It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This

This bottom bracket is where I make the major compromise on the Soma Smoothie build. The pre-built bikes on the sales floor of the local dealership require a variety of compromises. They will have some good components, but not the ones I prefer. Hence this whole bike build thing. Faced with my extremely tight budget for this project I just might have to cut a corner somewhere. Ironically (or is it coincidentally?), those pre-builts are great for a tight budget. The Record crankset I bought came with a complementary Token brand bottom bracket which seems will do the job just fine, but I've had designs on a much higher quality option like a Phil Wood or Campy Record. Something that will turn like butter and turn, and turn, and turn for a long time. For the time being though this little brick will have to suffice. Now I'm no weight weenie but this is clearly a heavy sucker, weighing in at 213g (.47lbs). Initially, I don't think I'll be effected much by the extra weight, but I will eventually be relieved to have the inevitable upgrade. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a piece of crap. On second thought it is probably worth the money to at least invest in a higher quality BB, not top of the line necessarily, but better than this. Could save me some grief.

Something Askew: Shimano Dura Ace Skewers

Am I the only one who would spend weeks searching for just the right skewers? I guess most would just take the first acceptable option. But since I have the time to be picky, I will. My reasoning is as simple as I just wanted something classic looking. And as with all the other parts I've selected for the Soma Smoothie I didn't want to end up with a choice with which I wasn't absolutely satisfied. There are many nice skewers on the market designed to be pretty, practical and functional, but nothing really captured my longing for old-school-ish aesthetic than the Shimano Dura-Ace with its updated version of the skewers that your daddy and grand-daddy had on their wheels. They're sleek, shiny and understated. The problem I came up against was they are one of the more expensive products of their kind. With a little patience though I was able to secure a rear skewer and then a couple of weeks later completed the set with a front companion, both new, and both on eBay for half the retail price. Done deal and I'm very satisfied with the result.

Totally Not Tubular

What a dry spell since my last blog post! You really gotta be motivated with ideas and subject matter to write about in order to keep a well maintained blog. If you're not producing a couple of entries per week the search engines wont even recognize your blog. The purpose of this exercise has been to journal the process of building a new bicycle from square one, piece by piece, and record my thoughts and experiences throughout. And what could make following my chronicle of the venture interesting is the fact that I've never done this before. That is build a bicycle from the ground up...but also keep a blog as well. It's been a challenge though authoring a worthwhile read when the bicycle build is so drawn out and having not much to write about in the meantime.

Entering into the wheel phase of the Soma Smoothie build I had the opportunity to choose tubular tires over clinchers, which I've ridden on my whole life. Those who have tubulars will say there is a noticeable difference in ride quality. They will praise their superiority. Despite this there are good reasons to go with clinchers. To begin with, I am a recreational rider. I doubt the improvement in quality of ride will benefit me much. The performance level of tubulars is appropriate for professionals and avid racers, not really this "soul rider". Second, when I have a flat on the road somewhere far from home I'd much rather have the relative ease of an inner tube change than be faced with the uncertainty of whether or not a sealant will hold up in a tubular tire, or riding the rest of the way home with a replacement tire held on by what ever glue is remaining from the original. I'm sure one day I'll have a second set of wheels and learn of the joys and frustrations of tubulars, until then my primary, singular set of wheels will have clinchers.