Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - New Soma hubs - whats the word?

Anyone running the new SOMA hubs? The ones without the cutouts that look like this:

http://www.somafab.com/hubs_track_somaxii.jpg

They claim "Redesigned for 2007! Beefier shell, stronger flanges, and shinier finish". Just wondered if anyone had used these or if they were rebadged versions of another hub?

[tried searching but its broken today - so apologies if this has come up recently]

I like how they look!

I wanted a set for my Bareknuckle, but couldn't find anybody with them in stock yet, so I went with Surly hubs instead. That was a few month ago.

soma is sending me a set to review on our site. im pretty excited. look for the review on our site
http://www.1lesscar.com/reviews.htm

I just about pulled the trigger on a set of Sovos hubs the other day because there were the only solid flange hubs I could find, besides Phil. As soon as I save a few more dollars I am going to go ahead and buy these.

I just about pulled the trigger on a set of Sovos hubs the other day because there were the only solid flange hubs I could find, besides Phil. As soon as I save a few more dollars I am going to go ahead and buy these.


what?

man, you have like more options than you think

pretty much all suzue hubs are solid, including the basics, disco's and carbon version
then theres superbe stuff
then theres the new grand compe hubs

and dura aces. they are awesome hubs. but a little pricey.

And Surlys.... which is what I assume the Somas are, more or less.

the old sovos were dimensions.

those somas look like the hubs that come on bianchi pistas

Yea the Miche Pista hubs are solid too.

the somas look like suzue jrs to me, i am sure they arent tho. Or at least hope so...

So enough about solid hubs - has anyone tried the Somas or what?

not to rub it in,but look what came in the mail today
http://bp1.blogger.com/_TxsQgsUhZQo/Rie5VLp8pPI/AAAAAAAAAA8/aqN11YlbWOM/s400/tats.jpg

Hello virgin wheel build....and possibly some math.

Ahem...

It's a hub. It has high flanges, so it's kind of old school, and definitely heavier than it needs to be, though certain retrogrouches will insist it builds a stronger wheel. It's threaded on both sides, so you can run any combination of cogs and freewheels you want. It costs more than $20, so unless something went horribly wrong the axles are good and so are the track nuts, and the flanges won't explode even if laced radially. The axles are hollow, so you're one dremel tool session away from being able to use quick releases. It has cartridge bearings, so it will turn smooth and take a lot of abuse without needing to be maintained, though it will have a little more seal drag and friction than a freeball setup. The stock bearings are fine, when they're done you can put phil-grade ones in it for $10. They come in every drilling except some number that some dude needs for some reason to use some random rim he has rather than spring the two jacksons for a new rim, and they come in silver and black. Stock spacing is 120, if you can get your pants on on the first try you can respace them to whatever. The logo is unobtrusive but will come off easily.

It's a hub. ...so unless something went horribly wrong the axles are good and so are the track nuts, and the flanges won't explode even if laced radially...The stock bearings are fine...

Landgolier - do you know all this (such as the axles and track nuts being good, stock bearings not dying like Surlys used to) or are you just summarising off the website?

I really want to hear from people who are running these hubs to get an idea if they're worth the premimum over Formulas as I'm building a wheelset for a friend. There seems to be little info out there on these hubs in terms of their finish quality or durability. Hence the question.


not to rub it in,but look what came in the mail today

Nice, whats your first impression?

haha. he said freeball

i got this in a email from them

Sure we can send you a pair of track hubs....32 or 36hole?
We like these hubs a lot. Originally we were speccing just Formula
track hubs for our wheels, they looked nice, but it seemed everyone was
using that hub design, so we designed our own.

nice looking for sure.

i got this in a email from them

Sure we can send you a pair of track hubs....32 or 36hole?
We like these hubs a lot. Originally we were speccing just Formula
track hubs for our wheels, they looked nice, but it seemed everyone was
using that hub design, so we designed our own.

wow, even Soma thinks their hubs were Formulas. too bad they're not.

when did these come out?

These are new for '2007' - so probably anytime late last year onwards. Mentioned in Soma 'news' section, dated 11-1-06


The old ones where just branded Formulas and looked like:

http://www.revolverbikes.com/files/images/hub_trk_slv.img_assist_custom.jpg

NOVATEC! JOYTECH! not FORMULA!!!!