The Soma ES Deux-Over

Two and a half years ago, I wrote here about my initial impressions of the Soma ES. I was completely infatuated with this bike and I never really did put a finger on what exactly it was that created such joy. I don't think it hurt that I felt fast and yet stable when I rode, and I was pretty comfortable as well. Unfortunately for the ES, I was in the midst of a bicycle meltdown and the ES only remained long enough to get me through late winter, spring and most of summer until my first custom built bicycle arrived. I had decided that to help finish paying for the custom, it made perfect sense to sell the ES frame and the majority of its components.

The original Soma ES on a ride in early March 2014

If I'm completely honest, the sale of the ES took place near the start of bicycle heartache and headache, as well as a great deal of two-wheeled turn over in my personal bike fold. Part of me was always looking to replace the feelings I had on the ES, but I was convinced it could be even better. If I was willing to spend more or go through the custom process, surely I would be even happier on the other side, I believed.

As you may recall, the custom process turned into quite a disaster and the last couple of years have been spent attempting to not only recover from injuries but trying to find a road bike that would work for me once again. We in our household had discussed the idea of re-purchasing the ES frame (and it had even been suggested by a couple of readers in messages via email), but it never seemed to be the right time or I would continue to look, thinking that something else would come along.

One day in June of this year, Sam came home from work and said, "I have an early birthday present for you!" Since my birthday was months away, I was a little perplexed, but Sam had alluded in earlier conversations to having a fix for a problem I was experiencing riding. So, as I followed him out to our family room, I presumed he had picked up a part for me to try out.

As I reached the room, there sat a fully built Soma ES. I have to admit, I was a bit confused.

"I didn't go to work today," Sam began. "I ended up going out to my dad's place and building this up for you."

"Okaaay..." I drug out, sounding completely confused, I am quite sure.

Beyond my confusion about how this had all taken place without me having any clue, I noticed that this wasn't built up with leftover components that we had stashed somewhere; this was complete Shimano Ultegra from wheels to drive train and I was mentally trying to put the pieces together in an attempt to fathom what was going on.

"I looked at the old photos of your ES, so I think it's close to being set up the way it needs to be, and I know you'll want different pedals, but those were the only ones I could find," Sam continued.

I don't know that I had the exact reaction one would hope for when receiving such an incredibly thoughtful gift because I was still trying to figure it all out. Of course I was excited, but I also wasn't sure this was a necessity. I was doing well riding the BDB Pelican and while I had thought and talked about possibly getting a strictly faster-paced road bike, I didn't expect it to be sitting in our house at this very moment.

After I recovered from the shock of realizing this was now my bicycle (again), I took it for a ride. At first I was hesitant to get on it. What if it wasn't everything I had built the ES up to be in my memory? What if today this bike no longer worked for me?

As I started to pedal, I instantly remembered why I enjoyed the ES so much. With the first build, it was initially put together using random pieces and parts from other abandoned or sold projects, but it was later fitted with a mostly SRAM Red groupset. I knew this bike had capabilities with both higher end and lower end components though as I have several personal best time records that were achieved riding the first Soma ES with two very different levels of components.

I have to say, I was surprised that I liked the frame color of this ES. It's not the currently available Pacific Blue option, but the former hue called "Cappuccino." I have seen many builds of this bike online and on the Soma website and thought the color looked rather dull and washed out. In real life, the color is far more saturated, appearing much more true-to-cappuccino color. I think the pink accents actually work nicely with it as well.

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen a short rant-tweet about my "pink" bar tape that wasn't pink. I was using some old bar tape for a short stint while waiting for an order from a British bike shop that had pictured online a light pink Brooks bar tape. I had never seen this color in person and was excited to have a different color, but when it arrived it was actually the darker raspberry color I have on my Hillborne handlebars. The bike shop offered to pay for return shipping and did apologize profusely, but I ended up liking the darker color with this build so I kept it.

As for the ride, I still enjoy the ES just as much (and perhaps even more given recent history) as I did in the past. There has been a small amount of tweaking to the set up since the initial build, but overall, Sam did pretty good for someone using photos as his sole reference. When I ride the ES I have the same thoughts I did in the past... it's just an easy to ride and enjoy bicycle. I don't have to push it if I'm not in the mood or I'm feeling like just going slow and enjoying the scenery, or I can pump it up a notch (or several) and find myself speeding down the road.

So, to those who encouraged me to try this option again and to Sam who had the foresight to move ahead without a lengthy discussion, I thank you. It's been fun to re-explore this bike and I'm pretty certain this time it will stick around, regardless of what other options may be added in the future. The bottom line is, it's a fun bike and I'm happy to have this Soma ES "deux-over."

