She's A Beauty: Thomson Elite X2

I'm a sucker for the beautiful and pretty things in the world of bicycles. There are times I peruse the online bicycle shops and magazines just to drool over the $1000+ Colnago and Independent steel frames (also known as "bike porn"), and dream of the day I will be riding one. The Thomson Elite X2 was something I happily stumbled upon when researching stems. I have only owned one of this style of stem before, all others have been of the quill variety, and it was on my MTB. So this is the first with which I will be riding on the road. I had a whole lot of learning to do on this subject and started by punching in recognizable manufacturer names like Easton, Bontrager and Ritchey to get an idea of price and quality. Thomson is far from one of the heavy weights in bicycle components. Their two primary products are stems and seatposts. But do they ever make top quality stems and seatposts, and have earned a reputation for it. Thomson came to my attention by word of mouth (or hand in this case) in the bike nerd forums - a great reason for the existence of forums. After looking into the product I was impressed and even excited to secure one of these babies for my bike project. The Elite X2 is not only a gorgeous piece of crafted metal, its silvery body fits nicely into my retro-themed bike build design. Because most stems are black or blacker this shiny puppy was a revelation to find. I am now commited to going full on old school with all shiny, metallic components and am loving the thought of it. I had already decided on some brilliantly chromed out White Industries H2 hubs (yet to be purchased) so adding this stem to the mix convinced me I was already headed down this path of color scheme. Moving beyond aesthetics, the strength and quality of the stem is solid by most accounts. It has a 2-bolt handlebar clamp, as opposed to the common 4-bolt pattern, which for some raises concerns of the bars slipping mid-ride. I think when properly fastened this should not be a problem. Unless there are off-road conditions involved, then I think this design is sufficent. It's light weight coupled with strength. Should make for and excellent addition to the bike. And a final thought to add to all this adoration is when the product is high quality and design, as in this case, I will throw my money down to support the small company like Thomson.

Next Blog Entry: Campagnolo Centaur Ultra-Shift Controls (with Ergopower!)

Soma Smoothie...that's S-O-M-A Smoothie.

Out of curiosity I conducted a Google search to see where this blog came up using the keywords "Soma Smoothie". The results revealed there are a modest number of Smoothie related websites: a handful of blogs, the Soma Fabrications and SOMAfeed websites of course, a dozen or so online retailers and a few forum discussions. And there are tons of pharmaceutical sites, some legit some most likely not, advertising a Soma drug of one kind or another. Of the 43 pages Google produced for my search I found Immaculate Corpse: A Blog About A Bike deep in the pile on page 39. And that link on page 39 lead to the entry about the Silencer SL fork not the Soma Smoothie frame. I'd like for this blog to be easily found by those seeking info on the Soma Smoothie, or Profile Design Silencer SL fork for that matter. So hopefully today's entry will bump the blog far up on the Google search results. Wonder where I turn up on the Yahoo engine...

14 June, 2009 - a follow up to this post: I have since renamed the blog "Brave New Velo" in reference to the great Huxley novel in which a soma drug is dispensed to the population by the government machine in order to keep the people in a euphoric state. I was never satisfied much with the original title of the blog which I had only settled on because "Exquisite Corpse" was already taken. But then this bicycle does not meet the definition of an exquisite corpse anyway being I am the sole creator.

Sprockets! Now it is time we dance: Campagnolo Centaur Ultra Drive Cassette

Even Dieter's German sensibilities of fine engineering and precision have to appreciate the beauty, craft and performance of Campagnolo components. Having purchased a Record crank, rounding out a complete Record gruppo was a natural inclination. But the top of the Campy line comes at a steep cost. And for what really? What you get with most Record components are lighter, slightly better versions of Chorus components. The performance of the two are usually on par with each other with Record intended for professionals and amateur cyclists with piles of expendable cash. I would be completely happy "settling" for Chorus components, but in many cases they too are pricey. Although...one more step down the line is Centaur, the overshadowed, under-appreciated, hard working and responsible child in the famiglia. Campagnolo has made nice upgrades to the 2009 Centaur components, making them a fine alternative choice when top of the line and the highest of highest performance is not a priority, but rather reliability and bang for your buck. This 2009 Centaur Ultra Drive 13-26t cassette is a little heavier than its bigger siblings, but is more than half the price and still excellent quality. A "compromise" I'm willing to make. I went with a 13-26 tooth for greater climbing ability. After logging (or slogging) X number of ascents I might find I would prefer a large cog as big as 29t. That will be sorted out over time. For the time being I think this cassette size companied with the 53/39 chain ringed crank will serve me well. It appears now that the drivetrain and braking system of the bike will be a pastiche of Campagnolo - a little Record, some Centaur, and Chorus to complete the work. Not bad at all. The purchase of this cassette is also my first since learning about Pro Bike Kit. PBK arguably offers some of the lowest prices of any retailer, internet or LBS. Thanks very much to the current weakening of the GBP versus the USD, I got a great deal. I know PBK will be one place I will turn to over and over again for parts. Cheers mates!

