Soma = crap
#26
Loose Member

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg Pa.
Bikes: IRO
Soma Cogs work fine here. I have used a lot of them and still do. I never hade a problem threading them onto a hub.
As far as the brakes go are you useing pads that have an angle adjustment on them or just a pad with a nut and the end and no adjustment at all ?
Tony
As far as the brakes go are you useing pads that have an angle adjustment on them or just a pad with a nut and the end and no adjustment at all ?
Tony
#27
man.. on the off topic.. the house of track dude is out of control.. like, you want to believe him, but.. if hes so cool.. why does drama follow him like a stray dog? spelling skills would help his case.. is that snotty of me to say? oh well..
#28
The Alternative Dressing

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: In the condiments section of your local grocer
Originally Posted by sloppy robot
man.. on the off topic.. the house of track dude is out of control..
#29
(Grouchy)

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,643
Likes: 1
eai just plain sucks. they screw over their dealers, they publish and distribute a catalog once a year, and only give it out to a select few dealers, they change their prices at a moment's notice, and they're rude little bastards.
they have a lot of cool NOS stuff, and their cogs are pretty nice, but from a dealer/shop standpoint, they're just not worth dealing with, unless you're "down" with them.
they have a lot of cool NOS stuff, and their cogs are pretty nice, but from a dealer/shop standpoint, they're just not worth dealing with, unless you're "down" with them.
#30
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: Asheville, NC
Bikes: Rock Lobster track, Colnago Dream, Ti Paramount, Litespeed Vortex compact, Santa Cruz Blur, Bianchi cyclocross...always wanting more...
I use - and like - Soma cogs. No probs at all. Nice & thick; they wear very well. In side by side comparison with Surly & Miche cogs the Soma is noticeably thicker in profile and at least as well-machined as the others.
__________________
Rock Lobster
Rock Lobster
#31
there's a guy in DC who cracked a Soma frame and triend to warantee it... they're jerking him around and letting some japanese company decide whether it's warantee-able. it's BS. look, your frames really shouldn't crack from daily use.
#32
King of the Hipsters
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,128
Likes: 2
From: Bend, Oregon
Bikes: Realm Cycles Custom
I've used both Soma and EAI cogs.
The EAI cogs look like higher quality, but I haven't seen any differences in performance.
I just tried to order an 18t EAI cog from Harris (to go with my new 52t Sugino chain ring) and they don't have one.
The EAI cogs look like higher quality, but I haven't seen any differences in performance.
I just tried to order an 18t EAI cog from Harris (to go with my new 52t Sugino chain ring) and they don't have one.
#33
Spoked to Death
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, CO
Bikes: Salsa La Cruz w/ Alfine 8, Specialized Fuse Pro 27.5+, Surly 1x1
Soma has a wide range of cogs for us big chain-ringers. I'm running 52/19, and had to go soma on the rear partly because of availability.
#34
King of the Hipsters
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,128
Likes: 2
From: Bend, Oregon
Bikes: Realm Cycles Custom
Phideaux wrote:
"I'm running 52/19..."
Fifty-two X 19 comes very close to my present set-up of 47X17, which comes out to about 72 gear inches.
Fifty-two X 18 will give me about 76 gear inches; perhaps too much.
If I decide to go back to 72 gear inches, I might try it with 52X19: I have this intuition that bigger gears have more mechanical efficiency than small gears of the same ratio.
I've come to think of 72" as the best compromise for both uphill and downhill.
I should probably order a Soma 19t cog and have it ready.
"I'm running 52/19..."
Fifty-two X 19 comes very close to my present set-up of 47X17, which comes out to about 72 gear inches.
Fifty-two X 18 will give me about 76 gear inches; perhaps too much.
If I decide to go back to 72 gear inches, I might try it with 52X19: I have this intuition that bigger gears have more mechanical efficiency than small gears of the same ratio.
I've come to think of 72" as the best compromise for both uphill and downhill.
I should probably order a Soma 19t cog and have it ready.
#35
Originally Posted by phidauex
Soma has a wide range of cogs for us big chain-ringers. I'm running 52/19, and had to go soma on the rear partly because of availability.
#36
Spoked to Death
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, CO
Bikes: Salsa La Cruz w/ Alfine 8, Specialized Fuse Pro 27.5+, Surly 1x1
Originally Posted by Ken Cox
Phideaux wrote:
"I'm running 52/19..."
Fifty-two X 19 comes very close to my present set-up of 47X17, which comes out to about 72 gear inches.
Fifty-two X 18 will give me about 76 gear inches; perhaps too much.
If I decide to go back to 72 gear inches, I might try it with 52X19: I have this intuition that bigger gears have more mechanical efficiency than small gears of the same ratio.
I've come to think of 72" as the best compromise for both uphill and downhill.
I should probably order a Soma 19t cog and have it ready.
"I'm running 52/19..."
Fifty-two X 19 comes very close to my present set-up of 47X17, which comes out to about 72 gear inches.
Fifty-two X 18 will give me about 76 gear inches; perhaps too much.
If I decide to go back to 72 gear inches, I might try it with 52X19: I have this intuition that bigger gears have more mechanical efficiency than small gears of the same ratio.
I've come to think of 72" as the best compromise for both uphill and downhill.
I should probably order a Soma 19t cog and have it ready.
Nowhere around here stocks a full range of track cogs (that I know of), so since I have to order online 'availability' mostly relates to whether or not the place I'm already ordering something from has it, since I hate paying tons of shipping.

