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.

To Build or Not to Build (a bicycle, that is): Lessons Learned

In preparation for an upcoming post regarding the Soma ES that recently came into my life, I thought I would write some quick thoughts on building up a bike. If you've been thinking about doing your own build, but are a bit tentative when it comes to taking the plunge, I thought I could offer my experiences and thoughts to help either persuade or dissuade you from giving it a try. This is not intended to be a how-to, but rather just to offer some thoughts that could be beneficial when deciding whether or not this sort of endeavor is for you.

Our first ground-up bike build was my Rivendell Sam Hillborne. I use "our" in more of a royal sense because while I was very active in yammering on about the parts I wanted for the bike, I had very little to do with the actual process of building the bike up (unless you count standing around staring and asking when the bike would be ready to ride). Frankly, a lot of what I thought I wanted ended up being entirely wrong and I wrote several posts that followed in the months after the build, trying to determine what exactly I was looking for in a bike.

Lesson #1: Don't think that because specific parts work for one person or group of people that they are necessarily the right choice for you. Do your own research, and if possible, test the parts before buying them.

Following that first complete build, several others followed. It's no secret here that I am almost entirely mechanically inept. I do try; however, I find myself frustrated very quickly when things go amuck. I want to believe that having bicycles has improved this somewhat, but I know my limitations and understand that I'm not always going to be able to do everything I want to do myself. I am fortunate to have a partner in life who is (sometimes) patient with me and will attempt to explain how/why things work the way they do. In reality, a bicycle is a pretty simple machine, but when I get into the nitty gritty of things, I can get overwhelmed (it should be noted that I am also the individual who routinely gets a "0" score on mechanical aptitude tests). Understanding that if I wanted to learn, I would need to make a concerted effort to do so became apparent early on.

Lesson #2: In all of my attempts to do things for myself, I have accepted that sometimes it's better/easier/less stressful to allow someone who is more experienced and/or more mechanically capable to handle some matters, but it doesn't mean that I can't do anything for myself.

As I mentioned, with the Hillborne build I was very adamant about having the parts I thought I wanted. One would think this would deter me from choosing parts for future builds, but that was not the case. Partially, my need to pick out parts is due to the reality that I am a visual person, and while my sometimes overly-thrifty Sam will pick up the least expensive option available (which sometimes, but not always, equates to a less visually pleasing option), this does not always coincide with my aesthetic choices. We sometimes butt heads over this because while he would opt to save the few dollars, I will often choose the option that fits with my visual desires for a particular bicycle (even at a higher cost). Ultimately, I understand that the bike will function and operate in the same manner, and I don't purposefully set out to spend extra money, but I think most will agree that when we like the way a bicycle looks, it makes it that much more fun and exciting to ride. Ultimately, we have ended up spending more money at times because I didn't go with my initial selection and tried to give in to the less-expensive option.

Lesson #3: Sometimes those little choices can make a big difference in the way we feel about a bicycle. While it's always great to save money on parts, make sure you can live with whatever compromise you reach between cost and aesthetic considerations or you may end up spending more than you would have with the more costly option.

There is so much information available with the internet at our fingertips. Gone are the days of my youth when people actually spoke to each other and learned from those who had been-there and done-that (or so it sometimes seems). It's great to have so much information available with a few keystrokes, but sometimes a good old fashion chat with an expert can be invaluable. As simple as it is, there are a fair number of parts on a bicycle. If we are building from the ground up (assuming it is geared - and even if it's not, it's a very similar list), the list of parts includes: frame, fork, headset, bottom bracket, crank, front and rear derailleurs, seat post (and a clamp), saddle, pedals, handlebar stem, spacers for the stem, handlebars, bar tape or grips of some kind, brake levers, brake hanger (depending on brakes needed), brake cables and housing, shifter levers, shifter cables and housing, brake calipers (or discs, or other options), wheels (which consist of a hub, spokes and rim), rim tape, tires and tubes, a chain, a crankset, and a rear cassette. This list doesn't include other items that are also frequently needed, such as ferrules for the ends of cables, cable stops, or additional small parts that become necessary with a build. It also doesn't include extras such as baskets, panniers, bags, racks, and so on. In short, even though a bicycle is a simple machine, there are a lot more pieces to the puzzle than I realized when we built the first bicycle. I didn't start out knowing that I needed all of these items, but with each build and additional information at my disposal, I became a lot more confident in choosing items for a build (and made fewer mistakes as well).

