mthomas

Here is mine. It is targeted primarily at commuting, which explains the brifters and ten speed drivetrain. Well, partially explains it... I had the brifters in my parts box from when Nashbar had them on for $150.

With 26 x 1.5 tires, 175mm cranks, 46-36-26 chainrings and an 11-28 cassette the gearing varies from 23 to 104 gear inches.

Here are the highlights from the build list:

Frame / Fork: Soma Saga 54 cm, 26” wheels
Headset: Cane Creek S3
Crank: Sugino XD600 46-36-26t, 175mm
Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN54 68 x 113mm
Shifters: Ultegra ST-6603 10 spd
Rear Derailleur: Deore LX
Front Derailleur: I.R.D. Alpina-d
Cassette: Ulltegra CS-6700 11-28t
Chain: KMC DX10SC
Brakes: Shimano BR-R550
Saddle: Brooks B-17
Wheels: Deore XT / Mavic XC717
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon 26 x 1.5
Fenders: SKS P50 with Velo Orange leather mudflap.
Handlebar: Nashbar generic
Stem: Velo Orange 17-degree 80mm
Bell: Velo Orange brass spring bell
Seat post: Thomson Elite 27.2 x 300mm
Rear Rack: Tubus Cosmo Stainless

Let's see yours!

kayakdiver

Looks sweet! Enjoy the new ride.

jabberwocky

Sweet bike! I'm in the process of building my 50cm Saga. Should be finished in the next week or two. Mine is a touring oriented build (I already have 3 commuters, don't need another ).

Build list is:
Hubs: Chris King classics
Spokes: DTSwiss Comps
Rims: Mavic XM719s, 36 hole
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, 1.6
Crank/BB: Shimano XT trecking (26-36-48).
Shifters: Ultegra 9-speed bar ends
Rear Derailleur: Deore XT
Front Derailleur: Deore
Cassette: Sram pg990 (11-32)
Chain: Sram
Brakes: Avid SD7s w/ koolstop pads
Levers: Cane Creek Drop Vs
Headset: Chris King
Stem: Thomson Elite
Bars: Ritchey Biomax
Tape: Cinelli cork
Seatpost: Thomson
Saddle: Brooks B17 (if I like it) or my usual WTB Speed V (if I don't).
Fenders: Honjos

Haven't picked racks/panniers, but will probably go with Tubus's stainless set and Ortliebs. The plan is to get the actual bike built by the end of the year and use it as a commuter for a few months to make sure I get it dialed before doing some weekend tours in the spring and then my first longer tour in the summer (ACA Atlantic Coast from Maine back to DC). Will definitely post pictures when I get it finished.

tarwheel 

Very nice. If the Saga had been available last winter, I would have bought one, but got a Bob Jackson World Tour instead.

Speedo

The Saga is a very nice looking frame!

Speedo

Barrettscv 

Hi MThomas,

Very nice!

I completed a build on my Soma Double Cross in October of 2008, see: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...nally-finished . It's been a great bike and it's covered more than 6000 miles.

I've been considering a Saga for touring and loaded commuting and would use the same Sugino triple crankset as your bike.

How is the chainline while using the big ring? How tight is the clearance between the granny gear and the chainstay?

Could a 110mm bottom bracket be used? I would like to fit the crank as tight against the frame as possible.

Michael

Stjtoday

The original build, I believe that one of the Soma techs put together used a 110mm. It was what I purchased for my build, I'll post my pics and thoughts when I get it all put together. Still a few weeks on the remaining components on order.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedalturista/3927075395/

mthomas

Stjtoday, I actually tried a 110mm bottom bracket and I was getting some chain scrape against the inside of the big ring when the chain was positioned on the middle ring and the smallest cog. You may not have this issue - I'm running a ten speed rear end. Even still, with the 110 mm BB, the distance between the left crank and the left chainstay as the crank passed it was noticeably different from the same measurement on the right side (12 mm vs. 6 mm). With the 113 mm BB I get a 9mm gap on the right side and the same 12 mm gap on the left. This does not offend my sense of symmetry nearly as much!

Barrettscv, I love your double-cross. Very pretty bike.

