radwilko

Hey GUys

I'm new here and would like some help!
I'm currently residing in London and about a year ago I decided to pack in the boring commute and start cycling to work.
Luckily a friend had a spare bike gathering cobwebs in his backyard which I bought off him.

Turns out it's an old Somec road bike with Columbus SLX tubing, but that's about all I know.
I'll post up some photo's this weekend. The decals have pretty much all come off. Reckon worth turning into a project?

I've just bought a new stem for her, a Cinelli 1R, and on the hunt for some 26.4mm Handlebars. Any ideas??

Cheers!!

romperrr 

Post pictures and we can talk about it. Sounds like you have a great frame on your hands.

non-fixie 

Yes, pics please. Nice stuff, SOMEC's. Mine went to a fellow BF member, as it was way too small for me, alas.

Bianchigirll 

Welcome the forums. Cinelli bars will be the easiest to find in 26.4

radwilko

Cheers team. Will definitely get some photos this weekend.
Any recommendations on the 26.4 Cinelli Bars? Read a few older threads and consensus was slightly towards the 64's?

Italuminium

That all depends on your physique and the kind of shifters you want to run. Bar width depends on shoulder width; if you're a broad shouldered guy, get some wide bars, and if you're skinny, skinny bars The drop is a matter of preference. If you want to get real deep and aero, get deep drops like the Cinelli Criterium bars, but if you like to stay a litte more upright (probably the best for a commuter bike) get some shallower ones like the Cinelli Giro d'Italia. Also, modern integrated braking/shifting levers are better suited to modern compact/ergo bars.

Have fun building that Somec, I'm building one myself now, the one @non-fixie was talking about.

radwilko

Cheers man. Sounds like the Cinelli Giro d'Italia are the way to go. A lot of positive stuff about them on the forums too. I currently do have integrated brake shifters though... Not going to be a problem is it??
The bike needs a really good clean.. but once I've done that I'll post photos

radwilko

Here's some photos guys

Zieleman

That's a cool bike! Definitely worth a time- and £- consuming project. I vote for DT shifters, but I realise the comfort of brifters is a strong force against them.

radwilko

Haha cheers dude! Not sure if I'm brave enough for DT shifters yet, haha maybe in time..Bartape colour though... my newest conundrum.. was white before the black and think I prefered it but impossible to keep clean!

Zieleman

The plasticy 'Bike Ribbon' is easy to clean with certain wet whipes (clorox?). Very durable and cheap as well.
Or Benotto tape, but then DT shifters are a must IMO.

edit: Ambrosio tape, also swell

radwilko

Cheers @Zieleman I'll check them all out once I find the handlebars.
I guess new wheels and seat will be next.. It's going to be never ending huh! haha

Italuminium

Whats' wrong with the current shifting set up? the stem and bars look fine to me too. Almost too nice to ride in London! The seat, tape and wheels are indeed candidates for replacement, non-matching wheels are a bit of a shame on a bike as nice as this one.

radwilko

Hey thanks
I need to replace the headset as it has seized up and is pretty nasty at the moment. So while I was changing that I wanted to replace the stem as it is too long for me. The stem I got doesn't fit my handlebars so hence the new handlebars aswell haha

I agree on the wheels.. Do you have any suggestions? I'm pretty clueless about them.

radwilko

Hey guys, thanks for help on this bike here is an update.
- Cinelli bars and stem
- Turbo Saddle
- Stronglight Chain Rings
- Shimano 8 spd Cassette
- KMS chain
- MKS track pedals (in process of trying get the old ***ers off)

Still really want new wheels but not sure where to start on those.

Cheers!

radwilko

Any advice on a new wheelset would be great! The rear wheel is a Mavic Reflex rim which maybe worth keeping?
Also is a new paint job priority?? I really like the original Somec design but it's scratched to **** and some of the paint has come off in places?