jbarham

I wish I could say I built this, but I opted to take it to a local bike shop and have an expert do it. Maybe some day I'll have the courage to try it on my own.

60cm Soma Saga Disc
Shimano 105 5703 Triple
Avid BB7 Disc Brakes
Selle SMP TRK saddle
Handbuilt DT Swiss TK540 wheels w Deore XT hubs
VO Zeppelin 52 fenders
Crow Cycle double leg kickstand
37mm Marathon Plus tires

tarwheel 

Looks great. I think you'll love the Saga. I got a canti-brake version last fall and have piling up miles on in it, including riding the GAP-C&O Canal trails from Pittsburgh to DC in May. More typically, I'm using it for commuting and riding on local greenways.

jbarham

I bought it primarily as a commuter but I think I'm going to get out on the road with it and meet the rest of my family at a church camp about 50 miles from home.

I've logged fewer than 10 miles on it so far and am just loving the handling despite its longer wheelbase. Still need to get my rear rack installed and fiddle with the cockpit. Looking forward to putting it under load to see how it responds.

alan s 

Nice looking bike. You don't see many road triples these days. Should be able to take you anywhere.

jbarham

I have yet to get into the big ring. I'm kind of embarrassed by this.

MileHighMark

Nice looking bike, and good choice of fenders.

jbarham

I'd have wound up with a Salsa Vaya 2 if there were any to be found in my size. Sadly (and fortunately) there were none available. Really digging the Saga and snobbishly proud that it's a rarity around here.

Wilfred Laurier

That is one pretty bike!

You probably should adjust the saddle so it is closer to level. Nose-down like that can cause excessive pressure on the hands and wrists.

jbarham

It's an optical illusion. The bike is tilted forward on the kickstand.

Wilfred Laurier

I saw that, but the saddle still looks like it is tilted forward compared to a line parallel to one drawn through the front and rear axles.

jbarham

Yeah I think you're right. I wasn't convinced until I looked at the saddle rails but they're definitely pointing downward compared to the top tube.

Wilfred Laurier

Comparing it to the top tube is also problematic - doesn't that frame have a sloping top tube?

I must repeat, though - Damn gorgeous bike!

MileHighMark

Setting up the SMP saddles can be tricky. With mine, I start with the bike on level ground, and place a bubble level on the saddle to get a neutral position. After some tweaking I usually end up with the nose a little higher than the rear.

jbarham

LOL. Didn't think about that, either. I believe it's a 5* slope.

And thanks! The bike has exceeded my expectations so far.

jbarham

Good to know.

I have an SMP on my Trek 7.5 also and I've always felt like I was being pushed into the handlebars.

RidingMatthew

that is a great looking bike. I was looking at it and I was like wow that seems really big a lot of room in the frame and stuff. Then I went back and reread the size 60cm no wonder. I ride a 52cm

MileHighMark

If I can't easily ride a bike no-handed, then I know that my saddle is either too high, too far forward, or angled down too much.

alan s 

Why is that, and why would you be embarrassed about it?

jbarham

This probably goes a long way in explaining why I've never felt comfortable riding no-handed on the Trek. :/

jbarham

I haven't gone fast enough yet. The ratio in the middle ring and middle sprocket provides a fair amount of resistance.

Embarrassed because I guess I'm used to spending a fair amount of time in my biggest chain ring. Maybe embarrassed is too strong a word. Worried is too strong, too. I don't know. I didn't think there was anything unusual about the group I bought. The big ring has 50T. I think the cassette is 11-28.

I'm probably still adjusting to the touring frame and 37mm tires, too.

MileHighMark

Lots of riders have their saddle too high and too far forward. The latter is often done in an attempt to correct the falling-into-the-bars feeling. Problem is, you need to move your saddle back/down to have your weight supported by your backside. Even then, many saddles require a slight nose-up angle to keep your sit bones where they need to be.

Wilfred Laurier

I know what you mean. My touring/everyday bike has a mtb crank on it with 22/32/44 chainrings, so I use the large ring a lot. But the crank and/or bottom bracket and/or rings is/are so damn creaky that I am tconsidering putting on a road triple crankset with external BB that I have laying around... but I don't know how often I am going to use the large 52 tooth chainring, considering that the middle ring will only be two teeth smaller than the large ring I have now.

Also, my neighbor, a younger chap who likes to ride fast, has referred to my current undersized chainrings as 'embarrassing'

TobinH

That's a strange choice for commuting. Are you putting on a rack to carry very heavy loads?

jbarham

Yep. I'm transferring my Tubus Cargo rack to the Soma.

I've been commuting on a Trek 7.5fx since 2008 and while it's great for 2-3 mile rides I found myself wanting drops and a longer chainstay. And disc brakes. And ... basically ... I just wanted a new bike. n+1

jbarham

I made a pretty radical adjustment to my seat, lowering the angle by probably 15*. Gotta say I found it more comfortable and I was able to pop right out of my seat and ride no-handed with ease. I think I may need to raise the post by a couple cm now, though. Not getting very good extension on the downstroke.