Long story short, I got this bike off a guy who was clearing out his shed, originally I was going to get his somewhat ratbagged Rossin, and wound up buying both. His dad got this bike in Switzerland. Can anyone help with what model this is, what type of tubing it's made of (I'm assuming Columbus) and what year (I'm guessing mid-80's). Many thanks.

I'm thinking it's mid nineties just from aesthetics. Lovely Italian steed.

I can understand wanting to pin down this lovely make and model. Sometimes ya can't. But... This looks like its going to be a real nice ride once its up and running!!!

So... if ya can't then make it yours and name it what you want.

Only ref I know of it is this Somec catalog scan from Mark Bulgier and as you see they built (not sure what year but also guessing 1990s despite some models called "2001") with Columbus Aelle to SLX/SPX plus some with "Air" fittings like forkblades.

https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/somec/

What size seatpost does your frame take?

Up until recently Somec had all their catalogs on their website. Luckily you can still access them via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20200225...tage_catalogs/

However, the scans are fairly lo res and there's not much in the way of details.

Yours is interesting as the colour scheme fits with the 1992 catalog, but the non-fastback seat stay/seat tube junction suggests it might be a bit earlier. It doesn't appear that there is any 'cartouche' on the seat stay caps, which is odd, as Somec wouldn't have missed a chance to stamp their name on something!

Apparently Somec are quite good at responding to frame ID queries, so maybe shoot Lara an e-mail with some pictures and serial number: https://somec.com/en/contacts/

Edit: looks to me like the Mod Cromor GL on page 5 of this catalog: https://web.archive.org/web/20200205...e/04_somec.pdf
Not sure what year that catalog is, but probably 1994?

Seat tube is 27.0. Apparently the tubing could be Columbus SPX.

Should be a Cromor or Gara (maybe the later as the seatstay cap does not have - SOMEC - stamps), by this time the entry level models have that as well, but like with anything Italian, there are always exceptions based on their mood that they or available material. The Mario Martini paintjob is cool.

Edit: For Sale: 56cm Somec Elite complete bike, Campagnolo record, Zonda wheelset etc. (Comment 9117753) (lfgss.com)
check here, its really similar minus lug cutouts. (I'm not sure if he's right about being an Elite)

From a SOMEC expert!
Best, Ben

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sadly, the Wayback Machine has recently changed and now requires registration


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But Somec has all their catalogs on their site like before

Does it? I just get asked for a donation, but I can still use the site.

Excellent, they did disappear for a while, although they could be found using a popular internet search engine. https://somec.com/en/vintage-catalogs/

They're also on bulgier.net as a backup: https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/somec/ (where the '83 catalog is higher resolution and the '86 catalog is a merging of a few different versions.)

Only owner and fanboy, but thanks Ben, made my day!