Originally Posted by tarwheel

I also considered buying a Soma ES and it's another great option. In my case, the Casseroll geometry suits me better -- taller head tube and shorter top tube -- but that's an individual fit issue. However, I also like the canti brakes on the Casseroll, which provide better braking and more room for larger tires and fenders. The Casseroll also includes a front rack, but I left it off mine because my Jackson already had one that I rarely use and I was trying to minimize the weight as much as possible.

I've owned at least 10 road bikes over the years, including some quality racing frame (GIOS, Merckx, Bianchi, De Bernardi) and the Casseroll is the nicest riding bike I have owned. I am not a racer and comfort is more important to me than speed, stiffness and extreme light weight. However, the Casseroll seems to ride just as fast as my Merckx and De Bernardi racing frames. I rode a century in April at an 18.5 mph pace in very windy weather with my Casseroll rigged with fenders and a large seatbag (see photo above), which is a good time for me under those conditions.