tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post1894312157243252698..comments2024-03-27T05:14:23.738-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Smoothies All Around!Velouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67042642902319613092012-07-02T13:50:47.970-04:002012-07-02T13:50:47.970-04:00When should we expect a full review? I am very in...When should we expect a full review? I am very interested as I will be getting rid of my Look frame and going back steel. This frame has caught my eye and looking forward to your assessment!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15270052403467884602012-05-04T08:53:37.026-04:002012-05-04T08:53:37.026-04:00Lot's of Cross Checks at the races here. Not i...Lot's of Cross Checks at the races here. Not in the frantic top classes but in the rather larger fields of 35 to 50 year old dudes doing it for fun(?), yes. Lots.<br /><br />SpindizzyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-4742704679812760192012-05-02T19:09:26.550-04:002012-05-02T19:09:26.550-04:00I knew it!
ATTENTION: THE "SMOOTHIE" I...I knew it!<br /><br />ATTENTION: THE "SMOOTHIE" IS SMOOTH IN NO SMALL PART TO THE A23 RIMS. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF WIDE ROAD RIMS.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-75456433374165277872012-05-02T17:22:41.293-04:002012-05-02T17:22:41.293-04:00Moser tires are 23mm carbon krylions, fairly light...Moser tires are 23mm carbon krylions, fairly light. Campy wheels on the Moser aren't much lighter than the A23 wheels on the Smoothie. Some, but not a lot.<br /><br />Mercian tires are heavier for sure but still kevlar bead and we're splitting hairs. Mercian wheels are somewhat heavier I suppose, definitely front, not sure about rear.MDInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8529542493639161292012-05-02T16:42:30.057-04:002012-05-02T16:42:30.057-04:00Try the Moser wheels. Easiest way to compare tires...Try the Moser wheels. Easiest way to compare tires. Much of the road feel on any bike is the tires. Soma tires are Panasonic with the distinct Panasonic feel.<br /><br />20lbs plus on the Mercian includes heavy heavy tires.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61195978911585706112012-05-02T10:59:23.101-04:002012-05-02T10:59:23.101-04:00A dimension given to 0.01mm just has to be calcula...A dimension given to 0.01mm just has to be calculated, not measured. Measure it. Measure the right side. Measure the left side. The reason to do this is that the next bike you meet with identical derived front-center could be quite different. Catalog 72.5 degree head could easily be shorthand for 72.384 and there's no way you would know. Then there's sample variation. And, presuming the person holding the rule is able to make reproducible measurements accurate to 1mm, equal left and right is a proxy for frame alignment/quality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-77209479291440794362012-05-01T21:25:42.518-04:002012-05-01T21:25:42.518-04:00My son and I built up two bikes this Christmas. A...My son and I built up two bikes this Christmas. A Smoothie for him and an ES for me. His is all Sram Rival with black Thompson seatpost and stem, Velocity wheels, 28c tires green Brooks saddle and bar wrap and green Chris King headset. Really gorgeous. My Es has Campy Veloce, Brooks, Nitto, 32c Grand Bois Cypres tires-also beautiful. They both ride really well- pretty much as described. The Smoothie is smooth, but feels very tight, climbs very well and feels/is fast. The ES is more relaxed, but still very responsive. I was going down a steep downhill run tonight (40 mph without pedaling)-the bike had that nice balance between feeling stable yet still very responsive to steering. I also think the finish is a real step up from Surlys I've seen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-48811353391912383052012-05-01T19:55:55.621-04:002012-05-01T19:55:55.621-04:00Saddle (original issue Flite, which I choose for c...Saddle (original issue Flite, which I choose for comfort) and Speedplay X-2s, with two (Nitto "Butterfly" bottle cages but no bag, pump, computer, etc. Note that the wheels are 559 bsd with 22 mm Specialized Turbos or 23 mm Conti GPs -- smaller wheels are considerably lighter than larger ones. Phil titanium 113 mm bb, single 46-ring TA 5 Pro Vis crankset, 11-23 10 sp cassette. And, I am embarrassed to say it, a titanium (quill) stem binder bolt. But that's the extent of the light stuff. The almost identical '99 Riv, built as a fixed gofast, is a lb lighter.