Soma frames - any good?

Hi guys,
I'm living in the lovely land of fondue here in Switzerland and rather than bring my lovely Geoff Roberts SP from London to here in Zurich I have found myself a little bikeshop who specialise in single/fixes (http://www.zweiradgeber.ch) to build me something fixed special.

I'm 6'5" so framewise they are recommending a larger Soma Delancey (http://somafab.com/delancey.html) or Track Rush (http://somafab.com/rush.html). I am thinking of going for a chromed out retro look on dark green frame with deep vs a bit like this French baby http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008/july/1/AlexKezha.htm. Still thinking about bars, brakes etc but suggestions welcome.

I was wondering if anyone had any opinion or experience of either of these frames or Soma frames. It's my first new build having riden the Roberts on London streets for many years. However it will be very much a social riding (great cycle routes round the Lake and city) for evenings and weekends rather than a commute so I want it to have comfort and classy swagger. Yeah I said it!

Baggy

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baggy have a word with tricity bendix as she's rolling on the soma rush, I think.

I've got a soma smoothie, road bike and its fine, nice feel, nimble, and had no problems with it in the almost two years I've had it, just make sure the frame size is correct, on the smoothie its more of a compact geometry, not sure whether the rush and the delancey share the shame geometry.

hope this helps.

I like my Soma Rush. I'm selling it to fund another bike but I'd keep it if I could.

I am told that Soma are discontinuing the Delancey frame, if they have one go for it because it is lovely!

Very classy looking I think.

I totally adore my Rush, but I love it mostly cos the geometry is good for girlness (short top tube). If you're 6'5 you'll probably need a 61 which has a 58.5cm actual top tube which may not suit you. It's pretty similar on the Delancey. Would definitely try before you buy if I were you.

But apart from that, the Rush is awesome.

Thanks Tricity, I'm falling in lust with the Delancey myself cause their racing green finish looks lush.
I'm starting to think about rims and bars now. Want some deep Vs with a brush metallic look and but not decided on drops or flat bars. Love drops but maybe fancy a change as this will be totally a cruising bike for town (got great cycle routes here in Switerzland, none of this pothoel rubbish in LDN and lock ups everywhere).
What do have on yoour Rush?

DP18s laced to Halo hubs, and skinny road drops off an old BSA.

I reckon the Rush would look pretty good with flats but drops would look way better on the Delancey. Plus it's good to have more options for hand positioning even if you're not going to be on the drops much.

Here's my Rush

That Soma looks great, and so does the totally black bike behind it. What frame is that?

That's ShadowRush. Like ShadowMario in Super Mario Sunshine.

's why I'm so fast, cos I'm busy chasing ShadowRush around in order to rescue Princess Peach.

Or something.

I've had too much coffee.

where is the rush available if anywhere in the uk?

they used to be stocked by mosquito up in islington, where I got mine, but you'll have to check if they are still importing them

absolutely fine!

couldnt find a stockist
gutted

I think I saw one in Brixton Cycles?

Mosquito did a bike fit, ordered and built a Soma road bike for a colleague. It's a lovely bike (Columbus & Tange tubing) although surprising expensive I thought. Mosquito specced the wrong brakes, shifters and seatpost, so I can't recommend them.

just heard from the Distributor the Delancey is being discontinued due 'due to impending and unreasonable price increases' their trying to get hold of the last stock from Cali...fingers crossed..!

gogosama try these guys http://www.fine-adc.com who are helping me out..

Just so to make you aware, Velodrama.co.uk is where you can purchase Soma frames from in the UK.
We do custom builds and wheel building too using Soma and IRD products.
Contact or call us anytime!

Some good stuff.

This cap! Do you have any size info for these? I have a tiny 'ed so I'm hoping these are made for the Japanese market.

They are elasticated at the back and I have a little head feels great! Stev's head is well, average? and he has no compaints either.

The elasticated band is wide so doesn't cut of circulation, comfortable!

Soma are a dime a dozen here in the states. Just like Surly. Reliable work bike. Rush has a Tange Prestige front end, with a generic chromo rear. Same with the Delancy, but the delancy looks prettier with lugs and all that jazz. A few guys i know have been beating the shit out of their Rushes around here for years. Soma puts out a fancier image than the product they produce is. In other words, "Designed in San Francisco!!!! (Made in Taiwan)" Which isn't really all that bad.

Good product, better marketing.

They've sold me a cap.

:-)

chapeau!