Lesson #4 (which is oddly similar to lesson #2): If you don't know what the part is called or even that you need it, chances are that it would be better to let someone else take care of that portion of your build (or maybe the entire build). This doesn't mean, however, that you can't have an opinion about what goes into your bike build, or you might have a patient person in your life that will guide you through the process and offer hands-on assistance. If you're confident in your ability to get the job done yourself, don't be afraid to ask a shop mechanic or other competent source for some advice on what would work best (just ensure that the source is actually competent).

When it comes to the decision regarding which parts to put on a bicycle, sometimes there are only limited options available without a lot of extra work, and other times there are seemingly limitless choices. Additionally, I believe there are certain parts one should spend on to get quality components, and others that allow for some less expensive choices. For example, I think having a quality bottom bracket is a good idea, but perhaps spending on the most expensive crank isn't necessary. Additionally, having quality wheels is a great investment, but often brake caliper choices don't need to be the best out there as there is quality to be found even in lower-range products. Of course, this is all subject to opinion, but I have found that if I spend a bit more money on the "always in use/motion" parts, I can get away with spending less on other components. I have also learned that just because a part is more or less than some other option doesn't necessarily mean that it is better or worse than the other, and much of preference is subject to personal likes and dislikes. So, reading online reviews requires a keen eye and mind for reading through the b.s., and may require you to seek out the parts in person to see what makes that particular component a good or bad choice for your build.

Lesson #5: Lots of opinions are great when it comes to picking components, but deciding what is most important for your build may require a bit of investigation. Don't shy away from input, but learning to decipher opinion from fact is a honed skill that may require time and even some mistakes along the way. Don't let it deter you, but know that there is a learning curve in all new ventures.

Feel free to add your lessons to the comments. I know there are many more to be learned, so sharing your experiences are always welcomed.

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.

The Return {and short revised review} of the Surly Pacer

Last year, I said goodbye to my Surly Pacer. I wasn't all that sad to see it go because frankly, I felt I was getting a similar ride/function out of my Sam Hillborne. It just wasn't as fast as I'd hoped, and I saw no purpose in hanging on to an "extra" bike that may or may not get used. No love lost, I thought. We ended up trading it to a friend who was planning on building it up for his then-fiance. After their break-up, our friend was left with a frame he couldn't use. He'd tried selling it on Craigslist, and thought he had a buyer in a neighbor, but it just didn't work because she was unsure of what she would use to build it up (since it was traded as just a frame/fork/handlebar set up). Not having a plethora of "spare" bike parts (like some people, who shall remain nameless), it just seemed out of reach for her.

The stock Surly Pacer, minus a handlebar/saddle change

Meanwhile, as has been discussed, I've been attempting to figure out a faster/lighter road bike for myself. I've been busying myself riding the Trek Lexa SLX and attempting to get the set up right, but was finding more and more that I was fatiguing early.  I suspected that this could be due to the frame material, but having since taken the Trek on much longer rides, I don't think that was the issue at all. However, at the time of confusion, I had been looking into titanium frames and custom made steel frames, but they are a bit cost-prohibitive at the moment as we try to recover from the expense of Sam's E.R. visit. Then the light bulb went on for Sam. "Why don't we just see about getting the Surly back and putting lighter parts on it?" Sam asked. He does have his moments, I will admit, but all I could remember was the weighted feel of the ride on the Surly. I wasn't entirely convinced this was the answer. Still, being able to get a frame at no-cost (sans a promise to help out with projects around our friends' house) couldn't hurt anything. I figured that even if it didn't work out, at least we'd have parts that could be used on another frame at some point down the line.

Revised Surly Pacer

I was a bit surprised by how much the revisions made affected the feeling on this bike. I recall initially falling in love with the stock Pacer, but quickly discovering that it wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. I think the biggest fault with the bike was merely its weight. As a standard set-up the bike had heavy wheels and a steel fork. When it came back into our possession, the first thing to take place was removing the steel fork, followed by a switch to much lighter wheels.