Rivenoma or Somadell? Thoughts on a Soma San Marcos

It might seem that with the injuries I've been coddling since the start of the year that I have no business looking at adding bikes to the fold, but there has been reason to do some switching around - mostly due to those injuries, but also because I think I'm slowly coming to understand what it is that I actually want out of my bicycles (very slowly, apparently).

The Soma San Marcos has been on the market for a handful of years now. I recall seeing it when it first became news, but if I'm perfectly honest, I didn't give it a second thought at release time, and didn't think much about it over the years that passed either. I'd read a few reviews at various points and thought it sounded like a perfectly fine Rivendell design built for Soma's brand. I like Rivendell. I like Soma. I just didn't see that I had need for this particular bike.

Soma San Marcos
*Image from Soma

Over the last year and a half or so, my bike herd has changed. My needs, wants, and thoughts have morphed a bit and I've discovered that there's just a reality to the sort of riding I do. I may have want for super-speedy and light road bikes, but it hasn't been entirely practical for me between injuries and the mess I created with attempts at custom frames. It isn't that I won't ever have that type of bike, but for now, my needs and desires are in another place.

At the beginning of the year, as we plodded our way through winter house renovations, I was thinking a lot about bicycles and the types of rides I hoped to take this year. I had desire for a bike that would behave like a road bike in that it would be lighter than some of the other bikes I have, but would also allow for comfort over potentially long rides; a bike that would handle a 200-300k possibly without unnecessary discomfort.

As is the case for many, the problem came in trying to test this sort of bicycle out in person. My one very specific requirement for this bike was that it be steel. I don't have anything against other materials and have often enjoyed the ride on carbon and aluminium, but this was my own weird sticking point. Despite many available local shops, they simply don't stock the sort of bike I hoped to test. So, my shopping and browsing headed online.

I browsed possibilities from the fairly inexpensive to the ridiculously costly, but decided that I wanted something in a reasonable (to me) price range, especially knowing that I wouldn't be able to test it out first.

One bike that stood out to me as a possibility was the Velo Orange Pass Hunter. After reading a number of reviews of this bike, it sounded ideal for my purposes: comfortable, able to handle longer distances, but not too heavy so that a bit of speed could be gained.

After looking over the geometry charts, my biggest problem with the Pass Hunter right off the bat was sizing. The smallest frame available is what VO terms a 51cm. Now, depending on the manufacturer, design, geometry and so on, this size could potentially fit, but the fact that the seat tube measurement was 51cm concerned me. I do not have long legs and I am not considered tall. Still, there were many positive things to be said about this choice.

The second option I spent time researching was the Soma San Marcos. It is available in a 47cm, but because it was designed by Rivendell, I was well aware that the 47cm size would actually fit larger than the numerical size would indicate.

I quickly realized that each of these bikes had the potential to be too large, and for each this was my biggest concern.

So, as we rolled into spring time, I started looking more seriously at each of these possibilities. After lots of debating and looking into geometry and how I thought these would fit, I went for the Velo Orange Pass Hunter and crossed my fingers. My reasoning was that given the measurements, this option had the best opportunity to fit as I hoped.

This may be one of the only photos of the Pass Hunter while it was built up. Don't mind the ridiculously tall stack off the head tube, nor the multiple colors of spacers used (which should be an indicator of just how tall the stack really was - and this was after some of the steerer had been cut).

Needless to say and without going into all the detail at this moment, I wouldn't be writing about the San Marcos had the Pass Hunter worked out. Don't get me wrong, the Pass Hunter is a lovely bike, and for the right person, it could be the perfect choice, but for me the fit was off and I had to move on to something else.

Before getting into the details of the San Marcos build though, I just have to say that this has to be one of the most gorgeous frames for the price I have ever seen. It's frankly prettier than many other far more expensive frames too. It screams Rivendellian to anyone familiar with Grant's choices. Love him or hate him, he has a point of view when designing frames and the Soma San Marcos is no exception.

The inside of the chainstay has a subtle decal pointing to its origins.
**Apologies in advance - most of the shots of this beautiful bike aren't great and the bike was quite dirty when the photos were taken, so it isn't the best it can look, certainly... but, it does go to show that it is being ridden! :)

There was a recent change in color on the latest models of the San Marcos, going from what was called "Pearl Blue" to the current batch "Tiburon Blue." My understanding is that the pearl blue leaned more toward a turquoise blue color, whereas the tiburon is more a blue-grey color. It may not be the most important detail, but it is a way to distinguish earlier models from the 2015 batch.

