The Soma Buena Vista Honored with "Most Supple Bike of 2021" Title

 

The Path Less Pedaled is a YouTube channel and blog that has been showcasing the non-competitive side of cycling for over 5 years now. The channel focuses on gravel riding, bikepacking, bicycle tourism and just riding #partypace.

In the strange year that was 2021, TPLP looked for unusual and unexpected bikes that could excel in gravel. And we were very happy that he asked to try one of our disc mixte frames. Since we launched the disc version of our Buena Vista, one of the most appreciated benefits has been enhanced tire clearance, enough to fit our 700c x 42 or 650b x 50 Cazadero tires. The rim brake version (still available) is limited to 700c x 32 or 650b x 42.

When the video hit YouTube in July, we were ecstatic. This was possibly the first gravel bike review on a mixte frame ever. The greater bike industry and most bike enthusiasts don't see the mixte bike as anything more than a nice casual city bike and a "women's bike" at that. We were quite satisfied to get this overdue validation that this bike is a lot more than that.

So you can imagine how we felt when earlier this month, Russ e-mailed us.

"Just a heads up.  The Buena Vista is our co-Most Supple Bike of the year this year." 

Thank you Path Less Pedaled for the honor and for what you've provided to the cycling community these past few years.

PLP Buena Vista Video Review 

The Most Supple Bike of 2021 Award Video

Our Randonneur Frame Set Gets More Grand

 

It took years of requests from our customers, but the Grand Randonneur frameset finally gets the disc brake treatment. We went with the IS disc mounts front and rear, because at the time we did not have a good looking flat mount solution for the curvaceous 65mm rake fork. But don't fret, there are still a few good road brake disc options in IS/Post Mount and since we went with a new modular rear dropout system made by Tange/Long Shen, it can be upgraded to Flat Mount and potentially future standards.

We have tried to keep the all the things GR riders liked about it.

• Front load bias geometry for better handling when using a front rack, bar bag, or basket.
• Traditional 1" threaded fork with investment cast crown
• Three sets of bottle bosses
• Front mini rack and pannier rack compatible
• Slender and lightweight CrMo tubes. We lightened the seatstays, but are using a larger diameter, but thinner gauge tube for the downtube for more bottom bracket stiffness.

Other updates:
• Thru-axle hub compatibility for improved handling and stability in corners
• Improved tire clearance. While optimized for 650b x 42mm tires with fenders, the frame easily fits most 650b x 47mm tires
• An additional size: 46cm

This all adds up -- we hope -- to a more premium, more modern package worthy of the Grand Randonneur name.​