitto/Rivendell Bosco Bullmoose bars, Stainless Nitto Bottle cages, Sugino XD Touring Cranks, and a Nitto R26 chrome plated rear rack.

The IRD quill stem shifter mount keeps the Rivendell Silver shifters accessible without taking up handlebar real estate. Cork grips plus Newbaums tape allow for multiple hand positions.

He even added a special mount under the rack platform for a dynamo headlight.

We previously featured his Soma Grand Randonneur build a few weeks ago. I think they'll make a nice pair! Thanks for sharing Dave!

Review: Bicycle Times Goes Out with the Soma Pick-Up Artist

"The Pick-Up Artist is a great deal at $1,500. The list of compromises for the price is not long.

Less expensive steel makes a heavier overall bike, but what's a few more pounds when you are carrying 50? ... It's a solid design that has the added benefit of being easy to step over. The bike absolutely did ot wiggle side to side, even with a lot of weight up front.... The [front rack's] slimness is often an asset as the bike can squeeze between cars and other obstacles easily." Read the complete review in Bicycle Times Issue 29 or click here. (Oct. 2013)

Dayne's Custom Painted Double Cross DC

A custom painted Double Cross DC build submitted by Dayne. Here's what he had to say about the build.

"I removed the canti bosses and cable stops, filed them down just so and filled any dips. Painted this by rattle can in my garage and slapped on a custom badge. All Chris King components and a hybrid Shimano 105/XT drivetrain (due to the fact your 132.5mm spaced rear doesn't allow for a 105 crankset and a lot of torque coming from the rider, otherwise the crank arm will knick the chain stay). Had to scour the earth to find that fork, Tange lugged disc fork was dechromed prior to painting."

"I was drawing inspiration from the Rapha Continental bikes for this one, I just like red better than pink."

Thanks for sharing!

Built By Swift

A nice video from our friends at Swift Industries. You can check out some of their wares in the Soma Shop, or at your local bike shop.

Cafe Roubaix Shirts

If you weren't on the internet this weekend, well you'll probably read about it today.

Show your support for Independent Bicycle Dealers, and look good doing it. www.caferoubaix.ca

Dave's Grand Randonneur Build

The build is now complete and I'm looking forward putting some miles in. I just want to thank you and American Cyclery for the assistance and guidance on this build.

Cheers,

Dave Brandt

New IRD Drillium Levers

Some brand new levers from IRD showed up today.

They're calling these the Drillium ZST levers. The shape is similar to the old Campy Ergo levers, and they feature a quick release pin for bikes with wider tires. Pretty sharp! We'll be stocking these in the Soma Store soon.

2014 Juice Update

2014 Frame News!

Our new B-Side has been getting some circulation online lately, but we wanted to let all the 9er fans out there know we didn't forget about you.

Here's a few shots of the Brownstone Soma Juice for 2014. The geometry is unchanged from the 2013 model, but we're going with a tapered head tube to accommodate some of the newer forks on the market these days (Zero Stack upper assembly and an external cup 40.EC44 bottom assembly). Don't worry though, you can still uses a regular steer tube with the correct headset (Zero Stack).

These should be ready to ship in a couple weeks so if you want one of the first batch get in touch with your local Soma dealer and ask them to reserve one for you.

Wolverine Marin Trip

We took our Wolverine proto out to Mt Tam this weekend of a little "testing". Got some nice pics along the way.

Check out the full set here >>> www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta

Wheels of Peace Iranian - American Children's Art Project

While the governments of Iran and the USA square off with each other around sanction lifts and nuclear programs, the majority of citizens of both countries on both sides don't care for the politics and power struggles and just want to live peaceful normal lives.

Rick Gunn and Mohammad Tajeran are trying to be the voices of those who desire peace between American and Iran rather than distrust and threat of conflict. That's why they created the "Wheels of Peace Iranian-American Children’s Art Project".
- They've been visiting classrooms in both countries to speak to children about conflict resolution and mutual understanding
- They've been collecting pro-peace artwork and letters from children in both countries
- In a month or so (after they secure enough funding), they will travel by bicycle in Iran sharing the exhibiting the artwork they collected and hold speaking engagements.

That's where people like you come in. If you or your company would like to help, you can donate directly at SoulCycler.com (PayPal-safe!). They hope to wrap up funding before the year's end. 

Another way to help is email Rick (soulcycler(at)yahoo.com) to purchase prints of his photos from his travels around the world.

Rick Gunn has explored over 33 countries on bike and have taken
thousands of photos. He a photojournalist by trade.

Cappadocia Mountains in Turkey

India

Soma Saga in India

Soma Store Sale!

http://store.somafab.com/

Soma Fab on MTBR

Check out MTBR's coverage of the 2013 SF Bike Expo for some nice pics of the Soma booth!

http://reviews.mtbr.com/sf-bike-expo-2013-show-highlights-and-photos#slider-pro-2-10

Grand Rando Review @ Handlebard

Check it out here >>> http://handlebard.com

Soma Will Be At The SF Bike Expo This Saturday

We will be showing off some bikes, selling caps at a special price and give away posters. (Booth 112, 120). And sharing space with American Cyclery.

The Expo will have FREE ADMISSION this year. Ride in and you'll save on the parking fees. Runs 11am-6pm
Come on out to the Cow Palace for a spell to check out all the exhibitors. Also check out folks like you swapping and selling vintage bike goods.

Soma 2014 Frame News: Version 3.0 of our 27.5"/650B B-Side

Just read Bike Magazine's online interview with Kirk Pacenti. I have to say cheers to Bike for bringing Kirk back into the spotlight at this time when 27.5"/650b tire size is finally being adopted by a slew of bike manufacturers both in the USA and Europe.
There's been a lot of press releases and ads from the big brands: One big brand new to the game offering new extensive research why they feel 650b is the better tire size of the three. Another reiterating they've been producing 650b bikes for years longer than anyone else. But none of these big brands giving much credit to Pacenti,who was truly the first to start pushing the "650b for MTB" concept to the industry.