From my point of view, though this may be apparent from what I've shared thus far, I find this to be a quite striking frame and fork. For several days it's been sitting (when not being ridden anyway) in a passageway from one area to another in our home and I cannot help but turn to look at it every time I pass by. It is simply eye-catching and photos are difficult to capture or represent this fully.

As for differences between a typical Rivendell frame and this Soma, there are some that are undeniable. The most apparent to me with just a quick look is the fork. The San Marcos does not have the same french-looking bend found on Rivendells, nor does it have the paint detailing on many Rivendell frames/forks. The more one looks, the more differences to be found. The lugs are fancier on Riv's higher end models, for example, but I have to remind myself that this is not a $2400 frame/fork, but rather around 1/3 of that cost (Honestly, how fancy a lug does a person need? Okay, for some perhaps this is of supreme importance, but let's keep in mind the cost vs beauty ratio here and recognize that this is quite a lovely frame, particularly for the cost, I'd say). Even with the different price tags, I think Soma has a beautiful frame, and to date I don't find it to be a compromise in any area that is of importance to me, or for this particular build.

Just a quick for-your-reference, and to provide a bit of background on my experience with these two companies, at various points I have owned three different models from Rivendell: a Betty Foy (their mixte, now going by the name Cheviot), an A. Homer Hilsen, and the Samuel Hillborne (that still remains as part of my personal bike fold). I have also owned a couple of Somas: the Buena Vista (their mixte) and the ES (Extra Smooth) model. I've additionally had opportunity to try a plethora of parts sold by both companies from handlebars to tires and many bits in between. All of this to say that I am by no means all-knowing in regard to either company, but I do have some experience riding parts and frames from each.

For the initial set up of the San Marcos, I tried out trekking/butterfly handlebars that have worked well on another bike. I thought it was actually quite nice with this set up. The ride was stable and the bars offered lots of hand positions. These handlebars provided options to be close or stretch out as needed. They were perhaps a little too upright though for my wants on this bike (meaning almost cruiser bike upright because of the length of the stem) and there were some issues with the shifting setup, so I knew it was probably time to try out a more "roadie" like build.

The original drivetrain was a tad odd (not completely un-workable, but not super either). In reality, using a setup that was trying to combine part road and part mountain was not the best combination. Parts simply were not communicating well together. So, instead, we opted to change things a bit, put drop bars on the bike as well as STI shifters just to help things move a bit smoother and to allow for a slightly more leaned position on the bike.

This is probably the most accurate photo of color (at least on my monitor & with the limited number of photos I've taken) that I've been able to achieve of the Tiburon Blue color which shows off those Riv lugs nicely.

Even though the bike is still pretty upright by road bike standards, what I like about this characteristic is that I'm able to easily use all the positions on the handlebars (and it definitely helps with the current injury issues). Should I, at some point in the future, desire a more leaned over position a shorter stem will accomplish just that.

One of my early rides out on the San Marcos I pedaled just over 20mi/32km and used the drop portion of the bars about half of the time. For me, this is a rarity because of hand and back injuries and just generally feeling uncomfortable on most bikes in that lower bar space. With the San Marcos, everything is comfortable, regardless of my hand position.

Of note at this point is that no matter how this bike has been set up (and there have been a few tweaks along the way, including stem height/reach, handlebars, shifting, etc), it was comfortable from first turn of the pedals. The Rivendell philosophy of being able to simply get on a bike and enjoy is evident in this frame. At no point after the first build up did I wonder whether or not the San Marcos would work for me - it just did.

This photo was taken prior to the change out to the Grand Bois Maes handlebars and was using an 80mm reach stem. The San Marcos rode fine with this setup, but I needed to try different handlebars due to the shape of these.

The build on this bike is nothing particularly fancy. I wanted to use pieces that were available in the parts bin as much as possible, so I didn't purposefully seek out much. Here is how it all breaks down though, for those with interest in such things:

Frame/fork: 47cm Soma San Marcos
Stem: Nitto Technomic 1" quill (tried 60, 70, and 80 mm length reach; currently using 60mm)
Brakes: Tektro R559 (I'm not in love with these as they don't seem to brake well on this bike, but they are at least something for now)
Crank: Velo Orange Grand Cru 110 fluted double (34, 48t), 165mm
Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Flight Deck
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra
Front Derailleru: SunTour XC
Cassette: 11-32 Shimano (I believe it's 105, but I could be mistaken)
Wheels: The most generic/inexpensive 650b set I could find in silver (I've used these before and they've been quite reliable, tough and are surprisingly light for a cost under $100 for the set) The rims are Weinmann Zac19 and the hubs are an unbranded alloy - I've been told they're a Mavic hub, but cannot swear to this
Tires: Soma New Xpress 650x38b in black (my white ones have disappeared into the parts abyss, but I'm sure they'll make an appearance again at some point)
Pedals: Started with VP's Thin Gripster, currently has Velo Orange Grand Cru Sabot
Saddle: Brooks B-17 Champion
Bottle Cages: King
Handlebars: A few different models, but currently testing out the Grand Bois Maes