The new-to-the-bike parts consist of a SRAM Force compact crankset, SRAM derailleurs and shifters, an older (but lighter) Shimano wheelset, a carbon seatpost, and a Reynolds Ouzo Comp fork (when I took photos, there was an Easton fork on the bike, but the steerer was cut just a bit shorter than I preferred, so it was switched out - though both forks work equally well as far as performance). It's unbelievable to me the difference the changes made to the feel and ride of the Surly. It has more pick up, it's definitely lighter, and it feels as though it was meant to be going faster out on the roads.

As for speed-to-speed comparison, I have had very similar ride times on both the aluminum Trek and the (revised) steel Surly over similar distances. In truth, I think any variance has more to do with my mental or physical state of being on any particular day than the bikes themselves.

There are many differences between the Trek and the newly revised Surly Pacer (even as far as frame geometry is concerned), but I think it's interesting that a bike that felt heavier and perhaps even a bit sluggish in its original form has the ability to be transformed into something that really could hold up on a group ride or fast paced solo ride.

In all of this, I think if someone were looking for a faster road bike, it would make sense to get the frame alone and build it up, rather than taking a stock set up from a shop (unless it was built as desired by the purchaser). As for me, the Surly probably won't be staying as part of the bike fold (the geometry creates some issues for my damaged hands), but it has been an absolute pleasure to see it transformed into a great road bike and I can see how it would be easy to love this bike again.

The Frustration of Bicycles

The first time I really started riding a bicycle in adulthood was about 8 years ago. I was looking for some cross-training ideas and Sam tossed out the idea of riding a bike. I kind of laughed because most of my memories of riding a bike involved something heavy and unable to get up overpasses in my youth (though I had a lot of fond memories as well). After borrowing one of his mountain bikes to commute on and ride just about anywhere, I became a bit addicted to seeing how far I could go. Even though his bikes were incredibly painful for my hands and wrists, I couldn't seem to stop riding. When I decided I didn't want to be in pain anymore while riding, things kind of shifted. It started with a cruiser bike (which I adored!) and blossomed into what has, in essence, become this blog.

Electra Daisy 3i, AKA "Stuart" - the bike that started it all

Fast forward to today. I still love riding, but my frustration with bicycles still remain - in a different form. I don't know if it's something innately human, or if it is a strange quirk of my own, but I have tried for several years to limit the number of bikes in the household and to try to find that "one perfect bike." Along the way, I have learned that it just isn't possible for me to have that singular bike that does everything, and I've accepted that as long as I want to engage in different types of riding, one bike isn't going to cut it. The one bike that seems to elude me repeatedly is THE road bike. For many years, I resisted the idea of a road bike at all. Even when I got the Hillborne, I didn't think of it as a "road bike" because I didn't think of myself as a roadie by any stretch. Although I still don't think of myself as a road cyclist, I do want to engage in faster road rides and the reality of the Hillborne is that it's just not able to keep up with the speed of others. I can ride it alone just fine, knowing that it's heavier and will be a bit slower, but if I have any hope of keeping up with others, it needs to be lighter weight. However, the Hillborne is an awesomely perfect all-around bike. I can take it on the road, I can take it to the grocery store, and anywhere else I desire. I can load him up and make him heavy and he still handles well.  Best of all, it's comfortable for long distances. I've pondered the idea of stripping him down, but he still wouldn't be as light as other typical road bikes, and additionally, it wouldn't be as functional as my every day bike.

Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen

Enter the Homer. When purchasing the Homer, I had high hopes that it would become the road bike for faster rides. It is lighter than the Hillborne, handles well, and is quite comfortable... however, the trouble I still have with this bike is its slowness - or rather my inability to get it to speeds I want to see. Downhill rides are fabulous and I can easily pass just about anyone; but, on level ground or climbs, it's still too heavy to keep up.

Torelli Express

Over the last several months there have been a few attempts to find that perfect fit. The Torelli is a fabulous bike and I love how zippy I feel on it. Even if I am not as fast as others, it feels faster and I know that my averages were higher even on lone rides. The problem with this bike is that the top tube is too long and even with a shorter stem, I return from rides with a strained neck that lasts for several days up to a week. Again, I'm not looking to be in that sort of pain. I don't mind soreness, but pain due to improper size or set up isn't okay.