Smoothe Arrival: Soma Smoothie

A few days ago the Soma Smoothie frame was dropped at my doorstep via UPS. There was excitement in the air as I whisked the box inside to open it. The dog was as anxious as I to see what await inside, poking her snout at the top as if to say, "What could it be? Hurry!" The back order period was about twice as long as projected, but that's OK because I don't have all the components yet to build up the bike completely. First impressions? It's quite light, I was surprised when I picked up the box for the first time. The finish is lovely, the metal-flake pearl white shimmers beautifully in the sunlight. The joint welds are pretty good. For a $300 frame I wouldn't expect them to be much neater than they are. The frame design is practical - rear rack braze-ons allow for the option of touring, functional with its agile and somewhat aggressive geometry making for some quick riding, and aesthetically attractive. General opinion is I got myself a good quality frame most likely worth every penny of its selling price. I'm looking forward to putting this baby on the road.

Pretty, Strong: Chris King NoThreadset

Choosing a headset was not a very tough decision. I had already been wanting to get matching Chris King hubs and headset. Even though I decided to forgo the hubs for another brand I still had designs on the NoThreadSet. This headset has a solid reputation and a great selection of colors, perhaps the only manufacturer of headsets to offer pink. The bike is going to be white with black and chrome or alloy components. Having a little something colorful on it will be a nice touch.

This 2008 "Pretty and Strong" set was made in a darker shade than previous models. A change I see as an improvement. I prefer it over its lighter, pastel predecessor. It will be hard to match any other components in the same pink though. It might just have to be the only pink component on the bike, which could actually turn out to be a good thing. In design color is a good tool to individualize or assign significance. In a correspondence with a staffer at Chris King I inquired about the difference in shades. What I learned is that the variety is due sometimes to a conscientious choice and sometimes to "the nature of the science behind anodization." The current production was a decision to go with a bolder, "copper salmon" shade. Coincidently, or maybe not such a coincidence, the new copper salmon pink reflects the importance of its fishy namesake in the culture of Portland, Oregon (home of Chris King Precision Components) and the Pacific Northwest (home of me).

Forza Italia: Campagnolo Record Alloy Crankset

My neo-traditionalist inclination will be highly influental on what this bike will eventually come to be. When deciding on a crank there were a couple of important considerations. Firstly, aesthetics. The current productions of cranks are predominantly carbon...and black. The material takes off a significant number of grams, but they all look so chunky, dense and hi-tech fanboyesque. So many components these days are black. Cranks, stems, seatposts, rims, forks, handlebars. Black, black, black, black, black. One thing I love about the classic bikes is all the shiny alloy and chrome parts. Carbon fiber is excellent for a lightweight rig, but in appearance it just doesn't compare. When it comes to cranks, carbon is quite pricey as well. A fact which makes for perhaps the ultimate deal breaker. Even if carbon cranks were as affordable as alloy, I'm still not sure if I would go with them. That's how devisive the issue of black vs. metallic is with me.

On the subject of tradition Campagnolo is THE one, the component of champions for decades. And in the aesthetics department the tried and true Record crank is as smooth as they get. The design is sleek. The transition from crankarm to spider is so elegant and natural, it epitomizes my idea brilliant simplicity. In comparison, today's Shimano alloy cranks look like alien space saucers turned on their side. The detailing is Large. I'm guessing the robust Shimano design with its extra surface area is intended to be aerodynamic. If this the case, I question the amount drag reduction and its significance in my application as a recreational rider. I'm not doing any time trialing with this bike. The FSA alloy crank is guess what? Black. Specialties TA makes a nice Shimano compatible alloy crank in the same traditional fashion as Campagnolo, but it is more in price by at least a hundred dollars. This new Campagnolo Record crank I found on eBay for a song fits my ideal. Therefore I am very happy. I didn't go into this process committed to Campagnolo, but came to realize that it was the likely choice.

Another decisive factor was the consideration of what rear hub I am planning to use. I really like the Chris King Classic hub. Really like it. The circumstance one finds with this hub though is it is Shimano compatible only. That would count out a legendary Campagnolo drivetrain. Unless...I want to use a conversion cassette like the one made by American Classic. Or even a Shimano cassette with a Campagnolo crank which may seem like a crazy notion, but I've been told by a handful of riders that they have run this setup with seldom a hitch. Although I don't want to run the risk of encountering a hitch, however slight it may be. An attractive feature about Chris King is the variety of colors. Not just black or chrome, but a small rainbow to choose from. I think a set of pink hubs would look pretty sweet. Throw in a pink headset and the bike has an understated splash of color. Chris King hubs are just about some of the most expensive though. It's hard to justify forking over the extra hundred or more when there are more affordable high quality alternatives. So, the choice was made to unfortunately pass on Chris King and eventually get that beautiful Record crank.