The only items purchased specifically for this bike were the wheels (because we didn't have a full set of 650b wheels), headset, and the brakes. There is always an opportunity to upgrade later, but I wanted to test this with minimal initial investment. I also have to admit I haven't weighed the bike, so I'm not able to give an exact measurement in that regard. I will say that it feels light enough to fairly easily pick up and hang on the wall as needed, so I'm going to guess that it lands somewhere in the vicinity of 25 pounds (11.3 kg) or so.

Circled "ding" spot on the chainstay. If you look up to the above photo of the "Designed by" sticker, you can just see a very small indentation in the middle portion of the top of the chainstay.

I also got an outstanding deal on the frame... however, when it arrived, despite being brand new in packaging, there was a dent/bump on one of the chainstays. All in all, for the purchase price, I decided to make do with the minor imperfection. My suspicion is that it was a factory blem (thus the lower price - though it would've been nice to have this information up front - and I will note it wasn't purchased directly from Soma either), but the paint was not at all damaged, so I have no way of knowing with certainty whether damage was inflicted pre-paint or post.

I will add that we did try to set the San Marcos up with 700c wheels, just to see if they would work. Had I purchased a different set of brakes, I believe it's entirely possible that a set of 700c wheels and tires could work, though the frame in this size was not designed for this option. Additionally, the stand over for me is nearly at its maximum, so it would probably not be the best choice regardless.

There have been those who have criticized this frame stating that it doesn't know what it is or that it isn't an excellent bike for any particular purpose, but I think that is precisely what I enjoy about it. It isn't a race bike, and no one is likely to use it for sprinting. It also isn't a touring bike because it's not equipped to handle the load needed for this type of travel (though it does have eyelets for racks as desired), but it can take a small amount of weight in front, back, or both and would likely do fine on a very lightly loaded or fully supported tour.

The appreciation for this bike (at least to me) comes with its adaptability and ability to take a rider comfortably over distance. If I were looking for a race bike or one to keep up with speedy club rides, this would likely not be the choice, but since most of my riding is done solo and I can push (or not) as much as I choose, why wouldn't I want something that fits well and is comfortable?

Let it not be assumed though that this ride is slow. I've bested some of my own records on local segments with relative ease - even being injured - so if the rider is willing to push, the San Marcos is perfectly capable of working with the rider's abilities.

Sam has made reference more than once comparing the San Marcos to the A. Homer Hilsen. I had mentioned the idea of re-purchasing the Hilsen as I found it to be comfortable and practical on long distance, slightly slower speed rides. However, practicality took over and unless I was able to find a second hand frame, I wasn't willing to splurge at this juncture.

In some respects, I agree with Sam's comparison of these two frames, but there are differences in the feel between the two. I don't know if it's entirely realistic to compare the ride of a more expensive frame to one much less so (nor in trying to compare two bikes that are being ridden years apart from each other), but I find myself enjoying the San Marcos just as much as I did the Hilsen, and on some days, perhaps even more. That in itself is enough for me to think this frame was a great decision.

Current setup for the San Marcos

The San Marcos actually feels lighter than the former Hilsen to me, but this could merely be the fact that there has been a decent chunk of time (and bicycles ridden) in between the two and the reality that I've been riding, for the most part, far heavier bicycles more recently.

What I find interesting is that I have yet to take the San Marcos out over a distance my body is conditioned to handle and return feeling spent. I always know that I am ready to take on more if the need or want arises. This causes me to believe that my hope for a bike that will allow me to potentially cover brevet-type distances with relative ease is being found in the San Marcos (at least if I can get my body to cooperate and heal). At present testing, I believe the only limitation is my own body and its training (or lack thereof, as is the current situation). Which is actually rather exciting.

Time is probably the best indicator as to whether or not a bicycle is working well, and for that we will have to wait and see. However, the San Marcos and I are off to a fabulous start, having covered quite a few miles in our limited months together given the present circumstances. I look forward to seeing how this particular bike pans out and hopefully having the opportunity to ride some longer distances down the line.

Until then, I wanted to share somewhat early impressions of this bicycle. I think I was more surprised by this bike than I thought I would be. It's just easy to ride, and at the present that is all that I need and want. At some point, for those interested, I will take better photos and add them to the collection which can be found here.

If you've had experience with the San Marcos, I'd love to hear what you think of it and what you've liked (or not) about the bike/frame.

