The joint venture project between Soma Fabrications and Rivendell Bicycle Works has just arrived at the shop, and it’s called the SOMA San Marcos.
- nice fork crown and head tube lugs
The frame is produced and distributed by Soma, with the design and proprietary lugs coming from Rivendell.
- San Marcos Seat Tube
Oh yeah, it has two top tubes, or one 'undertube'
One inch threaded fork allows for a quill stem to get the handlebars nice and high.
seat cluster looks very clean, uses Rivendell's very neat hex net seat binder system
I’m sure we’ll get questions about the second top tube, all Rivendell needs to do now is make a special bag for in between the tubes to hold a fly rod or other tubular shaped cargo.
soma head badge and fork crown
This is a nice looking, versatile frameset with lots of tire clearance and plenty of rack and fender mounts. It’s certainly not light by racing bike standards, but it’s also supposedly not intended for heavy duty use. I suppose that term is relative though. The frameset retails for $900 and is made in Taiwan. This one is a 59cm and the first one I’ve seen in person.
Here’s one for Danny! Full frameset shot.
Looks beautiful… Wish I could see the whole frame in one picture!
Danny,
There’s a full-bike shot on Riv’s site: http://www.rivbike.com/products/show/amos-frameset/70-999
-L
Grant makes a very convincing argument for the double top tube featured here at the Rivendell site (now I wish I had one too! or rather two too!). I, too, am confused by the rugged structure yet being called a light tourer. Perhaps you can elaborate on this as you build up the bike? Cannot wait to see the final product!
Well…consider the source of the “light touring” label. The tubing is 0.8 x 0.5 x 0.8 in the top(s) and down tube, and 0.9 x 0.6 seat tube. That’s too light for loaded touring, although no doubt the 2TT (second top tube) makes up for it. But then…I think a bike for loaded touring should be able to take a 40mm tire with a fender, and the San Marcos maxes out at 33.333mm with a fender, or about 35mm without.
From the start it was supposed to be a sporty road bike, not a touring bike, and that’s what how it ended up. It just so happens to fit a tire way bigger than the normal measly designed road bikes, which is why there may be a temptation to compare it to actual touring bikes. And there are plenty of measly touring bikes—bikes actually billed as touring bikes—that are less tour-able (I’d say) than the Sanmar Co.
And it ain’t that heavy. It has less “bike fat” on it—I would say none, of course, but I’d humbly and meekly challenge anybody suggest an area where steel could or should be removed. Most bike riders I know, including the clothesline-lean ones, have more fat to lose than this frame does.
But…it really comes down to how it rides and how safe it is, and how comfortable it is. I have not ridden a better-handling bike, ever. Of course, “consider the source” kicks in here, too.
Best thing: Find one at a bike shop and ride it, and then compare how it feels and handles, and its versatility (tires, racks, fenders) with other bikes. Any bike that beats this is one terrific bike.
Schooled. Thank you. =)
Grant,
How does this frame, built up in the same manner, compare to the Sam Hillborne or the A. Homer Hilson. My wife has agreed that if I meet certain stipulated requirements, there will be a Rivendell bike in my future. I love the A.H.H. but price-wise, the Hillborne and San Marcos are more likely. I would choose the Hillborne first but I may be one of those folks whose bike size is the $1500 model rather than the $1050 model.
If I decide to buy a Rivendell bike, it will be because I have moved up to 20+ mile rides with a possible goal of completing a century. All street, paved bike path and highway riding.