Whitcomb frame/fork from 1981 - I should know better; I have the "red bike curse" to contend with

A Whitcomb (which I still haven't wrote about - but I will get there, I promise) frame and fork was purchased with the hopes that this vintage ride could be the answer. However, even after setting it up with lightweight parts, it seemed to weigh more than the Homer and just doesn't have the peppiness I was hoping for in a road bike. I do, however, think this could make a fabulous bike for other purposes that I will be writing about in the future.

The more recent purchase was a Mercier that Sam purchased online, believing that it could be the perfect fit. Using the lightweight parts from the other failed builds, he set this one up and took it for a spin. He thought it seemed great and sent me out to give it a whirl. On my first ride out, however, it felt, well, odd, and as though I was going to be sent over the handlebars at any moment. It still didn't seem to have that feel I was looking for and had the added "bonus" of fitting strangely.

I've looked at a slew of bikes and thought, "maybe this one," but I can't spend (nor do I have it to spend) endless money on bicycles.  In many ways, I need to take my own past advice and realize that if one cannot test ride a bicycle before buying, this is, unfortunately, what often happens. It's a huge trial and error process and getting frustrated helps no one. That, however, doesn't stop the frustration from taking place. Figuring out the next move is even more aggravating. Sam thinks that spending a smaller amount and continuing to try out frames is a good way to go. Some days I agree with him; other days, I have varying thoughts. I think about the idea of selling off everything except the Hillborne to fund a titanium road bike or something that I can find locally and actually try it before buying. However, even those test rides are often short and don't always provide the best insight into what will actually work over longer distances. I've considered renting a road bike for a longer term testing period at one of the local bike shops and moving forward from there, but that has its own costs associated with it, and it could end up being more expensive than the buying-and-selling merry-go-round process currently taking place.

Unfortunately, I don't necessarily have the answer at this moment in time, but I know that if I want to pursue road rides, I have to keep on with this process in some form. For someone who just wants to go out and ride, it is an amazingly daunting and time-consuming process. So much so, that I've had thoughts of just giving up the idea of finding what I'm looking for and riding what I have in whatever way I am able. I don't give up quite that easily though, so I have no doubt there is more trial and error in the future. At least I can take some solace knowing that there are others who have endured their own frustrations with finding the right bike - in whatever form that is for the individual - and know that eventually, the right one will come along.

A City Bike: To Build or to Buy

Recently, I posed a question asking whether the color of a bicycle plays a role in a decision to buy a bicycle. I am always genuinely curious what leads a person to select one bicycle over another, and I'm in a bit of a quandary myself at the present. I am presently city bike-less, and I don't like it. It's been a constant in my life for several years now, and not having one makes me feel as though something is missing.

*RAL color chart

In order to remedy the situation, I, of course, have started the hunt for a bike to fill the void. It seems that my criteria have shifted slightly from my very first upright bike, but much remains the same. This bike will primarily be used around town, for sub-10 mile round trip rides. For the most part, it will be used during daylight hours, and it needs to be able to carry a couple bags of groceries or anything I might be picking up around town. While these needs/requirements leave a wide open choice in bikes, I know that my visual preferences will certainly play a large role in the bike selection process.

Former Pashley Princess Sovereign

Something struck me the other day though, and I thought perhaps I should refurbish and build up a bike from the plethora of options of 60s-80s loop or mixte frame bikes. I got excited about the idea of being able to re-paint the frame a color that I'd love, put modern components on it including an internal hub, lighter wheels, and so on. I began to immediately imagine what this "vintage" bike could become. It was exciting, and in some ways, a very enticing prospect.

Former would-be Schwinn project - never quite became a project and was sold instead

Then, the practical side of me decided to become part of the conversation and I realized the costs and time involved with a project like this. First, I have to find the frame or bike, have the frame/fork painted, likely replace the wheels, tires and tubes. Then there are other pieces, such as replacing a rusty chain, perhaps having to find a new crank, switching out a derailleur for an internal hub, and so the list grows. When I sat down and added it up, potentially, I could be looking at a cost between $600-800. Really? Holy cow, that's a lot of money to re-make an old bicycle! It could be done slightly cheaper, but I also know what happens with these projects and whatever amount you think it will be, you have to add 10-25% for those unexpected costs.