Love Letters: The Soma ES Initial Review

I'm in love. Unfortunately, I fall in love pretty easily, and often pretty hard. It's a fault, I am aware, but the Soma ES has really found a special place in the bike fold (the "ES" stands for "extra smooth"). Like having multiple children, one can compare their differences and similarities, but it doesn't mean you love one more than the other. I had heard the rumors and talked to those with Soma's prior to getting the ES and it was difficult to understand until riding it for myself. I had a brief encounter with a Soma Buena Vista some time ago, but the frame was so small it was almost impossible to ride (and strange, because it's not as though I'm a giant and rarely find a bike to be too small). But, I've wanted a steel road bike for quite awhile and just haven't found something that seemed as though it would work for my needs. There are customs to be had out in the world, but I really didn't have it in me to plunk down the sort of cash required. The ES is (in my opinion) affordable, and as such, it was near the top of the list. At around $400 for the frame, really it's probably one of the most affordable steel road frames out there.

The Soma ES frame is a hand-welded, Tange Prestige chromoly frame and weighs in around 4.1 lbs (for the 54cm, per Soma's site). It should be noted that my goal with this build was not to have the absolute lightest bike possible, but to find a nice mid-point between comfort and weight to allow me to use it for a variety of purposes. In the end, the build ended up being lighter than I anticipated, but thus far, it is working out well.

When I first spoke about picking up the Soma frame, a reader commented that she would like to know how I/we choose parts for a build. With this particular build, I didn't have (nor want) to spend a lot of extra money, so we built it with the intention of using (for the most part) items that we had sitting around from prior bicycles or builds. This meant that the choices for me were limited with this particular project. Because I tend to be rather finicky about the way a bike feels, I didn't want to spend extra money on parts, only to discover that I didn't like the ride or that it didn't fit properly. My thought from the inception was simply to use what was available in the parts stash and if all went well, I will potentially change things out down the road. So, with all of that said, the parts selected were not necessarily what I would ideally have chosen, but in order to get it on the road, I wanted to use what was available.

The hoods are a bit torn up on these shifters/brakes (they're Sora, in case anyone is wondering - so nothing special) because they're older, but they still work just fine.

There's nothing extra special on this build of the Soma (at least in its current form), with the exception that I did splurge on a new Chris King bottom bracket. I'm using an 8x2 set up on the shifters (because it's what I had and because the 8-speed shifters just seem to work really well), making it a 16-speed bike. I had to pick up a crank because we didn't have anything appropriate, so I managed to scrounge up a used one that does the job and is actually decent. My hope, assuming that I continue to find myself lost in love, is to change the drivetrain out to a 10x2 (and because of the crank selected, I'll be able to keep it with that set up as well). This will, of course, require a few changes to things, but for now, I just want to get a good feel for the bike.

XT rear derailleur was also a part had from another bike build.

I've had the opportunity to ride the ES a few times now, taking it on short test rides and a couple of slightly longer rides (between 10-20 miles), and I am quite comfortable on this bike. It's a different kind of comfortable than say the Surly Cross-Check or the Rivendell Sam Hillborne. Those two feel Cadillac-y; a bit heavy, but solid, smooth, and great fun to ride. The ES feels much lighter, but still comfortable and easy to handle. Honestly, I was surprised at just how light it was when I picked it up with one hand. I'm so used to having heavy bikes (setting aside, of course, my road bike) that it almost felt foreign to be able to so easily carry and move the bike.  I haven't weighed it, and I have no doubt it's heavier than the road bike that comes in somewhere around 16 lbs, but it's definitely plenty light. Perhaps even too light. Part of me thinks that I should have opted for the steel fork to keep more of a classic look and feel, and while I suppose it's still possible to obtain the steel version of the fork, I am not displeased with the bike in any way due to fork choice.

As stated above, one thing of note with the Soma frame is that it is sold as a frame-only (there is an option to purchase a complete bike as well). A matching fork is available for an additional cost. Because I figured I would ultimately end up getting a carbon fork, I chose not to bother with the matching steel one and instead used those funds to get those few other items needed for the build. Yes, a carbon fork was actually cheaper than the matching steel one, crazy as that sounds.

