The Path Less Pedaled Channel Reviews our Grand Randonneur Disc Frame

 

Russ Roca's Path Less Pedaled channel embraces the non-competitive side of bicycle riding...especially touring and gravel riding.
We sent him a 49cm partially built bike with gearing he is partial to on his rides in Missoula. We weren't able to get him a set of wheels, but Russ was nice enough to swap in DT Swiss set off of his personal Crust rig. With the wider 50mm tires Russ used, the trail number was about 41mm. Trail can be low as 34mm depending on the tire and frame size you get. For comparison, the average trail on a performance road bike is 55-60mm. 

Check out the video to see what he thinks of the GR as a road bike and gravel bike.

The Grand Randonneur Disc is one of our most unique frame offerings. Its tubing is skinnier than our other 700c frames. It is designed for 650b tires, not 700c. It requires a quill stem, which is consider antiquated by some. But it is also designed for more wet weather capable disc brakes and modern thru-axle hubs. 

Even with the updates, it still aims to replicate the classic randonneur bicycle with its low trail geometry(higher fork offset) designed to carry a front rack bag or bar bag efficiently and comfortably on randonnées -- timed, but not competitive, long distance, self-supported road ride events. While these events have unique rules and restrictions, these days you can ride just about ANY road-capable bike you choose. It doesn't have to be steel or look vintage. Your gear doesn't have to be carried in the front. The bike you choose can have rim brakes or disc brakes.

So does that mean the classic rando bike is obsolete?
Hardly. We think it is an awesome day-ride set up where you carry snacks, small lunch, rainshell and other gear in a front bag which gives easy access without dismounting your bike. And with the Grand Randonneur's low trail geometry, this set-up works exceptionally well. That is not to say normal road bikes cannot carry a front load safely and efficiently with practice, but on the Grand Randonneur steering with a front load is less jerky and more pleasant.

Some highlights of the review:
- Found the 1" headtube/quill stem set added some comfortable flex over common 1-1/8" headtube/threadless stem set ups
- Low trail handling not as noticeable as on other low trail bikes he's owned/tested.
- Low trail handling was noticeable on climbs where the steering wandered less than higher trail bikes.
- "The perfect road bike (not racing bike) for most people"

Disclaimer: Soma sent the bike at no charge to The Path Less Pedaled. The Path Less Pedaled does not take payment for reviews. Soma does offer a store discount to "Team Supple" Patreon supporters of the Path Less Pedaled channel.

Soma Wolverine V4 A-Type Reviewed by The Path Less Pedaled!

If you have been curious about the Wolverine, especially the A-Type which has a significant design changes over the previous generations. you should check out The Path Less Pedaled's YouTube video.

We tried hard to equip the frame with the parts we thought he would appreciate. See if we got close.

Ride On Review the Soma ES Complete

This is an excerpt of a review by Ride On for the ES complete bike built with SRAM Apex shifters and derailleurs, Sugino Alpina 50-34t cranks and Suzue wheels.


... It can be run very light, but I had it set up touring style with racks and mudguard. These accessories were no impediment to this feisty machine....Smooth speed is the natural expression of this bike... ES stands for "extra smooth" and derives from Soma Smoothie road bike...The smooth description however can only be relative to an out-and-out racing bike -- all day comfort on this machine is somewhat traded for thrills compared to the laid back randonneurs of this rider's experience.
A compact crankset with SRAM double-tap shifters ably provides  for gears. The rear cassette changes down to a 32 cog which seemed ample to provide all the luggage with which one might handicap this fine steed...the IRD dual pivot calipers did not pull you up as effectively as your would expect. Fine tuning and some softer pads helped...


Score: 83%

Function: 32/40

Quality: 34/40

Price: 7/10

Appearance: 10/10

Adventure Cyclist Review the Saga Disc!

Patrick O’Grady checks in on one of his favorite touring rigs as Soma adds stepped-up stoppers to create the Saga Disc. See his full review in the May 2015 issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine. PDF file here.

This was a pretty unusual build with 42c knobby Cazadero tires, 46-30t IRD Defiant Cranks and SunXCD derailleurs.

RIDER PROFILE: Vincent Lo

Photo by Mel Saldonido

We met Vincent on Facebook after he shared some beautiful photos of his Smoothie build.

Tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Vincent Lo, AKA VLO. Somehow the whole VLO thing got me into the VELO things. I have Midwest/Southern roots, and lived in San Francisco for about 6 years. Currently, I am living in Orange County, California.

What kind of riding do you do ? 

If you have one, what is your favorite ride route?: On the weekdays, I commute to work about 30 miles a day, 15 miles each way. On the weekends, I will ride with my local bike shop on some club rides or with some friends on more remote rides. I love riding in the city/metropolitan areas like LA, where there are a lot of cars and obstacles that you have to be aware of and dodge to make it to your destination. Keeps me focused and my senses heightened.

What types of bikes have you owned or still have? 

 I currently have 5 ridable bikes, and probably another 5 frames and parts that I have yet to build up. Top 3 are 2014 SOMA Smoothie Shimano 105, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000 Shimano 600, 2010 Mercier Kilo WT. I have a high-end carbon bike too, but my true passion is in steel bikes. My favorite is the SOMA Smoothie because it's fun to ride, comfortable, and handsome. 

Details: H+Son TB14 on White Industries T11 wrapped with Veloflex Master 25,
Shimano 105 5600 group, Brooks B17 saddle and handlebar tape. Photo by Vince Lo
[click on image because its worth the zoom]

What made you choose a Smoothie and why did you custom build it as you did?

What started out as building a low cost, do-it-all, everyday commuter from random parts and take-off's from my other builds, this SOMA Smoothie quickly became a pet project after seeing how beautiful and well built the frame was. I couldn't let it be any ordinary commuter anymore (i.e. one that I would ride everyday, to and from work, lock up at poles, get beat up and scraped, and risk it getting stolen). While keeping the “do-it-all” attitude, it be came a capable, agile boy racer that would tear through urban streets and tackle the highest mountains. The build pays homage to the city of SF, from which the SOMA brand originates from, and my first destination in my California life. Like the city, which has an eclectic design and architecture fusing Victorian and modern eras, this bike combines the look of the golden years of cycling with modern amenities and comfort.

 So you are a graphic designer and you obviously do some photography.
What are some of the more interesting creative projects (professional or personal) that you are working on?

By day, I am a graphic designer for a "black business bag" company, and by night, I take on cool random freelance projects (many of which I cannot mention at the moment). I am also trying to start my brand of cycling jerseys and accessories, which I am calling VELOPRIME.

What you excited about doing, trying or going in 2015?

Still seeking the big adventure in 2015. Last year we did the 4-day hike on the Inca Trail in Peru. We'll see if we can top that this year.

Is there an activity, hobby or cause that you are involved in now that you would like to share?
Sneakers. It's a bad addiction. I have a continuously growing collection of retro runners, Air Jordan's, Air Max, Dunks, all that good stuff. If money isn't spent on bikes, it's on shoes.

See more of Vince's photos here

What's on heavy rotation on your music player? Are MP3's still around?? I just stream stuff: AH.fm, Groove Salad, Dubstep Beyond... and Taylor Swift. I can't start my day without Taylor Swift. Don't judge :D

What food or drink would you miss after the zombie apocalypse? Mexican Coke and burritos de lengua [Editor: Coca-Cola from Mexico contains real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. Available at many Hispanic grocery stores.]

From Lust To Love: Long term review of a 48cm Soma Double Cross

Cassandra, co-founder of Spoke Haven in Madison, WI, didn't need another bike, much less another steel bike. But she had an idea for a fun winter project, something she could build from the ground up. She ended up choosing one of our Gunmetal Blue Matte Double Cross's. Choosing from a mix of new and parts-bin stuff, she ended with quite a fun commuter and light tourer.
The second thing we noticed (the first had to be the tasteful use of purple anodized parts) were the Shimano bar end shifters with Paul Thumbie mounts. ("The Paul thumbies have made me really happy. I used to nail my knees on the bar end shifters mounted on the bar ends")

Here is an excerpt: (For the full review and complete build list please go to the Spokehaven blog.)

Soma has done a fantastic job on their overall bike line up and the Double Cross is no exception. I get tons of compliments on the bike and the color of the frame. The pearly blue is extremely classy looking and the powder coat has held up incredibly well. The logos and the frame badge are also gorgeous. Color me in love with the bike and the Double Cross frame. I should note that the newest color of the bike is more of a gunmetal-ish grey, but still very beautiful.