*Image from Abici

I began to think of the number of bicycles on the market that are sub-$800, and realized there are so many choices out there. No, I'm not going to find a Dutch bicycle, the Abici Granturismo is off the list, and the Velorbis Scrap Deluxe is certainly not falling into this self-imposed price range, but there are definitely options out there. Linus bikes come to mind, of course Public, and there are others that certainly easily fall onto this list.

There are pros and cons to both sides of this coin. Building up a bike myself allows me to completely decide what will be on the bike. I can obsess and be nit-picky about every little detail. Of course, this freedom of choice comes at a cost. Sometimes my picks aren't the best for a specific bike and I end up having to sell parts and re-purchase, or sometimes the fit isn't quite right. I can't change what an older frame is, after all, so if I end up not liking the ride, there are a limited number of things I can do to change that. There's also the time involved with building a bike up. It could be completed within a couple of months, but the reality is that I am more likely looking at a 6-9 month project. Do I want to wait that long for a city bike?

Rebuilt bicycle purchased in 2001 - a $25 find!

When buying a bike already built, there is the option to walk away without purchasing when the fit isn't right, doesn't feel good, and the like, whereas I don't necessarily know what the fit will be if I find just a frame/fork from a vintage bike. There's no wait time with a whole bike purchase. I can virtually buy the bike, get it home, and start riding. It also means that I don't have the same choice with color options (though it can still be repainted), or components, etc.

Deciding how important each of these factors are will certainly help to make the decision a bit easier, or sway me one direction or another. There are also other options in-between the two, such as simply finding an older bike and just cleaning it up, rather than completely overhauling it, or finding a newer bike on e-Bay or Craigslist at a better price. If given the choice and having the technical know-how necessary, what would you do? Would you rather build from the ground up, reuse something that would likely be discarded, and make it whole, or would you prefer to keep your hands out of the process and purchase a bike ready to ride and make changes as you get to know the bike?

Sam Hillborne Modifications: The Quest for Perfection

Recently, I wrote about my ongoing struggle with the set up on my Sam Hillborne, and my dilemma with choosing whether to take him or my Public Bike for an upcoming fundraising ride. After having him built up for a year now, and riding him regularly, I am a bit frustrated with not being able to get him to a place that is ideally suited for me. While I realize I need to follow my own advice and not give up on tweaking things to my liking, I have to say that the process can become frustrating, exhausting, and did I mention, frustrating. The idea of building a bike up from the frame alone is exciting, in theory, but when it just doesn't feel right during rides, the fairy tale-like expectations begin to fade, and the reality of the struggles one can face become all to real.

I should say that I do so very much love the Hillborne, and in general, it rides like a dream. However, due to issues with my hands and wrists, I often struggle with being able to take this bike on longer rides. I tried several months ago switching out the Nitto Noodle handlebars for some mustache style handlebars with failed results. The Hillborne is already a bit of a stretch for me in size, and the handlebar change out made the reach almost impossible for me, not to mention creating a highly uncomfortable situation. The drop bars went back on the bike, and I figured I was going to have to deal with the hand issues. 

Mustache handlebars on the Hillborne for a very short time

About a month ago, I was reading a blog (wish I could recall which one at the moment) and they were discussing albatross handlebars. While I had understood prior to reading the post that they are different from mustache bars, I never gave them a thought for the Hillborne. Suddenly, a light bulb went on and I wondered if it would be possible for these bars to work for me on this bike, and so off I went to find some sort of deal on an albatross bar. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to wait long and the transition was made.

On albatross bars, the side portion stretches out closer to the rider, while the mustache
style bars end at approximately the same spot as the head tube.

I have been on a few rides now with this set up and they actually seem to be a good fix for many of my ailments. While they look similar to the mustache style handlebars, they don't have the same extended reach, and they do provide me with several places to move my hands while riding. The switch hasn't completely eliminated discomfort, but I have found that it takes much longer for the aching to start (which for me, is a complete win), and I can ride longer before my hands fatigue. The biggest issue with the drop bars was that I couldn't use the drop portion of the bar because it stretched me too far, and ended up using the flat portion of the bar far too often, creating needless stress on my hands. This bar seems to be a nice compromise. I have also realized that I may just be someone who has to stop every 10 miles or so to let my hands have a break... and I'm okay with that, particularly since I'm not looking to win any speed records. 