Easton fork was obtained for a killer deal on a closeout with a store on Amazon (& I had a gift card to use with Amazon, making the cost free-to-me)

The ES has done really well on climbs, too. This actually surprised me, 1) because of the current gears/gearing; 2) because I suppose I had an idea that it would feel weightier than it does; and 3) because the words "enjoy" and "climb" never go hand in hand for me - ever. I am saying it here - probably the first and last time it will ever be uttered by my mouth (err, fingers), I have actually enjoyed some of the climbs on this bike - and worse yet, I have no idea why.  I have tried to figure it out to no avail. My road bike is full carbon, geared appropriately, weighs less, and should be the go-to choice for such rides, but I can't think of a time when I was climbing on the Trek and thought, "Gee, this is kind of fun!" I hate to say it, but those thoughts have actually run through my mind with the ES. I've considered the possibility that it is merely due to the fact that it's winter and the road bike has (for the most part) stayed tucked away, but because I seem to harbor such disdain for climbing, I would think that this wouldn't matter. It is also entirely possible that the climbing hasn't seemed as painful (even pleasant at times) because the rides have been shorter than they typically are on a training ride in the summer. Even going on a 20 mile ride is not the same as a 50+ miler in the heat of summer.

The photos I took all seemed to grey out a lot of the colors, but I suppose that's my own fault for not taking a proper camera. :O)

One really great thing about the ES is that I don't feel out of place riding it around town or out on the back roads with the hardcore roadies (if I were going to use it regularly as more of a commuter, I'd likely take advantage of the eyelets for a rear rack and fenders). It seems to fit in just about anywhere and it has a sort of understated, yet still identifiable look. I've ridden in workout, bike-specific, and everyday clothing and never feel odd or as though I need to put something else on to get on this bike. I also appreciate that Soma had the awareness to keep branding and stickers to a minimum, allowing the buyer to keep the bike fairly tame (color-wise) if s/he chooses, or add his/her own flair to the bike.

I am not normally a "pink" sort of person, but I've realized that I always seem to end up with some version of it on my bikes (be that a baby pink or a more raspberry color), so I just gave in and decided to get both a bottom bracket and a headset in pink, and since I was in it, I just dove in with pink cable housing too (it didn't hurt that it was on the clearance table at a local shop). Do any of the pinks match? Of course not. I didn't want to get too carried away with the pink though and realized it needed something to balance it out, so I managed to find the turquoise/teal colored leather Brooks bar tape at a ridiculously low price (I highly recommend looking around if you're okay with not necessarily obtaining your first color choice for parts because I have found some great deals - often more than half off - when I'm not picky about color choice. Be willing to check all sources, including CL, eBay, local shops, etc).

The tires are the very same ones that I had on a former road bike that were removed for a different choice at about 600 miles, and are Schwalbe Durano's in creme (for the record, I run them at around 90-100 psi, generally speaking). They are not the tires to select for the least rolling resistance (though still not bad), but I like that they're a bit softer/cushioned yet still hold a higher pressure, and that I can use them when it's a bit wet out and not worry that I'm going to slip all around. Plus, I had them in the parts stash, so that made them an easy and obvious choice. The saddle and saddle bag are from previous builds as well that just keep making their way from one bike to the next (the saddle is a Brooks B-17 and the bag is from Rivendell). The wheels came off of a prior build for Sam, so they too were in the parts pile to be used. Again, they're not the lightest wheels out there, but that wasn't of concern to me for this build.

I was asked how this ES differs from the Surly Pacer I've had in the past. I think one of the biggest issues for me was handlebar height on the Pacer. I really liked the Pacer and it was a great ride too, but having problems with hands and wrists, I couldn't seem to get the Pacer to a place that allowed me to be comfortable when riding longer distances. The Pacer had lighter weight parts and different gearing (after we rebuilt it, not as a stock bike from Surly), but the frame is similar in many respects; however, when I look at the geometry of the two, I begin to think that just slight differences made a big difference. The top tube is actually slightly (very slightly) longer on the ES than on the Pacer (both were/are 46 cm), but the ES head tube is longer, which I believe assists in allowing me to get just that bit more I needed for the handlebar height. Again, they are both solid frames, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend someone try either. My preference (at least to date) has simply been in favor of the Soma.

Regardless of the specifics chosen to build this bike up, I think it's a solid frame and worth a look for a person seeking an easy-to-ride road bike at an affordable price when compared to other steel options on the market. Parts and pieces will likely change on this bike (as they have on nearly every bike I've owned) over time, but I think this one is turning into a really solid option. If you're interested in seeing a few more photos of the bike, you're welcome to see them here. I'm still working on a true "glamour shot" photo shoot, but it's been challenging for me in recent weeks, so I'll add them to the folder as I get them completed for those who have interest. As always, if you have questions about the build, parts, or have had your own experience with Soma or the ES, feel free to leave your thoughts, ideas, and so on.

