Assembly Update: Gettin' Fit

An hour here, a couple hours there. I have bits of time from day to day to gradually complete the Soma Smoothie. So I'm at the point of the build where I need to adjust the fit of the bike to know how much steerer tube to chop off. This is the second road bike I've ever owned. What it has in common with the first is a stock frame size of 56cm. I am a tall 5'9" just shy of 5'10"(l77cm). When I was 17 yrs. old and bought that first bike, a Centurion LeMans RS, I was about an inch shorter and probably barely tall enough for that frame. I figured this time around 56cm would be just right but as I adjust the bike to fit I wonder if 54cm is a preferable option. Although this is a trial and error process of learning what frame size fits best. It will take quite a bit of fine tuning to get all of the adjustments just so and that will require some miles on the road. By the time I have the fit dialed in I may find the size is just fine. A lesson learned going into any bike build is knowing certain details, dimensions and measurements that I need in a frame, and subsequently parts, that suit me and my body.

Traditionally I have fit my bikes simply by how the adjustments feel. This time I am trying to take a more clinical approach using tested and tried guidelines for fitting. To get the bike to a point of basic adjustment I followed a simple, logical method by Peter White of Peter White Cycles. From here I can make the necessary finite tweaks and turns. Perhaps even a professional fitting is in my future.

Assembly Update

While I was watching stage five of this year's edition of Tirreno-Adriatico I tinkered on the bike a little. Do people still tinker these days? Or does that sound amateurish? Too buffoonish? Instead they "engineer" or "fabricate". The Soma Smoothie is coming together nicely.

Prepped

Picked up the frame and fork from the LBS the other day. I dropped it off just to have the head tube and BB shell raced and faced, but immediately realized there was other work I needed them to do for me because I do not have the tools (or know-how for that matter) to do so. These tasks included reaming the seat tube, racing the fork crown, and installing the headset (and fork subsequently). After considering the time, effort and cost involved for me to apply frame saver I had the professionals do that as well. The assembly is coming along well so far. I've built the wheels and will have a forthcoming blog post on that process. I still need to true them though. A job I'm not looking forward to based on previous experiences with truing wheels. Little by little the Soma Smoothie is making its way to completion. I still have a few of odds and ends to secure - handlebar plugs, headset spacers and front derailleur clamp - that will hold up the assembly for a bit, but at the pace I'm going right now being short a few parts is only a minor bump in the road. The salmon pink color of the Chris King headset really pops out against the white frame. I like it. A lot.

On Second Thought

Somewhere along the way when my decisions with the Soma Smoothie build took a turn toward a classic style one part just didn't belong any more. The carbon forks were keeping the bicycle from totally embracing the look of years gone by. What the Smoothie really needed to complete its vintage aesthetic was steel forks. The change will add many more grams to the overall weight but the difference will not concern me, I'm not racing in the Tour. I'm actually quite excited about this development and even more anxious now for the final result. Another mind changer had to do with the nature of the material of carbon parts. Odds may be in my favor that the forks will not break, but I still don't want to tempt fate considering the price I will have to pay in flesh alone in the event of carbon failure. Even if the forks were to merely crack, not breaking completely and sparing me from gruesome injury, they would still be compromised and need to be replaced. In comparison, steel provides piece of mind. Steel is resilient. Steel is reparable. Steel is real.

So what to do then with the Profile Design Silencer SL fork I already have? Craigslist. Don't want to end up with two forks for one bike so I gotta sell before I buy again. I listed the fork and a week came and went with no responses. I listed it again and the very next day I got an inquiry. Another day later it was sold. I took a minor hit in recouping my money, but that's par for the course in these cases. The buyer turned out to be a 16-year old guy who showed up at my door with a scale in hand. It's safe to say this kid was a complete bike geek, and I mean that with sincerity. The way he thought out loud about the carbon fork and it's addition to his bicycle in run-on sentences. His preoccupation with verifying the weight of the fork on his digital scale, never averting his eyes from the matter at hand while we talked. Our interaction was both fascinating and strange. If you've witnessed or encountered fanatics of Magic the Gathering, or comics, or Star Trek, and their enthusiasm for their love of these things you get the idea. Except for this young man it was bicycles. I was kinda proud to be contributing to his passion. This sort of zeal for beloved pastimes that is equally endearing, amusing, admirable and troubling is the reason why the Comic Book Guy is my favorite Simpsons character.

Within a matter of a few days of the Craigslist sale I had ordered and received a new Tange chromoly steel fork with lugged crown. Thank you Soma! This baby was intended to pair with my Smoothie frame, down to the sparkly pearl white paint. The sleek blades of the fork compliment the traditional tube sizes of the frame, whereas the fat blades of the carbon fork were disproportionate and it looked mismatched. The correlating color scheme is an important improvement as well. An interesting note in finding the fork on the Soma Fab website is it is not listed under the "Forks" section, but rather in the "Frames" section as an option with the pearl white Smoothie frame. I guess that makes sense being this particular fork was intended for a particular frame of a particular color, but then if I'm looking for a fork I would intuitively go to the forks section, not frames. I just so happened to be browsing the frames section and discovered the fork by dumb luck. Anyhow this whole situation played out how I had hoped it would and I am on track to finishing a sweet bike build. I'd like to continue this paragraph so that it extends to the bottom of the photo on the left because that's just how my mind works, but I'm out of thoughts on this subject.

Busted!

This is not a photo of a bike I own. This image is taken from the entertaining blog Busted Carbon which showcases cases of carbon failure in events of crashes, flying debris or even simple JRA (just riding along) scenarios. This picture and the many others at Busted Carbon illustrate why I will not have a carbon frame. I never want to be on a bike when the frame snaps like that. The odds are in your favor that it will not happen, but still if and when it does pray to your God that you come out of it in one piece. This damage isn't repairable. At least not worth your efforts to repair. As is testified to by some of the owners of these frames, the manufacturer isn't so willing to replace the frame either. Good chance you could be SOL. A steel frame will endure most of the crash and smash situations it's carbon cousin wont. I haven't been 100% on the carbon fork I bought for my Soma Smoothie, and seeing some of the examples at Busted Carbon has me closer to opting for a steel fork instead. The weight difference between the two doesn't mean much to me. The lack of options in a 1-1/8" threadless steel fork is the problem.

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.

Visions Of Dancing On The Pedals

Considering the drawn out manner in which the Soma Smoothie build is coming along I would probably be a good candidate to head up an airliner project at Boeing. The fact is the excess money I have to put into the bike isn't exactly abundant and there are periods, like currently, where I have to devote every single one of my dollars to other expenses and financial responsibilities. O, to be wealthy. But then if I were loaded with cash I could throw down for a dream machine at any moment and just wouldn't appreciate it nearly as much. When this rig is up and running it will be my ride for life. Or something like that. The longer the process, the more meaning there is in the experience

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.