I will continue to do minor adjustments with the handlebars until I find the spot that is most comfortable, and overall, these bars seem to be better for me than the drop bars, so I'm happily moving forward with them. Taking a recommendation from the late Sheldon Brown, I am also working on using more of my leg and core muscles to hold myself up, instead of my hands/arms to hold my body up while riding. The only real "problem"   I've noticed thus far with the set up is that cornering, at times, is not easy. The bar end shifters tend to hit the thigh area when I take corners that are tight, but I've decided that the benefits outweigh this slight down side.

Though actually steeper than it appears here, there are several similar hills across the routes I often ride

The other issue that has been taking place is figuring out hill climbing on the Hillborne. When we first built up this bike, we put a road bike crank on it that had 53/39 tooth cogs. It was set up as a 2x9, and neither Sam nor myself could foresee that this would be an issue for me to utilize. In fact, generally speaking, it wasn't a problem (though I think it may have been contributing to some hip issues). But, around here there are several hills to climb, and some of them are steeper than I can really handle with the smaller of the cogs on the former crank. Don't get me wrong, I made it up the hills (huffing and puffing), but I also realized that perhaps I needed a crank with a smaller number of teeth for the truly brutal hills. We decided to look for a crank similar to what is recommended by Rivendell for the Hillborne, and ended up purchasing a crank with 46/36/24T. 

Unfortunately, the crank wouldn't work with the bottom bracket on the Hillborne (we used an external bb with the former crank), so that was an added expense (though small in the grand scheme of things). There are arguments for both sides as to which kind of BB is better, but basically, if I wanted this crank, I had to use what works with it. I have to say, the ride seems much smoother (though I don't completely comprehend why it feels smoother simply due to having smaller cogs), and the hills are much, much easier to climb having more of a "spinning" gear. I'm certainly not speeding up the hills, but I wasn't doing that prior to the change either. I had to laugh the first day out with the new crank as I was climbing the hill pictured above and a guy on a mountain bike just went zipping past me up the hill. I guess it just goes to show that we're all different (or perhaps I just need to be riding up that hill multiple times a day!), and we all have our own strengths.

The last minor modification that still needs to be made actually has nothing to do with the ride, but rather with the changes that have been completed. The front derailleur that was on the Hillborne was intended for a dual, rather than a triple cog, so we made a temporary switch with another bicycle, and will have to get an appropriately sized derailleur to give this one back to the bike it came from. This one isn't quite the right size for the Hillborne, and forced the temporary removal of my second water bottle cage. An easy fix, that will soon be remedied. 

As for the Chain Thong, I do intend to keep it on the bike, but we were out of zip ties at the time of the changes, and couldn't lower it without cutting the ties. It may not be the most attractive piece on the bike, but it was cost-effective, and does help keep my right leg clean!

Progress in Process: The Sam Hillborne

The Sam Hillborne frame has been here for several days now, just waiting to be built up. Daily, we wait as the delivery drivers bring different parts for the bicycle, and every day it seems like there's just "one more thing" that's needed to get it all together.

Hillborne frame with its crank, derailleurs, brake pads, and saddle attached.

At first it was exciting to at least be able to see the frame and know that it wouldn't be long until it could be on the road. Now, I think it's more annoying to just be able to see it and know that it's going to be awhile before it all happens. As the process moved along, the fenders were the next piece of the puzzle to be mounted.

Sam works on attaching the fenders, which wasn't as easily completed as one would think

It actually starts to look like a bicycle at this point, I think. The fenders seem absolutely huge to me, but that was nothing compared to pulling out the Grand Bois Hetre tires, which also seem monstrous. Just prior to the fenders, the bottle cages were mounted.

Dueling bottle cages adorn the Hillborne frame

The fender mounting turned into quite an ordeal (and still isn't entirely resolved). Since I purchased some rather large tires, it seems that mounting and adjusting the fenders seems to be a bit of a challenge. But, slow and steady wins the race.