I can't get a caliper in to measure the gap between the granny and the chainstay, but I would estimate it at about 7 mm with the 113 BB. Presumably that means it was 4 mm with the 110 BB - all I can tell you for certain was that it cleared and it was pretty close. Chainline is pretty good for a guy like me that spends a lot of time in the middle ring. The big ring lines up somewhere between the third and fourth cogs and the middle ring lines up with the sixth cog.

Stjtoday

Thanks for the info Mt, I guess I'm going to find out for myself. I have a 110mm sitting on the bench, only difference with you is I have a 9 speed set up, and I chose the Sugino xd 500t triple crankset. With the holidays I'm still probably a couple weeks away from building. But I will post my results and hopefully some pics when I get to it.

415wrench

I'm also trying out a 110mm bb on my saga as soon as i get my hands on it. I will also post my experience.
It's gonna be with a 9 speed 11-34 cassette with a sugino xd triple 24-36-46.
https://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu133/apstilts/2.jpg
https://i641.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/49c5a389.jpg

Barrettscv 

Hi MT,

It sounds like the 113mm BB is the one to use with a 10 speed set-up. I also plan to use the middle ring for most of my commuting. The 36t chainringring with a 11-28 ten speed cassette will provide a huge range that will cover 90% of my riding, I'll only need to use the big ring when above 21 mph.

Thank you for the complement on the Double Cross. If I was was to continue to use only one bike for all my riding, I would use the Double Cross or a Smoothie ES. My plan is to use the Saga for most of my riding, including commuting, touring and wet weather rides. The Double Cross is limited to about 20 lbs on the rear rack, beyond that the handling is not totally stable. I'll continue to use use the Double Cross for Century rides and longer group rides once the Saga is built. One day, I'll replace the Double Cross with a more specialized road bike.

Michael

415wrench

The 110 turned out to be ideal with my older sugino xd2 triple. I couldn't ask for a more perfect chainline. The middle ring lines up perfectly with the middle of the cassette.

Stjtoday

110 seems to have worked well here also, still waiting on racks and a few final pieces. But she is going for the inaugural ride today.

tarwheel 

Very nice build, Stgtoday. Where did you get the brake levers with tan covers? What brand are they?

I've got the same brakes and shifters as your Soma on my BJ. I just added a Tubus Cargo rear rack (Christmas present), and plan to get some tour-ready wheels for my birthday in January -- probably Velocity Dyads 36H laced to Ultegra hubs.

Stjtoday

I got the levers at Harris, https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brake-levers-drop.html . (Cane Creeks)

On wheels I cant say enough about the job the guys at Universal Cycle did on mine. Complete custom, and the craftsmanship was spot on.

stevemtbr

So Stgtoday have you put it on the scale yet? I'm curious on how much it weighs.

Stjtoday

You know Steve I'm not sure of the weight. It's a beast, would guess 20+? Never really had weight in mind when I chose the components. Was looking for the best reliability, and best quality for the buck components. Heck, I think the kick stand alone is 1lb. She rides like a dream, I really like the drivetrain, and very pleased with the wheels.

415wrench

https://s641.photobucket.com/albums/u...687_465793.jpg

https://s641.photobucket.com/albums/u...687_465793.jpg

almost finished.

Barrettscv 

The Soma frame is a bit lighter than most of the popular alternatives. The heat treated tubing is plenty strong also. My size 60cm Soma Double Cross weights less than 24 lbs and it has a Shimano road triple and a Brooks Professional saddle. I estimate that a similar Saga would weigh only 1 pound more.

Once you add fenders and racks, the weight will climb... of course.

Michael

tarwheel 

I am considering ordering some touring wheels from Universal. What did you use for rims and hubs? I was about to order some Dyad rims laced to Ultegra hubs but they ran out of those rims.

Stjtoday

I went with the Shimano XT hubs, DT Swiss Revolution Butted spokes (2.0 - 1.5mm), Mavic A719 Rims 36 hole, and brass nipples.

Stjtoday

Tarwheel, almost forgot. If you place a Universal Cycle order current valid coupon codes: vip10 for 10% off order $100 or more, or vip15 for 15% off $300 or more.

jabberwocky

Finally got mine built. Snapped a quick pic before riding home from work.

Stjtoday

Nice build Jabber, sharp looking ride.

mthomas

I haven't been back to this thread in a while. Lots of great looking builds since I last looked.

I'm amazed that every single one of us picked out silver colored fenders... must be the dark frame color.