Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New Soma San Marcos Clyde Ride

10 Speed Campy Veloce off my older Marinoni, Campy Zonda Wheelset, and a Sell Italia Turbomatic. Loads of fun!

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Quite light for a 63cm bike with two top tubes

Other than the fact that you're extremely tall, what does that extra top tube get you?

Nice looking bike, if a bit unusual. :)

Its designed by Rivendell and the guy there believes that the bigger frames benefit from the second tube - my less than scientific feeling is that it rides great.

The bike is everything I hoped my Cross-Check would be (and was not). Nimble, fast, light, and versatile.

Its designed by Rivendell and the guy there believes that the bigger frames benefit from the second tube...


His thought is that it re-establishes the triangle shape, for taller frames that are getting more "square". I.E. it brings the strength of a triangle back into the picture.

Very nice. 2nd top tube also helps stabilize front end to prevent shimmy oscillations at higher speeds. Were you able to test ride anywhere?

No, no test ride but I think you can call Rivendell for sizing advice. I probably could have gone a size down but it fits as it is. Soma has dealers in most areas of US

The front end is very stable and the Tange Prestige makes for a light feeling frame with just enough spring.

I have two pretty aggressive road bikes and this was intended to be a hop-on tool around bike so I could ride with my wife without getting all kitted up. That said it is faster than I imagined it would be.

Plan is to rack it up with Surly Nice on back and maybe do some light touring with it in future.

how big is that frame?

The bike is everything I hoped my Cross-Check would be (and was not). Nimble, fast, light, and versatile.

As someone who has been considering a Cross-Check, what where your issues with it? The 4130 tubing? Geometry? Fit?

how big is that frame?

Its a 63 I probably could have lived with the 59

As someone who has been considering a Cross-Check, what where your issues with it? The 4130 tubing? Geometry? Fit?

It was beautiful looking frame (british racing green) with a really good build by my LBS (Mirage 9 speed with Ambrosio wheels etc) fit well, and I did really want to like it. I wanted an all rounder and while it was not great at anything it could dabble acceptably at most things - the bikes have great resale value so if you fall out of love its easy to get lots of your money back. I sold it within 18 months after not riding it when the retro-modernized Allez arrived in the stable

But, it was heavy, slow and despite being steel not springy nor comfortable. Perhaps the gauge of the tubing of the 4130 makes it rigid but it is least comfortable steel bike I have owned ( 84 Allez, and Modern Marinoni with Columbus Zona tubing, and Soma are all way lighter and much more comfortable). I just wanted to go faster and while it cruised well it was slow to spin up and a bit chunky handling wise. The Soma, Allez and Sportivo have all been better choices for me - YMMV.

Good Luck

Now that you have had this bike for a few months how about a review of the ride, ect.

I like it. I have not ridden as much as I would have liked because I have been on the "fast" bike but I have taken it out for a few 40K + rides and many smaller ones. Very comfortable with lots of spring due to the tubing size but not a lot of flex - so get the benefits of comfort of small tubed steel without noodliness (sic). I'm a clyde and it is very appropriate for all-rounder - better for my actual application than a cross bike.

Recommended

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. It is on my short-list of "fastish and comfortable" frames that I want to buy.

Also, it's pretty.

Its quick and comfortable. My regular loop I averaged about ~27.5 kph or 17 mph with platform pedals - on my carbon it would be around 30. I think the pedals are worth at least 1 -1.5 kph