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-66378728506854953832012-05-01T19:47:04.123-04:002012-05-01T19:47:04.123-04:00Interesting. So are you including saddle & ped...Interesting. So are you including saddle & pedals in that 18.75lb figure? Because my Mercian Reynolds 631 fixed gear is over 20lb.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-80455495437286570952012-05-01T19:35:23.666-04:002012-05-01T19:35:23.666-04:00Dunno. It's a very minor issue, at least for m...Dunno. It's a very minor issue, at least for me -- a nice-riding 22 lb road bike would be a very desirable addition to the stable -- but, fwiw, my 58 cm '03 Riv f/f/headset weighed in at 7 lb and built up to 18.75 lb with one chainring/shifter. (It's now a fixed gear.) I imagine that a 58 cm Smoothie, all dressed, could come in well under 22 lb with nothing silly light on it. (Just did a 20-miler, dirt+pavement, on my what, 35 lb? Fargo with 800 gram, 45 mm SnoCat SL -- = Superlite!! -- rims, 800 gram, 60 mm Big Apple "Liteskin" (hah!) tires and 200 gram tubes with a 20 -gusting-to-35 headwind from the west as I slowly and painfully crawled up the hills. 22 lb would be magic!)Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-74003336878012007092012-05-01T19:17:21.621-04:002012-05-01T19:17:21.621-04:00NICE looking bike,looking forward to more on it! G...NICE looking bike,looking forward to more on it! Glad you made it home safely,my friend :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-23602950352334637932012-05-01T17:10:03.854-04:002012-05-01T17:10:03.854-04:00"excellent for stage races and competitive cl..."excellent for stage races and competitive club rides" <br /><br />Ha! Fast club rides yes.<br /><br />Stages races...wth are you guys smoking?<br /><br />The known variables on what constitutes good geometry in "average" sizes has been quantified as is pretty well known.<br /><br />Lately "good" geo has made its way to smaller bikes too. <br /><br />Your Moser, aside from spotty QC, the dent and its usage/age, was born in an era of experimentation. <br /><br />In other words, an army of smart Taiwanese engineers know a lot more about this stuff than many of the "name" italo-artisans.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61244028428567654192012-05-01T16:58:33.157-04:002012-05-01T16:58:33.157-04:00I will definitely take it on some fast rides and s...I will definitely take it on some fast rides and share my impressions. So far I can only say that the Soma is suspiciously comfortable. Not sure how to describe it, but I feel relaxed and settled in, as if my positioning is less aggressive than it actually is. The Moser by comparison feels as if it is in a constant state of anticipation. Maybe what I am really sensing is the Moser's twitchiness, I don't know. But it's an interesting difference I sensed right off the bat.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56048299936654133252012-05-01T16:49:33.596-04:002012-05-01T16:49:33.596-04:00This is a very nice bike, no argument. But I wonde...This is a very nice bike, no argument. But I wonder how accurate it is to describe it as "excellent for stage races and competitive club rides" Has anybody actually raced on a Soma Smoothie? Or is it the same deal as the Surly XCheck, which is a great bike but not really used for cross. Please take it on a club ride at least and compare to your Moser, I am genuinely curious.Neilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-57108016355991888782012-05-01T16:32:02.422-04:002012-05-01T16:32:02.422-04:00Good question. I guess it is a fairly classic, com...Good question. I guess it is a fairly classic, comfortable, highly customisable bicycle made by a small manufacturer. Most bicycles I feature here fall into this category.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-35790467047976992402012-05-01T16:24:43.308-04:002012-05-01T16:24:43.308-04:00To which niche does the smoothie belong?To which niche does the smoothie belong?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-81776966536790828732012-05-01T14:51:26.147-04:002012-05-01T14:51:26.147-04:00see lots of soma es bike around, but not so much t...see lots of soma es bike around, but not so much the regular smoothies; looking forward to your review! - caitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17865334409733322402012-05-01T14:35:39.365-04:002012-05-01T14:35:39.365-04:00It's as it sounds!It's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju5n_nomHRY" rel="nofollow">as it sounds</a>!