A Soma Build

There's a lovely new ride staring me in the face every day as I keep praying for enough of the snow to melt to be able to take it out on even a short test ride. It's killing me to have it built up and not have a somewhat clear road to take it out for a spin. I've been (impatiently) waiting for an unseasonable warm front to roll through for a few days and provide a brief window of opportunity to try out the fabulous Soma ES sitting in my basement. It doesn't even have bar tape on it yet, nor have we cut the steerer tube on the fork because I don't want to make any ultimate decisions until I can test it out. Yes, it looks absolutely ridiculous because there are so many spacers running up to the handlebars (and above the handlebars), but I'm willing to wait it out to know for sure where I need to cut the steerer.

A sneak view of the Soma (sorry, no glamour shots just yet)... the steerer and all the spacers really do look silly- but that will change soon (hopefully).

The Soma comes to me courtesy of the sale of our VW Beetle (which took place due to a variety of reasons that I won't bore anyone with at this juncture).  A nice, young man from Albuquerque flew in to buy it and drove her home in the middle of one our bigger snow storms several weeks ago. I am impressed with his determination (and lack of fear) in regard to driving the car back to New Mexico as the roads were quite slick. He made it home without issue, which only tells me that we really did build a reliable, solid vehicle. I'm not sure I'd do the same if I were in his shoes (and even recommended that he perhaps spend the evening and then head home when the storm had passed), but I'm glad he made it home safe and sound. I'm also happy to use the "winnings" to fund yet another bike project (the car was my graduation gift and all, so I suppose that something should come out of it - right?). Some people might save their money, but we here in the E.V.L. household love our bikes... and what fun would life be without some sort of project to fill these winter days?

I had been debating the sort of bicycle that I would want if/when the VW sold. Briefly, thoughts when to another attempt at a city bike. A loop frame or mixte would be nice at times, and there's a part of me that doesn't want to give up on that idea, but ultimately I didn't think it was something I really would hang on to long term. I also considered {gasp} selling the Hillborne (I can't believe I am even saying that) and trading it in for the new Cheviot that Rivendell is putting out - which would give me the same use that the Hillborne provides in its set up, but also give a bit more standover for skirt/dress times. While I still think it could be a possibility in the future, it wasn't quite what I am ready to try out at the moment. In the end, I suppose it boiled down to wanting a lighter weight steel road bike, but I didn't want (nor have) to spend a small fortune obtaining one. I also wanted options for various potential set ups down the line, so the ES just seemed to make sense. Whether it will ride as I expect remains to be seen, but I'm looking forward to the adventure and seeing where it takes me.

Do I need another bike? No, of course not, but it seems that bike builds in our house are like that comforting quilt grandma made years ago...It makes us feel all warm and snuggly, and when there isn't something in the works, we both feel a bit - well, empty, I suppose. So, I'm looking forward to reporting on the Soma very soon, but until then, I stare longingly, knowing that we're in for a dry spell in the coming days which will hopefully melt just enough of the white stuff to allow me the fix I've been longing for over the last couple of weeks.

Early Review: Soma New Xpress 650b Tires (in White)

At the close of summer, I started having some issues with my Grand Bois Hetre tires on the Hillborne. Specifically, I kept getting flats. I wasn't getting them once a month, or even once a week, but often multiples in the same day. It was incredibly frustrating. Rather than trying to figure out a method to line the tires or fill the tires with goo, I decided to simply put my Schwalbe Marathon tires back on the bike. The up side was that my fenders fit on the bike again (yay!), but the down side was that I really loved having cream tires and somehow the black ones just didn't "feel" right to me (boo!). It seems like a silly issue, I know, and truly the functionality of the bike is far more important than the color of the tires, but over the winter I went on a hunt to find some 650b tires in white or cream.

Soma New Xpress in 650b x 38mm - in white! :O)

One day, while engaging in my seemingly never-ending hunt for bicycle parts, I was on the SOMA website and saw that they had their New Xpress tires in the 650b size and in white (which is actually more of an off-white/cream color - I should also note that they are additionally available in a terra cotta color for those interested). I actually already owned these tires in black (they're on my Homer), and have been riding them for about eight months now without issue. So, I had to give it a shot to see if they would hold up on the Hillborne as well.

The Hillborne, as many are aware, is the bike I generally turn to for every day pleasure rides, grocery store visits, trail rides, and just about anything that isn't specifically a long training ride or a long road ride (and sometimes I use it for those rides as well). These tires would have a lot to live up to on this bike, but I was ready to test them out. Although they haven't been on the bike very long (in total, about 2 months now), they have been through the usual rigors faced on daily rides. I've been through the patch of road (several times) that inevitably has a huge spread of thorns/goatheads (that I also somehow miss seeing and run over... every - single - time), I've been on a couple of snow rides, and although the riding isn't quite at its peak just yet, they have held up incredibly well (they still have the little nubbies on them for goodness sake).

