A lot of the Soma ES questions I've searched for seem to be fairly old on here so I thought I'd ask again.

My 2014 Soma ES is my first road bike and I'm wondering what other people's opinions are. I bought it mainly as a laid back road/sport bike - but it's starting to turn into more of a commuter. I'm wondering how much of a rack load I can consistently carry day in and day out. Generally I love the bike (except for the color - thought it would grow on me) just wanting to hear what others think. I have a friend trying to talk me into getting into some 80s Japanese steel - but I think that's a cult of some sort.

I keep hearing people talk about stiffness - but I don't have anything really to compare this frame to.

I have not owned an ES, but any time I'm looking at frames, it is always tempting.

Opinion: I assume you could consistently carry as much as you'd ever want to for a commute, up to the weight limit of the rack.

An older Japanese steel bike, unless of top quality, would be a step down; the ES is probably stiffer than most bikes of that era.

What color was the 2014? I was close to pulling the trigger and buying a Soma ES frame this summer, but just can't get past that "Cappuccino" brown color. If they come up with something better for 2016 I may still get an ES.

I'd say that if you're happy enough with the ES, ignorance may be bliss. (I don't mean that to be snarky -- there are times when I wish I'd just stuck to one bike. )

the TIG Welders at the factories making them are skilled by now doing the same thing all day long , for years.

If you sent Soma an email, they would probably tell you how much of a load you could safely carry on the ES. My guess is that the load capacity would be more of a function of what RACK you use rather than the frame. If you're using the Soma for commuting, I doubt if the loads you carry are any concern -- unless you are one of those people who carry a bunch of gear while commuting. I bike commute regularly on 5 different bikes, including two touring bikes, a sport tourer, a cyclocrosser and a racing bike. My commuting loads probably average 5-10 lbs and I am not the slightest bit concerned about carrying that amount of weight on any of my bikes.

Blasphemy!

An 80s Japanese bike is always better in ride and quality than a soulless tigwelded bike of the 20th century.


...kidding.
...sorta.

The load you can carry is more about the rack than the bike. What rack do you have? If it turns out to be inadequate for what you want, you could always switch it out for a heavier duty rack.

I'm thinking of building one up myself with the carbon fork. It's between that and a Pacer with the same fork. It's a tough decision between the better sprinting and the rear rack options.

One positive of the Pacer is I wouldn't need to get it re-painted though...

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.

It's nice looking and I'd like to try one. I did like the silver better.

Weren't the 80's in the 20th century?

Ha! That's awesome.
So sad, I'll get the century correct someday!

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.

I know, I know...

The ES is a decent, nice looking bike. But not outstanding in any way.

Functionally, it's as good or better than most Japanese bikes from the 80s, assuming similar geometry.

Aesthetically... matter of taste. If lugs are your thing, no TIG-welded bike will do the trick.

And in the OP's case, if they've got the room, no harm in picking up another bike. I wouldn't ditch the ES in order to pick up an 80s Japanese bike, however...

...OTOH, if I didn't have that style of bike and it was a choice between building a new bike on an ES frame, or picking up a decent vintage bike for about the cost of the frame alone, that might definitely influence my decision more toward a complete vintage rig.

Good choice, a modern steel frameset with the virtues of classic Audax/Rando machines.
Your friend is welcome to his opinion on '80's Japanese bikes but a Prestige main frame, 130mm rear spacing, 1 1/8 threadless fork, a full compliment of braze-ons and 700C w/ clearance for fenders are not '80's spec. Soma has done a good job of updating traditional designs to accept modern components without losing versatility and ride quality.

My Soma, the Stanyan model, is solid, lively and capable of carrying the load for a long self supported ride or a weekend credit card tour without handling vices.
It would slog back/forth in a commute quite nicely if required to do so.

-Bandera

Yes, the Cappuccino. Ugh - I love the bike - but that color is a downer. I'm a big guy and had my heart set on 64 and didn't think it would make a diff. i tried hard to find one of the older Nickel ones, but no luck.

This color is like the woman on Seinfeld who looks good then atrocious depending on the light Maybe I should just ugly it up anway for Chicago streets. There's a beautiful Red Soma I always see - someone just a couple days ago covered the whole thing in stickers.

Thanks for the replies -- all good stuff. Love to hear that I made a good choice

The only thing I can say is that on some days I do carry clothes, laptop and small camera bag - I'd say that it comes out to around 15-20? If I take one hand off the handlebars I get quite the wiggle - is that normal?

Relax, bend your elbows and look where you want to go. The machine will follow your eyes with no drama.
A death-grip and/or a lousy fit could "get the wiggle". This is not the frameset's design fault.

More seat time and a relaxed/firm/purposeful fit should get you through the decidedly non-technical rigors of CHI commuting on a Soma.
15-20lbs is about what I carry for a weekend ride to a lovely old hotel in the Hill Country on my Soma with stiff climbs, technical descents and rough surfaces: No drama.

-Bandera

Bandera, what stem is that on your Soma? Looks like it gives you a nice amount of rise.

That is a reminder of when >40 years ago my physician said after breaking my clavicle for the 2nd time in a race crash and whacking my shoulder soundly "This is going to bother you a bit some day."

That day has come and the choices were:

1) Shoulder surgery
B) Not riding
iii) Less drop

I went w/ iii: Ugly but functional. It's a Dimension Threadless Stem: 110mm; 125 Degree 26.0 but it's on there until rehab works out or it's on there permanently.

Here's my "normal" Audax/Rando fit when built in '11:



As always "Fit" is a moving target, keep up w/ the changes in conditioning, age and injury and keep riding.

PS: The ES model has a taller head tube than my Stanyan, a better design in that aspect for a wider range of drop w/ less uglyness.

-Bandera

Thanks.

I emailed Soma today about the color of the ES for 2016. Here's the reply:

It will be a semi metallic blue!
Won't be getting them until Dec/Jan though.

That sounds rather nice if it's what I'm picturing, something like a gunmetal blue.

Semi metallic like germanium ?