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15301035879658061642012-05-01T14:24:55.352-04:002012-05-01T14:24:55.352-04:00Is "niche" pronounced as "nitch&quo...Is "niche" pronounced as "nitch", "neesh", or "Nietzsche" ?Thomas Puleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02480832735579963301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-43656032565981961222012-05-01T14:12:02.344-04:002012-05-01T14:12:02.344-04:00I wonder if that reviewer was weighing the bike wi...I wonder if that reviewer was weighing the bike with saddle and pedals as I do? I am guessing no, but don't know. Either way, the bike could be built up lighter if I were to install a straight out Campagnolo group instead of the Campy/IRD medley currently on there. I think the wheels and tires on my Moser might help as well. Still, we're not talking about a dramatic difference here.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-85614772894883421362012-05-01T14:04:09.511-04:002012-05-01T14:04:09.511-04:00TCO is not the main reason I dislike toe clips. A...TCO is not the main reason I dislike toe clips. As you've been cycling since 1987 you are obviously more experienced than I am and I respect that. People have different preferences and in the end we just have to agree to disagree.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-71797685893063105782012-05-01T13:53:27.852-04:002012-05-01T13:53:27.852-04:00When I got my first "good" bicycle in 19...When I got my first "good" bicycle in 1987, the shop staff set it up with toe clips and showed me how to use them. They said the straps should be loose, and that only racers tighten their toe straps -- and I've used them that way ever since.<br /><br />With loose straps, toe clips are an ideal foot retention system for commuting and touring. They work with any shoes, they are easy to get in and out of, they provide enough attachment for pedal lift, and they keep the feet from slipping off the pedals. <br /><br />However, it's certainly true that toe clips can aggravate TCO, so if that's an issue for you, I can see why you prefer other solutions. And I agree that modern pedal binding systems are safer and better than tight toe straps for fast road riding. But I do think there are good reasons to choose toe clips besides their vintage look.Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32676850390158989592012-05-01T13:47:53.298-04:002012-05-01T13:47:53.298-04:00I agree about the wide appeal of this bicycle. Tha...I agree about the wide appeal of this bicycle. That said, I am not necessarily interested in catering to a wide audience. Not because this blog is "elitist," but because there is a number of excellent blogs out there already that review popular, commonly available bikes. They are better at it than I am. My reviews work best when they are of niche products I am excited about. I believe there is a benefit to having a focus.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18490024750645283512012-05-01T13:39:50.485-04:002012-05-01T13:39:50.485-04:00For a blog like yours I imagine it is difficult to...For a blog like yours I imagine it is difficult to strike a balance between reviewing bikes that you are personally interested in and bikes that appeal to a wider audience. But I think this one succeeds! I am trying to decide between the Surly Pacer and the Soma Smothie and looking forward to your review.Maggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13580722099690078512012-05-01T12:22:56.484-04:002012-05-01T12:22:56.484-04:00Since the Smoothie ES has been mentioned here seve...<i>Since the Smoothie ES has been mentioned here several times, I just wanted to point out that it is not the same bike as the one I am reviewing. The Smoothie has road race geometry, whereas the ES is "road sport." I believe they also have different tire clearances and slightly different tubing.</i><br /><br />Yes, I didn't say this very clearly before. When I bought mine a few years ago, Soma sold the Smoothie and the Smoothie ES. (extra smooth). I think this eventually caused enough confusion--because they were indeed different--so they now just have the Smoothie and the ES.<br /><br />Thanks for the Buena Vista link Velouria.Christopher Fotosnoreply@blogger.com