Built my new Soma Double Cross over the weekend, and commuted on it for the first time this morning. The steel frame makes for a nice ride, especially compared to my old commuter (K2 Enemy, Aluminum frame). It's definitely a more lively bike. Also, nothing like the crispness of a brand new drivetrain! I love the disc brakes (Avid BB7's)! It was wet out this morning and the quickness and stopping power of the disc's is fantastic.

Here are a few (admitedly bad) photos:

Here is what the bike looked like before the build:
DSC02994.JPG

After:
DSC03005.JPG

After:
DSC03006.JPG

Awesome build!

I've had a Double Cross DC for 15 months and it's been a great all-around bike. The ride comfort and sportiness of the bike are it's best qualities, IMO.

Looks like a great build, could you list the components?

Happy to!

Frame: Soma Double Cross DC
Fork: IRD Straight Blade CX with Disc Brake lugs
Shifters/Brake levers: Ultegra STI 6600
FD/RD: Ultegra 6600
Crankset: Ultegra 6600 Double, 50/34
Pedals: Crank Brothers Candy SI
Wheels: Mavic Speedcity
Brakes: Avid BB7
Stem: FSA OS-115
Headset: FSA Orbit-X
Cassette: IRD 10-spd, 12-30
Tires: Conti Gatorskin 700x25c
Fenders: Planet Bike Cascadia
Seat: WTB Rocket
Rack: Topeak Explorer Disc Compatible

The bars came off my old commuter, not sure the model #

Great build, congrats,

Here is my Double Cross set-up for century rides;

I am two years on my soma double cross and they are great bikes love mine. Yours looks great btw. Overnight trips, road riding, mtb trails, even race. Got to love the versatility of them and smooth ride.

Nice rides guys.

Barrettscv, any plans to change to discs in the future? Would work well for those Chicago winters.

I put 6000+ miles on my K2 Enemy last year. I hope to put more than that on the Double Cross this year!

Nice builds! Here's what mine looks like halfway to 650B.

Very nice build.

Hi WW,

No plans for discs. My Soma was my ride for 99% of my 5000 miles in 2009. But I now have a 1987 Trek 400 Elance as my winter & wet pavement bike, this bike has an Ultegra 2 x 10 drivetrain & fenders. I'm also building my first titanium bike for faster group rides.

I doubt if either bike will be as comfortable or a better performer than the Soma when it comes to Century rides!

Michael

Very nice build. I've wanted to build a Soma for some time. I think I do want to try disc brakes, don't have a good reason why but I do.

Thanks for sharing.

Well why not. Here are a couple pics of my Soma DC commuter. (First time posting pics of one of my bikes - I feel like such an exhibitionist!)

With Bags



Without Bags

jhalv,

How does the bike handle when loaded-up?

Michael

Nice looking bike!

What size/year is the frame? The headtube looks much longer than mine.

You forgot that sweet Moots titanium seat post!

Haha you are right. It came off one of my Mountain Bikes that I don't ride often. It was going to be on the new Soma "temporarily" until I got a new seat post, but after a couple of rides I have decided I like it and am going to keep it on the new bike!

Pretty well. On that particular day I had about 30-35 lbs. on the front. When I'm just using two bags I like to put them on the front instead of the rear. I've found it's much smoother and more stable. I'm sure it has to do with the lower center of gravity and the fact that the bags are centered on the axle. The bike's still pretty nimble with them there. When they're on the rear; they're higher, centered a bit behind the axle and subject to pedaling forces transmitted through the chainstays. There's more shimmy at the front with no weight to stabilize it.

This is more pronounced on the DC than on my dedicated touring bike. The DC has shorter chainstays, a shorter wheelbase and the tubing is less robust. Of course, the DC is lighter and quicker for those reasons.

It's a 2010. Soma changed the graphics for 2010 (or it might have been '09), I actually think I like the older graphics better. The frame is 60 cm. According to Soma, the headtube is 195 mm. I haven't measured it myself.

That's interesting. I came to the same conclusion about loading up a rear rack. 10 or 15 lbs was OK, but the bike no longer felt nimble or fun to ride if I put too much weight on the shelf of the rear rack.

I would be happy to use the bike for credit card touring, but it's less than ideal for loaded touring.

Michael

Yeah, it's not really designed for loaded touring with it's shorter chainstays, wheelbase and higher bottom bracket. Of course, these are all design features that I wanted in a commuter (as opposed to using a touring bike as a commuter).

You might want to try some low-riders on the front. I think you'll find it handles better and this might let you use it for shorter tours if you're not carrying a lot of gear.

Actually, I just took a look at the forks on your bike. Carbon right? I guess mounting front racks isn't an option.

Yes, I would have to change forks...

What brand racks are you using?

Nitto. Rivendell calls them the "BIG" front & rear racks. The front is a Rivendell design and I haven't seen it online elsewhere. I've seen the rear called the "Campee" on a few other sites. I've also rear racks called the "Campee" on other sites that don't look the same so... Since I live next door to Rivendell, I just got them there.

Great racks; well-made, strong and rigid, not cheap.

Barretscv has been kind enough to let me use his DC a few times... I can concur that it is indeed a very nice bike.

Since there is so much DC love going around. Here is a pic of my almost completed bike

No you wouldn't. Get an Old Man Mountain lowrider fork. Mounts through the axle and to your brake posts.