janzenj

Hello,

I'm interested in picking up a new steel winter/rain multi-purpose bike for BC coastal riding. I'm busy comparing the Soma Smoothie ES and the Salsa Casseroll. I need a bike with a 59 - 60 cm top tube to give me a build close to my regular road bike. Obviously I'm also looking for a bike that will take full fenders, all of course, at a reasonable price.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

DataJunkie

I have a casseroll frame sitting on my workbench in my garage awaiting a build. Obviously, I have not ridden it yet but it looks well made. Plus, it can be ran as a SS/FG if you want.
I am building mine up as a fixed gear commuter with fenders and a rack.

SushiJoe

Casserolls are awesome! [and delicious ]

gr@sshopper

GVH does a SOMA smoothie built with rival for 1300.

dark13star

I am looking at Soma frames for my bad weather/commuter bike right now too. I am torn between Smoothie built out as a road bike with fender and rack and double cross built out with more cross components. I don't plan to race cross, but figure it might be nice to be more durable for an all-around. I checked out the Soma frames at a LBS and they have a frame fitter to make sure I get the right size. I am definitely impressed with them as quality steel frames.

bsyptak

I guess I'm partial to the Soma. Like the colors better and it will probably be slightly lighter (guess) with the carbon fork. Also like the more traditional horizontal top tube. Of course, those are just preferences. In reality, both are probably produced in the same factory.

Bikemania.biz has the ES + IRD 57 (long reach caliper) fork for $460, so it is a little cheaper.

atomship47

with coupon codes, you can get it cheaper than that.


too bad you can use a smootie es 56cm frame. i've got a brand new one in an unopened box.

rtruectoc

i have had both. i much prefer the casseroll. the build quality is better. the finish is much better. my biggest grip was how flexy the bottom bracket area is on the smoothie es. also because the casseroll is slightly sloping with a taller head tube less spacers can be used.

tarwheel 

I prefer the Casseroll because the geometry suits me better -- taller head tube, slightly shorter top tube. I also think it looks better, but that is subjective. Both of them are nice bikes for the money.

zowie

I'm going to do my best to resist buying a new bike until the end of this season, but the Casseroll Triple is now at the top of my list, at least if I don't decide to significantly increase the budget to get something custom. The only thing about it I'm not really into is the wheel set.

Wouldn't it kill if they offered a Salsa Rohloff?

Psydotek

I've also got a Casseroll frame sitting in the garage waiting to be built up... I've got everything except the wheels (which i'll just borrow from another bike until i figure out what to get).

Jenson was blowing them out at a huge discount late last year.