It is awesome to see an interview that lets him answer the question... "How does it feel after years and years of trying to convince companies of its advantages  to see it finally being widely adopted." We find it really satisfying.

Well we hope you will find some satisfaction (see what we did there) with what we are doing with the next generation B-Side SS/Geared hardtail frame.(Not available until January.) Gone is the classic NORBA/XC racing geometry. The new B-Side is now in "extra fun, trail bike" territory...allowing you to go faster in the rough stuff, but still lithe enough to be flickable and easily maneuverable.

• Revamped geometry to take advantage of the true 27.5 specific forks designed by RockShox and Fox. We are optimizing the B-Side to run 100mm and 120mm travel forks with slack 69/68 degree head angle that has become almost the norm these days. 
• Machined 44mm headtube to increase stiffness and to be compatible with tapered steerer tube suspension fork
• Beefed up the down tube with thicker and longer butts (but not to the all-mountain tank level)
  Tange Prestige heat-treated CrMo of course
• Slightly shorter chainstays
• Equipped with  Tange/IRD stainless steel sliding dropouts which allow you run this as a single speed, traditionally geared, or even with a Rohloff hub.

Brave New B-Side: Now designed for 100mm and 120mm travel forks

 

Road Bikes for Kids: The Soma Bart and Lisa

Kids don't have your passion for the bicycle.
Kids don't have your training discipline.
Kids don't have your long strong legs.
Kids don't know a thing about cadence, Campagnolo or Cavendish.

But when you take them out on a charity ride or tour, you stick them with a crap bargain department store bike with fake suspension forks and Pop Rock quality bearings –
and then wonder why aren't they keeping up with you or enjoying themselves more?
Ay, caramba is right!

In your young, single days you may have lovingly built a nice bike for your significant other (or had one built for you), because you wanted them to love cycling as much as you do. Soma asks you to consider whether it is time for your kids (or your sister's kids) to get a quality, lovingly specced road bike.

Introducing our 20" wheel road frame sets... The Lisa is a potent Pink. The Bart sports bad-ass Chrome Plating. Both have a classic road bike look with skinny tubes and level top tube, but are compatible with modern components like 9-speed cassettes, threadless headsets, and 27.2mm seatpost. Fork crown and dropouts are investment cast just like our other frames.

An optional Mini-Kit includes harder to find kid-sized parts:

• Shallow drop 33cm road bar
• 140mm double road crank (40-34t, cold-forged aluminum, polished finish)
• 20" aluminum wheelset, with Kenda Kwik tires installed 
• IRD B-57 dual pivot brakes

Everything else is up to your imagination or your bike shop's.
Frame set has a 24.5" standover height and should be fittable to kids and short adults 48 to 58 inches tall.

Soma Lisa built with the Mini-Kit. This is currently only orderable
through your local bike shop. It won't be on the SomaFab Shop.
So call them up soon.

This little lady is fine on drop bars, especially with cross levers on top,
but feel free to use whatever bars you like.
I'd like to see Nitto All Rounders myself.

Here's a build with the Mini-Kit except with chopped down riser bars.
(Furry cow saddle from Origin8)

The Bart would make a great boy's bike or girl's bike. .
Remember this is custom – you can add pink bar tape, a camo saddle, whatever!
We aren't pushing the Lisa, strictly as a girl's bike either.

Does your kid appreciate cold forged cranks with CNC'd and polished chainrings? 
No? Then it's your job as a responsible adult to instill sound values. (This crank
is available in the optional Mini-Kit. Highly recommended since kid's short legs
can't spin adult sized cranks)

OG Soma Product Tester

In case you thought we only hire professional models, here is conclusive evidence that we've got experienced product testers putting our products to work.

She would not be deterred from riding, even in the subarctic climate we're currently experiencing. Dig those stylish riser bars!

FreeRange Grand Randonneur Build

For those of you who haven't been compulsively searching for Grand Randonneur build pictures, here's the first complete shots we've seen from FreeRange up in old Seattle.

I really like the contrasting green touches! If I know my brickwork, then that there is the Theo Chocolate factory in the background. Some people have all the luck.

If you look close you can see they picked some nice parts for this build. Our Soma B-Line 650b tires, IRD Defiant Crankset, Nitto Quill Stem + Bars, Grand Compe brake levers, Velocity Synergy Rims, and of course the matching leather saddle.

If you're in Seattle, or even if you're not, you should definitely make the trip over to Fremont down by the giant leafy Brontosaur and check out all the lovely bikes they have in stock. More pics of their other custom builds can be found on the Flickr.

Another Smoothie build by Competitive Instincts

Hi Evan,

It was great bumping into you at Interbike.  Here's a description and some photos of that Smoothie I told you about.

It's a Soma Smoothie 48cm built as follows:

Campagnolo Record 11 Shifter/brake handles, front & rear derailleurs, brakes, chain, cassette, compact crankset

Handbuilt wheelset - Campagnolo Record hubs, Velocity A-23 rims, DT 14-17 spokes

Ritchey stem & seatpost

Terry saddle with ti rails

Enve 1.0 carbon fork with 50 mm offset

Chris King Headset

MKS pedals, alloy clips, and straps

Lizard Skins 'fat' bartape

Continental 700x25 Four Seasons tires 

The bike weighs 15.8 pounds and its performance and ride quality are as good as it gets, plus it's a real head turner.   Thanks!

Larry Baggett

Competitive Instincts Bike Shop