If anyone reading this is debating between the Surly Cross Check and the Soma Double Cross, I would highly recommend considering the Soma. It does has a taller head tube on it which means it’s not as aggressive, but for the price I think it’s just a slightly nicer frame. That’s not to say I’m not down with Surly. I love them as well and would buy a dirt tourer or one of their many cool fat bikes,  but I just love the Double Cross more if doing a straight comparison. One other major plus, for me, is the fact that Soma uses vertical drop outs and not horizontal drop outs. I know why Surly uses horizontal dropouts and it makes for a more versatile frame, but they can be a pain in the ass when changing a rear flat. I also used to have issues with the wheel pulling to one side no matter how tight the rear skewer was on the Cross Check. I haven’t dealt with that what so ever on the Double Cross.

Using Strava to Review a Soma Smoothie

Taken at the Upstate Forever Preservation Ride (South Carolina). Built by Boyd Cycles.

Brian of the Wunschreiten blog recently picked up a Smoothie. See what he thinks of it coming off an aluminum frame/carbon fork set-up after 3 years. He used his Strava to test its climbing and general speed abilities vs. his old ride and had no problem finding some distressed tarmac to see if the Smoothie lived up to its name. Check it out.

If you don't have the attention span to click over there, here's what he said to us via Facebook:

"After my first few rides, including a couple of long rides, I can say that this bike completely lives up to its name. Its so smooth that I doubt that my old aluminum bike is going to get many more miles on it."

The Soma Smoothie is our most responsive road frame. It is available in Slick Black or Pearl White. A lugged steel or carbon fork are available as options. It is made of heat treated Tange Prestige double butted CrMo steel.

Soma Wolverine Review: Ride More Care Less

Soma Wolverine Review @ Ride More Care Less
This self described roadie embraces fat tires in a big way by shodding 2.0's on his Wolverine.

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)

Grand Rando Review @ Handlebard

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

Endless Velo Love 650b New Xpress Review

Found this review of the New Cream 650b tires over at endlessvelolove.blogspot.com. Some really nice photography to accompany it.

"I haven't had a single flat tire [...]. The tires are comfortable, allow for speed [...], and are aesthetically  what I was looking for in a tire."

Read the full article here http://endlessvelolove.blogspot.com/2013/05/early-review-soma-new-xpress-650b-tires.html

Bicycle Times reviews the San Marcos

Matt K just posted this long term review of the San Marcos over at Bicycle Times.

"I believe bikes have personalities and those personalities are part of the buying decision. Jim Porter of Merry Sales (Soma’s distributor) says their relationship with Rivendell is like the relationship of Elvis to blues or gospel music. Taking his analogy further: if Rivendell is gospel, then Soma is Elvis being played in an old Cadillac."

Read the full review here www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/review-soma-fabrications-san-marcos

Bicycling Magazine Reviews The Soma Smoothie

The Smoothie is our race geometry frame. We supplied a frame with steel fork at Bicycling's request.
They built it up with their own parts included a Shimano 105 drivetrain, Ritchey bars and headset, and Michelin Optimo tires. We didn't know it at the time, but they were planning to feature multiple reviews on steel road bikes this month. Steel has been on the rise for years now, but no American magazine has had so many steel bikes reviewed in one issue since the 80's probably.

Here's some of what they had to say...

At a recent training race, it was up to the task whether I was pedaling hard at the front of the bunch, sprinting for midrace points, or banking hard into the last corner before the finish line. And on a rainy-day charity ride that included several steep gravel climbs, the Smoothie easily soaked up washboard sections and muted rough roads. It provided stable, well-mannered, and predictable steering while still letting me shoot up climbs. The bike meets modern standards with its 1 1/8-inch headset and 27.2mm-diameter seatpost. Its down tube has braze-on bosses for cable stops or down-tube shifters, and the rear dropouts have eyelets for fenders and racks. The steel fork has a curved rake and lugged crown that help absorb bumps, and the generous clearance accommodates tires as wide as 28mm (ideal for rough dirt roads). If you want to save weight and stiffen the front end, you can opt for an IRD carbon fork when ordering your frame, but you’ll sacrifice your ability to run 28mm tires.

Though Soma calls the Smoothie, made from highly desirable Tange Prestige tubing, a road-race frame, most racers today favor lighter and stiffer bikes (30 years ago the Smoothie would have been considered a top-level race bike). But in an age of oversize tubes rendered in moldable carbon, it’s no wonder so many riders covet this bike for its classic looks. The Smoothie’s traditional lines, spartan graphics, and clean white paint combine to make the bike a modern embodiment of historical frame designs.

