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Commuter just finished

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Old 03-20-13 | 08:21 AM
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Commuter just finished

I just finished my Soma Double Cross Disk commuter rig. I was just looking to build something that I could easily throw a couple of bags on an jam to work.

Soma Double Cross Disc frame
Nashbar carbon fork
Shimano 105 Cranks
Shimano 105 Rear DR
Shimano Dura Ace bar end shifter
Cole CX wheels
Origin 8 bullhorn bars
Crane cross levers
PDW rear rack
Vittoria Randornneur Cross Pro City 35's

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File Type: jpg
Soma Finished 1.jpg (60.0 KB, 171 views)
File Type: jpg
Soma Finished 2.jpg (74.3 KB, 125 views)
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Soma Finished 3.jpg (67.1 KB, 110 views)
File Type: jpg
Soma Finished 4.jpg (64.5 KB, 127 views)
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Old 03-20-13 | 08:24 AM
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Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

interesting
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Old 03-20-13 | 09:12 AM
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Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!

How nice it must be to not have to worry about fenders.
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Old 03-20-13 | 09:38 AM
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I know its not the most conventional build but I decided to make it fit my commute. I chose bullhorns because I don't go into the drops during my commute, I chose a single crank sprocket because I don't have huge hills to climb, I chose disk because I wasn't really worried about weight and they stop better than cantis in my opinion. I think people build bike out of what the normal expectation in the cycling community is not really for what their specific need is. I have other bikes for other purposes, this bike is for commuting and possible club rides now and again.
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Old 03-20-13 | 10:19 AM
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From: Frankfurt, Germany

Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!

All makes pefect sense! Hope it´s a blast to ride. It´s certainly a lot prettier than my commuter, but then I did find the frame in a hedge.
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Old 03-20-13 | 10:37 AM
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Awesome rig. Ride it like you stole it.
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Old 03-20-13 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by dndbenson
I know its not the most conventional build but I decided to make it fit my commute. I chose bullhorns because I don't go into the drops during my commute, I chose a single crank sprocket because I don't have huge hills to climb, I chose disk because I wasn't really worried about weight and they stop better than cantis in my opinion. I think people build bike out of what the normal expectation in the cycling community is not really for what their specific need is. I have other bikes for other purposes, this bike is for commuting and possible club rides now and again.
I'm with you mostly ...

I hate drops
I hate spandex
I think not having a hub dynamo is foolish

People should ride what they like ...
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Old 03-20-13 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by dndbenson
I just finished my Soma Double Cross Disk commuter rig. I was just looking to build something that I could easily throw a couple of bags on an jam to work.

Soma Double Cross Disc frame
Nashbar carbon fork
Shimano 105 Cranks
Shimano 105 Rear DR
Shimano Dura Ace bar end shifter
Cole CX wheels
Origin 8 bullhorn bars
Crane cross levers
PDW rear rack
Vittoria Randornneur Cross Pro City 35's

Very nice. The whole build makes perfect sense to me, well thought out.
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Old 03-20-13 | 11:30 AM
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From: Appleton WI

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix - Soma Double Cross Disc - Pivot Mach 429SL - Canfield Brothers Yelli Screamy - Specialized Carve SL - Trek Farley 7 - GT Dyno VFR

Awesome build. I should have mine finished up over the weekend. The frame came last week and the wheels/brakes showed up today.
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Old 03-20-13 | 11:54 AM
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Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Nice. I have bullhorns on one of my commuting bikes and really like them -- except when it's windy. We've had a lot of windy weather this winter so I haven't been riding it much lately although I did today.
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Old 03-20-13 | 12:05 PM
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Bikes: Specialized Langster, Bianchi San Jose, early 90s GT Karakoram, Yuba Mundo, Mercier Nano (mini velo), Nashbar Steel Commuter, KHS Tandemania Sport

I like it. I have always had mixed feeling, aesthetically, about the PDW rack. The radbot looks like it needs angled down though.
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Old 03-20-13 | 01:01 PM
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I was on the fence with the PDW rack, but I must say that now that I have it installed I like it. It is built well and the bamboo deck looks nice, although it will be covered most of the time with my bags. I have already tweaked the light down, that's just how the bracket came from PDW.
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Old 03-20-13 | 01:11 PM
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Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa

Really sharp build. Congrats on the new addition!
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Old 03-20-13 | 01:58 PM
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Great looking build, including the rack. Hope you love it.
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Old 03-20-13 | 03:02 PM
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Looks good. What brakes are on the bike?
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Old 03-20-13 | 04:41 PM
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The brakes are the Nashbar branded brakes, got the whole kit for around $70 and they seem to work well. I was a little leery on buying them but quality seems pretty good. I have had a lot of luck with their stuff.
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Last edited by dndbenson; 03-20-13 at 04:46 PM.
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Old 03-28-13 | 02:28 PM
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tarwheel ... why are bullhorns less desireable in the wind?
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Old 03-28-13 | 06:02 PM
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Nice bike! Good luck with it!
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Old 03-28-13 | 06:38 PM
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That's really cool. I just got my Double Cross built up too. I considered bullhorns because I always liked bar ends... Think I'm just gonna get some bar ends before I go on a big bike trip. I also thought about disc brakes but with everything else I wanted, couldn't afford them, so this is my first bike with canti. I don't love them.

What I do love is the frame. It's the perfect combination of stable and responsive. Exactly what you need in a commuter. Good luck with your ride!
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Old 03-28-13 | 07:44 PM
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Bikes: 2008 Giant TCR Advanced

Are you sure the frame is not too big? Zero set-back stem, seat is moved up and the short stem.

I don't get the all black accessories but that seems to be the trend. I love the gold Soma, though. It's on my short list to replace my Fantom Uno.
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Old 03-28-13 | 07:49 PM
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Short stems are common with bullhorns, since they have a healthy amount of reach. I'd be interested in hearing how this bike is working out for the OP.
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Old 03-28-13 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Barchettaman
How nice it must be to not have to worry about fenders.
I live in the Phoenix area of Arizona. Hardly ever rains here. No fenders needed!
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Old 03-28-13 | 08:50 PM
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I have been riding it that past week and it is a blast. I took it out this weekend for 16 miles of mixed riding. We had street, dirt fire roads, mountain trails and the bike did great. I have a 9 mile commute each way and it is much nicer to throw my stuff in the bags and go as apposed to wearing a backpack.

Are you sure the frame is not too big? Zero set-back stem, seat is moved up and the short stem.
I am not sure how having a zero setback seat post would mean that my frame is too large, I have no setback on my other bikes. I do seem to run more of French Fit on my bikes because I am not 18 years old anymore and prefer a more relaxed geometry.

ThermionicScott is correct, there is a bit of a reach with the bullhorns and it is taking a few rides to get used to it. At first I thought I was going to switch them to drop bars but now that I have about 100 miles on them I actually like them.

Really when it comes down to it I build my own bikes because I want them a certain way, the way that I like them and I love this bike, it kicks ass! Hopefully everyone can say that about their ride because its more fun to ride a bike that you love not ride a bike that everyone else thinks is cool.



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