Originally Posted by
HardyWeinberg
The ES has kind of intermediate length chainstays so a sizeable load on a rear rack might not throw the handling off as much as it would a bike with shorter chainstays, if you can keep the load centered at the hub or in front of it.
I thought Soma's schtick was that it is Japanese steel that they use.
Soma's whole goal is to make new school vintage frames, with small improvements if they come up with any. Not so many lugs, but similar idea. I have the buena vista frame and it is similar to the vintage with more sizes, nicer steel and versatile geometry.