For the rest of the review visit Bicycling.com . We will add this to the review section of this blog and in the Smoothie frame page at a later date.

The Soma Smoothie. This was not the review bike.

Another Soma Smoothie Review

Check it out at http://nelsonwoodcraft.blogspot.com/2012/05/soma-smoothie.html

"The modern race geometry delivers power and handling while the steel keeps me comfortable. Investing in the ride as a whole makes this a solid and confident machine uniquely tailored to my riding and aesthetic style, and budget."

Lovely Bicycle Smoothie Review

Check out Lovely Bicycles' impressions of the Smoothie we sent over for review a while back. Some great pictures too.

http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/06/soma-smoothie-impressionism.html

Tradesman on review at Bike Hugger

Pretty sweet build by Mark over at Bike Hugger.

http://bikehugger.com/post/view/soma-tradesmen-arrives-at-hugga-hq

Bicycling Magazine Reviews Our Mixte

Sorry I don't have a larger photo.
See page 74 on Dec. issue.

We sent Matt at Bicycling a Buena Vista back in August. They put together a really knock-out build with with our 3-Speed II Bars, Yamada saddle, IRD Defiant Triple Cranks, New Xpress skinwalls, Deco rack and EuroTrip fenders. This is what Matt had to say....

While I admire the beauty of many cruisers and town bikes, some feel frustratingly sluggish. Meanwhile, speedier townies seem to sacrifice the good looks or loungelike comfort I consider essential. The Buena Vista bridges these gaps. It's essentially a road bike that's easy to throw a leg over, thanks to the mixte design. The Tange Infinity steel frame and fork and the high-volume tires ride smoothly on all but the roughest roads. The frame accommodates a range of components; I built mine with a mustache bar and a three-by-eight-speed drivetrain using down-tube shifters for a retro vibe. A drop bar and integrated shifters would look equally at home and would make the bike suitable for longer rides. A number of attachment points let you outfit fenders (it accepts up to 28c tires with fenders; 33c without) and racks, which I took advantage of, easily carrying light loads around town.

Adventure Cyclist Reviews The Soma Saga

Adventure Cyclist, the magazine of the Adventure Cycling Association, looked us up one day late last year hoping to review a Saga frameset. We were unfortunately out of the size their guest reviewer Patrick O'Grady needed. We eventually got him a frame and some parts in the spring. We were happy to have Patrick be the tester, since he and his wife both own Double Cross's [purchased at retail price], so they have a good idea of how our frames ride. The review appears in the Aug/Sept. issue.

Some select quotes: "I was suprised how well the Saga climbed while loaded – at no point did I feel as though I was wrestling with the bike...Adding weight to the front made the Saga track as though it were on rails. I was perfectly comfortable twisting around with one hand on the bars to check for on-coming serial killers."

UPDATED 9/27/11: Download a copy of the review here.

Bicycle Time's Completed Review of the Soma Buena Vista

Karl of Bicycle Times posted a "first look" review on their website a few months ago. The final review is published in Bicycle Times #11. We would be lying if we weren't a little concerned since we couldn't size him for the frame since he's in Pittsburgh and he admitted he's never ridden a mixte.

PDF file of the article is in Product Reviews page of this blog.

Some pull quotes for those with short attention spans:

"From my first pedal strokes, I realized that this was one quick handling townie"


"Exhibited the classical "lively" feeling of a quality chromoly steel frame - a sweet blend of snappy acceleration and a comfortable resilience over the road. I felt that the mixte design offered some additional bump-absorbing vertical compliance, compared to double diamond frames."


"Felt...at home cruising the...sometimes unpavedd, rural roads on my favorite multi-hour recreational loop."

Bicycle Times Magazine: First Impressions on the Buena Vista

Karl Rosengarth, gear editor at Bicycle Times has been reviewing a Buena Vista for three months now. He shared his first impressions back in January, but we forgot to re-post it. Please check it out HERE.
The build is also sporting a number of other Soma goods including New Xpress tires, Euro Trip fenders, Ensho saddle and Sparrow 560 bars. Oh...can't forget this.... he also has our "Burrito Powered" Hell's Bell.