Gorgeous lugs

The lugs on this bike are so pretty, and while I think a complementary or contrasting color on the background of the head tube could've made the colors pop even more, it's still quite lovely.

Next came along the stem and handlebars, as well as the rear rack.

Nitto stem/bars and rear rack were added

After these pieces were put on the bike, the next step was the wheels and tires. As stated, the tire/fender/wheel assembly was a challenge. For starters, the Honjo hammered fenders arrived bent, which definitely didn't make me happy. Fortunately, Sam was able to get them back into proper shape. While I "helped" by adding rim tape to the wheels, Sam did the real work of putting the tires on the wheels and getting them mounted.

Tires and wheels were added, though they will need some adjusting to work properly

The tires are just so incredibly wide. I knew when I ordered them they wouldn't be thin (nor did I want thin tires), but they're wider than my Pashley's tires.

Next on the agenda was getting brakes and shifters in place. While I thought this would be the fastest part of the process, it was also rather time consuming.

Brakes and shifters are on; cables are attached

The last piece that's been completed is the bar tape that has been wound around the handlebars. I wrapped them, and then rewrapped them, and then did it again (just for good measure). I really wanted to see how perfectly I could get it done, but then ultimately decided that it was okay for it to be just okay for now.

Cork bar tape and twine surrounding Nitto drop bars

While all of the parts (sans pedals, which could be a post all its own) have arrived, it looks like the remaining work to be done will be getting the rear tire to fit properly inside the fender without rubbing occurring, getting the chain on the bicycle, and then, of course, getting everything tuned up. I'm excited to see the bicycle all complete, and even more excited for the first ride!

Bicycle Updates

Well, it looks as though Sam's bicycle frame has now received two different colors (or lack of colors) of paint. The frame is a vanilla/almondish kind of color and it has had some white stripes added to it (it's covered at the moment, or I'd add pictures). I believe he'll be adding some mossy green color to it as well. I think with his cork grips and Brooks saddle, this is going to be an interesting home made bicycle. I'm anxious to see the finished product.

As for projects, I too have decided that I need a bicycle project. Okay, so I probably don't NEED another project, but I thought it might be fun to try to build up an older frame that would otherwise be discarded. So, I picked up this interesting frame about a week ago.
There was some debate as to who the 60's manufacturer was of this frame. Some guesses were Western Flyer, Murray, Columbia and so on. The frame has been repainted and unfortunately, there is no sense of the make of this frame. After Sam did some sluthing on Craigslist though, I am nearly convinced that is must be an AMF frame. Here is a shot of the bicycle up for sale currently.
This one is an AMF Hawk, so it may not be the exact same model, but I'm fairly certain this is the right manufacturer. It's kind of funny because I've never noticed other cruiser type bicycles that had the double top bar before.

I have no intentions of keeping the bicycle red, nor sticking to any original sort of 60's era theme, but I'm excited to be able to use something that might otherwise disappear. I have a horrible feeling though it will end up costing far more than I think to put something together that meets up to my standards for a bicycle (at least aesthetically). I'm thinking we'll do an internal 3 speed hub, but beyond that, my mind is racing with ideas. Do I keep it muted, classic, retro, punk, girlie, tough? I just don't know, but I'm excited to see where it all goes.

And then there's the Ticino... poor thing has gone so long without a name. Perhaps it's a bit strange to name my bicycles, but I feel this odd urge to do so. Finally, a name has been settled upon: Duchess Dylan Grace (or D.D. for short). She is so prim and proper and clean, so she needed a proper sounding name, but I also wanted it to have some sort of meaning for me. So, now she has it, and I'm happy to start calling her Duchess Dylan post haste. We even got to go for a short ride yesterday to meet up with Cara for lunch while I was at school, and there was only a minor mishap. When I attempted to unload her from the car, her mirror came apart. Oops! Happily, Sam was able to restore her to her original condition.

I also received my new Brooks B18 lady saddle yesterday in the mail. She is currently sitting in her proofide, waiting to be placed on one of the bicycles. Now the debate begins... who gets the new saddle?

That's the bicycle update for today. Let's see what tomorrow brings!