Stick A Fork In It: Profile Design Silencer SL

While I still await the delivery of the Soma Smoothie frame which is on back order for another few weeks, I have a new fork. The second part purchased, but the first received for the new bike build. I have no method or plan as to how the bike comes together other than research the parts and buy them when the best opportunity presents itself. Although, after I decided on a frame it seemed a natural next step to complete the frame/fork set. This is the first bike I will have with a carbon fork. I familiarized myself with some of the popular and proven brands, but not having any significant experience with this type of fork no matter how much research I do, it will really take miles and miles of riding to understand what kind of performance and quality is best for me. I found this Profile Design Silencer SL at Bike Nashbar at a pretty deep discount. It is an older model by about a couple years, which explains its slashed price. I'm not sure if it is worth its MSRP, but at sbout 60% off that price I figure I got a decent deal. With a carbon steerer tube it's very light at 330g, which will be great for the overall weight of the bike and hopefully still retain a comfortable stiffness. Profile Design is an established manufacturer of aerobars, but what is their track record with forks? With only a little information on performance, faith in the Profile brand reputation, the lure of light carbon material, and willing risk I put down my money for the Silencer SL. Recently I've read a posting in the Road Bike Review forum claiming the fork is a flexy POS. Well, I've already bought it. Hopefully that person is bigger than me and I will not find the fork to be so flexy. But then I've also exchanged comments with some one else in the Road Bike Review forums that is quite satisfied with the fork. There's always the option of avoiding disappointment and returning it for a refund.

Ground Zero: A Soma Smoothie

The initial part, the foundation of the bike...the frame. Over the past few months I've spent hours of research on the web, perused numerous models in shops, and engaged in conversations with other enthusiasts. The selection process has been a thoughtful one balanced with just the right amount of instinct. Considering the various materials comprising frames these days I quickly decided steel is the one for me. Simple, traditional, durable, beautiful. Having recently heard that the cost of steel is jumping I decided now is a good time get that fundamental piece in place. Craftsmanship is of course very important, yet financial constraints limit my choices. Sigh, the ideal choice of a custom frame will have to wait for another day.

My selection focused on the small-to-mid sized manufacturers who offer quality designed and built frames at a price point that fits my budget. Knowing that there are a number of quality bicycle companies in the US and Canada making, if not specializing in, steel frames - Salsa, Surly, Soma, Kona to name a few - I made the conscientious decision to patronize these bike manufacturers. To buy local. I'm under no impression that these bikes are North American made, they are of course made in Taiwan or China. That's just the reality of the world economy these days. Still, I take pride in buying domestic. There are European manufacturers that produce a top notch product. Some of these brands have been revered for decades and some simply en vogue just for their European association. Despite their quality the fact remains that I am drawn to the domestic companies which also have the important advantage of affordability.

Upon first sight I was always attracted to the Soma frames. They meet the craftsmanship requirement and then some with their attention to detail. The lugged frames like the Speedster are just plain lovely capturing the elegance of the traditional steel frame with a contemporary design. The non-lugged frames have very clean joints and an excellent quality finish. Unfortunately the Speedster was outside my price range by a few hundred dollars. But the Smoothie and Smoothie ES fit the part. After a back-and-forth comparison of the two models I decided I'd be happier with the more agile Smoothie. The semi-compact geometry of the frame is what gives it its aggressive nature. I find that to be an exciting feature that will bring a real thrill factor to riding. I'm not going to use this bike for hardcore racing, though I still want something quick and responsive. The rack braze-ons at the rear subtract some from the speedy visual aesthetic of the frame, but then they allow for the option of converting the bike for touring in the future. On the subject of aesthictics I freely admit I like nice looking things. The pearl white finish of the frame is sweet and conveys the idea of light and nimble. And the Soma fiery sun logo is just plain cool - not a deciding factor, but still adds to the affection for the bike. Another non-factor attribute: Soma is West Coast (San Francisco). Being a life-long West Coastie I feel an immediate bond with this brand.

The word on Soma frames is they are solid quality and very well made. I'm confident that I am getting an excellent product for my money. I've ordered one Smoothie in pearl white (other colors available as of this posting are sea blue and forest green) through a company online and should be receiving it in a few weeks when they've restocked in my size. Once I have the frame I will update the blog with photos. As this blog progresses I will be updating a composite picture of the bike as each part is added. I welcome comments and suggestions on the component selection and building process of the bike.