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What I didn't realize at the time I built my Sirrus DBC that in the process I built an aluminum framed prototype of the AWOL that came along 6 years later.. Should've charged Specialized a royalty.. I find it even more comfortable than my '88 only downside is i can't turn the front wheel past 90 deg (Handlebars hit the top tube) Looks like the same thing happens on the Awol..

I was just in American Cyclery this afternoon test riding this bike and a couple others. I also rode a Saga and an ES. Wasn't big on the ES, but I did really like the Saga. What made you choose this one? I stopped in at Avenue Cyclery a couple blocks away afterwards and rode a Long Haul Trucker, which I also really liked. That and the Saga are the my favorites of the seven or eight I've tried out.

Besides the wheels, is everything else stock? Looks like the SRAM setup, so I'm guessing yes. I'm thinking about building mine up to tailor it how I'd like. Not a big fan of bar end shifters, especially if I also have to pay attention to dodging the traffic on Market!

Have a black crank on my Sirrus... don't like how it looks after a few thousand miles on it, with bright silver scratches all over it, and a bare spot in the anodizing from regular rubbing from the toe straps I used for years. In short, while black cranks look awesome when they're new, I think they look like crap after they've been beaten on for a couple of years or more.

I really like the look of the tan ES with the black Apex group on it, but the geometry just doesn't fit me that well. The Saga was too slack for my tastes for commuting; I prefer the sportier geometry of the DCD. The DCD also has a longer top tube which fits me better than the ES or the Saga. I rode a Long Haul Trucker at Missing Link and didn't like it at all; felt like a brick and the rear end was too slack. The plain 4130 cro-moly in the LHT just doesn't compare to the Prestige in the DCD IMHO.

Everything else is stock except for the bar, which is a Cowbell 2 instead of the stock Soma Highway One. A friend of mine has a Cowbell on his commuter bike and after trying it, I fell in love with it. The one I have on my Soma is a 42 and it fits me perfectly. I'm planning on switching my Fuji Sportif 1.1 over to a Cowbell eventually too; comfiest drop bar I've ever used.

With respect to the spoke nipples, I like the look of the silver offsetting with the black rims, and I've had only very minimal durability problems with alloy nipples. I'm an accomplished wheel builder (built over 100 wheels in my life) and know how to prep a wheel so there's minimal strength lost with alloy nipples. (I once built a wheel and lived for 5,000 mi. that only ever needed the slightest truing now and again.) I also want them for the weight savings... I commute in traffic in San Francisco several times a week, where being quick off the line is very helpful, and lighter wheels will help with that a lot. At least that's been my experience.

I got used to the double-tap shifters pretty quick; I like how crisp and clean their action is. (I don't see how anyone could successfully use bar-end shifters in downtown SF!) At the same time, I'm more familiar with / used to the 105 STI shifters on my Fuji, so I'm going to swap them over to the Soma, along with the 105 rear derailleur, and put the Apex shifters and rear derailleur on the Fuji. I'm doing it primarily for weight-weenie reasons; I want to shave grams off my Fuji and detail it out because it's my Ferrari, so to speak, while my Soma is my station wagon, if that makes sense...

Anyway, thanks for the compliments on my new ride... I'm very happy with it. I do have some other pics of it, which I'll post in a bit.

A few more pics.

I, too, am more familiar with the 105 (what I'll be putting on my build), though the double tap weren't nearly as bad as I remember them a couple years ago.

I might have to pick your brain some on the wheel building; that is the one area where I know absolutely nothing. I haven't decided whether to buy a prebuilt set or have a shop customize them for me, but that is my next and final decision to make.

If you don't mind my asking, your cycle computer, is that a Cateye Padrone? Been thinking about one of those. Very nice setup, by the way.

Yes, it's a Padrone. I actually have moved it to my Sportif, because when riding that I tend to not have my glasses on, and the bigger display allows me to actually read it, compared to the Strada Double Wireless I had on that bike, which is now on my Soma. Since my Soma is my new everyday bike, I am usually wearing my glasses when I ride, rather than my sunglasses (haven't been willing to drop the $$$ to get prescription ones) allowing to actually read the display of the Strada.

I don't have any at the moment, but there are some on New Albion's blog (New Albion Cycles: Privateer Build for Gravelbike.com).

The bikes here are getting amazing.

With any luck I'll have my new commuter by the middle of next month!

M.

if you'd like a less amazing bike, I am pretty sure I can oblige.

When cruising solo...



... and when cruising with baby.

Stolen today



I hadn't been using it as a commuter for a while, but my fiancée -- who's much better sized for the bike than I am -- adopted it and customized it with a front basket, loved it. Stupid thieves.

Sorry to hear that.

Thanks, Steve... It sucks, especially since she had started to ride it a lot more recently. By the way, long time no see! Hope Kyoto's still treating you well.

Oh no, I hope you get it back.

Loved the photos, the adorable puppies (what breed or mix is the black pup? So cute!) and the bike. I'm a transplant to Anchorage and I've noticed how treacherous it can be to bike (and walk, but that's another story) in my area. I am building up my commuter bike as we speak, hope to have it done for Bike Month, and plan to go a bit out of the way to stay on the most MUPs.

Late to the party here, but that bike is dead-sexy, and those are two good-lookin' pups!! I know they love running with ya!

I would send you my mini-velo, but you can probably get one quicker there.

THIS thread became 10 years old a couple of days ago!

My LBS-built beauty. It had flat bars, but I couldn't get really comfortable on them. Switched it to drop bars and the Tektro brake levers that let you use V-brakes, and it's great!

1994 Kona Explosif

That is pretty sweet.

Ha, thanks! Yeah, I'm already considering new minivelo options. A new colleague of mine is actually a BF member too, and a minivelo enthusiast!

My recently purchased Finnish city bike, a Helkama Trekking with a Nexus 7-speed hub. I would think about 15 years old or maybe more since it has a cantilever brake on the front. V-brakes are much more common here in Sweden now.



As the woman who sold it to me in the new shop here in my neighborhood said: "looks like crap, but rides okay."