The good news: I haven't had a single flat tire (knocking on wood as I type). The tires are comfortable, allow for speed (or at least as much speed as one can pick up on a 40 pound bicycle), and are aesthetically  what I was looking for in a tire. As a bonus, they are narrower than the Grand Bois' and therefore, I can keep my fenders in place - which in turn keeps me clean on wet/muddy rides (Please note that the fender issue is specifically in regard to this bike because of its smaller size - not a general statement about Rivendell bicycles).

The Soma tires were cleaned after my snow rides, but the road grime just didn't seem to go away with a good scrubbing

The possible down side: White is a tough color to keep clean, and certainly after traveling through all of the snow madness, there was quite a bit of grime left on the tires to be cleaned off. After a thorough scrubbing, much of it still remains in the form of stains. I honestly don't mind this, but it could be bothersome to those who prefer an always-perfectly-clean look.

Inflate to 55-75PSI

In addition, for some, the low inflation pressure may be an issue. These tires inflate from 55-75 PSI and although I find it to be fine for every day riding, it wouldn't necessarily meet every individual's needs. There is enough debate about tire size/pressure out on the web though, so I won't get into that debate here. I tend to keep my tires inflated to about 70 PSI (or slightly higher) on this bike, and the pressure seems to stay for several weeks without needing to be pumped up again with the SOMA tires (I've noticed the range staying between 65-70PSI, even during Colorado's crazy spring season during which the temps frequently fluctuate between the low 30s and the mid 80s F).

Again, it's still early on in the life of these tires on the Hillborne, but having had a similar experience with them on the Homer over the last eight months or so, I feel comfortable using them as the every day tire. When goathead season hits in the late summer/early fall, I may opt for the Schwalbe's again, but for now, I'm extremely happy to have these New Xpress tires to ride on every day. Who knows? They may never need to leave this bike at all, which would be an amazing treat!

Slowly Getting Out Again - On Two Wheels

Yesterday, Sam and I went on a brief, albeit it exhausting bike ride. After being cooped up over the last couple of days, trying to force myself to rest (everyone keeps telling me this is what I need, but I truly believe that being still is just making my body parts atrophy - though I realize that isn't possible after only a couple days), I wanted out - desperately. Sam suggested lunch, and since my meds have made me oddly hungry over the last several days, I was all for it. I must say, I think I take my health entirely for granted most days because our 1/2 mile bike ride to the destination - yes, you read that correctly - one half mile - nearly killed me.

Upon our return home, Sam said he wanted to get a kickstand for his city bike. After my stating that the bike shops in town are all closed on Sunday, Sam mentioned that the sporting goods stores are open, which I knew immediately meant another ride. I sat down on the steps to rest. "I just need to breathe for a second," came pouring out of my mouth. It sounds crazy, but I literally couldn't breathe after such a short ride. I started thinking about the overpass I'd need to climb, the hill to get back home, and I wasn't entirely thrilled with the prospect. However, I was enjoying being out, so I said that if it got to be too much, I'd just wait until he made it back to wherever I gave out.

Surprisingly, I made it the entire distance (and by entire, I mean slightly over 3 miles, roundtrip). You'd have thought I'd just rode a century the way I was gasping for air, but honestly, I think it was completely worth it. Being outside, in fresh air, is simply irreplaceable, not to mention, I wanted to try out the new ride (yes, another bike - story to follow in another post).

As for the kickstand we needed to obtain, the Soma that I had thought I was going to sell just wasn't getting any {reasonable} offers, and since I really didn't want to give it away (my comment was that I'd rather let it gather dust, or donate it to someone in need, than sell it for a mere pittance), Sam said that maybe he could ride it as his city bike. I thought it was perfect because then it would get used, and because we had everything except tires for it, the build was easy (at least in the respect that we didn't need to buy parts for it). The only thing missing was a kickstand, which I believe to be essential for something one intends to ride around town, running errands, etc.

Pre-kickstand sitting outside

As you can see, it's still in need of some bar tape, which we also have sitting here - it just needs to be put on, but we wanted to make sure that the handlebars/set up are going to work before wrapping it all up. While even Sam admits that the frame is small to ride, he thinks it will work for the trips that are just around town. I promise that next time I'll take some better photos, but it truly is a great looking frame. It's currently set up as a single speed (it's oddly set up as a single speed too, as we're using a double crank, that just isn't used), but it seems as though it's going to do what it needs to do. It's going to get used, and I don't feel like we're losing money on something that wasn't even used.

So, while I got to test out my lungs a bit, Sam's Soma was tinkered with to get it to a good place. While we both may need a bit more tweaking, I think we are both going to be just fine.