peace,
sam
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Steamroller, Jonnycycles Track, 80's Schwiinn Voyager SA 3 speed conversion/fixed, Schwinn Voyager SA 3 speed conversion standard. 1973 Schwinn Twinn Deluxe
Originally Posted by sloppy robot
man.. on the off topic.. the house of track dude is out of control.. like, you want to believe him, but.. if hes so cool.. why does drama follow him like a stray dog? spelling skills would help his case.. is that snotty of me to say? oh well..
Seriously though, House of Track does NOTHING to help the EITHER side of the bike business ( customer or retailer ) by making wholesale prices public. There is a reason shops charge what they do, and prices have alot to do with things like overhead.............y'now rent, insurance,, etc. Some guy working out of his basement in Vegas with a computer and a phone? ? Gimme a break................I doubt he has a serious retail space, and shoulda been dropped long ago. Yeah, and the spelling................
#38
Play all day
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA
Bikes: 80's Fuji Fixie Conversion, Voodoo Bizango, 80's Performance mountain bike converted to single speed
I like House of Track. I ordered a 15t Dura Ace cog, and they shipped a 15t EAI cog to me a couple days after the order. This was a month ago. Suites me just fine
#39
Originally Posted by jasonsan
I agree. Plus, judging from the rants,there may be some mental illness thrown in.
Seriously though, House of Track does NOTHING to help the EITHER side of the bike business ( customer or retailer ) by making wholesale prices public. There is a reason shops charge what they do, and prices have alot to do with things like overhead.............y'now rent, insurance,, etc. Some guy working out of his basement in Vegas with a computer and a phone? ? Gimme a break................I doubt he has a serious retail space, and shoulda been dropped long ago. Yeah, and the spelling................
Seriously though, House of Track does NOTHING to help the EITHER side of the bike business ( customer or retailer ) by making wholesale prices public. There is a reason shops charge what they do, and prices have alot to do with things like overhead.............y'now rent, insurance,, etc. Some guy working out of his basement in Vegas with a computer and a phone? ? Gimme a break................I doubt he has a serious retail space, and shoulda been dropped long ago. Yeah, and the spelling................
I agree 100% all that selling the EAI stuff at wholesale does is make a few customers happy in the short term...but hurts everyone in the long run.
The House of Track guy does seem to have some overly dramatic dealings and events going on that he shares with the public regularly. Perhaps that is his marketing technique...Anyways, I am not too concerned with this guy, because if he continues to deal with his suppliers like he is currently with EAI, I wouldn't be surprised if other distributors start pulling the plug.
Our business doesn't have a retail space, but we do have storage, rent, e-commerce, hosting, insurance, and other expenses that although may not be as much as the similar expenses of a full shop, but we definitely have our expenses that need to be covered as well. Selling prices at wholesale to try to attract a few customers, while losing a supplier is something we would never even consider.
#40
Dismount Run Remount etc.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 0
From: Some Latitude and Some Longitude
Bikes: A couple customs and some beaters.
[QUOTE=Walkercycles]
I'm going to start building frames and sell them for $3,000 apiece. If they're priced that high, they MUST be super high quality!
Originally Posted by checkthat
So, if anyone out there is thinking about getting a Soma Rush frame or a Soma track cog, be warned: You Get What You Pay For.
QUOTE]
Gee, not to sound like a broken record, but I have been trying to tell everybody this all along....
DW
QUOTE]
Gee, not to sound like a broken record, but I have been trying to tell everybody this all along....
DW
#41
All Things Go

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
From: dayton, oh
Bikes: 01 bianchi pista, custom. 04 felt f-15, full record.
Originally Posted by Bikeophile
I agree 100% all that selling the EAI stuff at wholesale does is make a few customers happy in the short term...but hurts everyone in the long run.
The House of Track guy does seem to have some overly dramatic dealings and events going on that he shares with the public regularly. Perhaps that is his marketing technique...Anyways, I am not too concerned with this guy, because if he continues to deal with his suppliers like he is currently with EAI, I wouldn't be surprised if other distributors start pulling the plug.
Our business doesn't have a retail space, but we do have storage, rent, e-commerce, hosting, insurance, and other expenses that although may not be as much as the similar expenses of a full shop, but we definitely have our expenses that need to be covered as well. Selling prices at wholesale to try to attract a few customers, while losing a supplier is something we would never even consider.
The House of Track guy does seem to have some overly dramatic dealings and events going on that he shares with the public regularly. Perhaps that is his marketing technique...Anyways, I am not too concerned with this guy, because if he continues to deal with his suppliers like he is currently with EAI, I wouldn't be surprised if other distributors start pulling the plug.
Our business doesn't have a retail space, but we do have storage, rent, e-commerce, hosting, insurance, and other expenses that although may not be as much as the similar expenses of a full shop, but we definitely have our expenses that need to be covered as well. Selling prices at wholesale to try to attract a few customers, while losing a supplier is something we would never even consider.
__________________
NO! It is the FARGATE! It is not some other kind of gate from a movie or TV show that I've never seen! Notice that it has a wheelchair and a pink mohawk? We're not getting sued!
NO! It is the FARGATE! It is not some other kind of gate from a movie or TV show that I've never seen! Notice that it has a wheelchair and a pink mohawk? We're not getting sued!
#42
Originally Posted by s2sxiii
retailers like chris king, sidi, easton, mavic(those who make a very premium product) etc etc tend to have very strict policies about the prices at which you're allowed to advertise their products. -- partially to ensure that no shop is disadvantaged in the market, regardless of size. they want uniformity in pricing so that everyone can carry their products and not worry about being undersold by a shop down the street or by the internet. I wouldn't be suprised at all if they pulled the plug on a shop like house of track that advertises well below MSRP.
#43
Keep It Simple Stupid
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: 1968 Motobecane Grand Record, 1950 Gitane Track Bike, 1986 Fuji
Just throwing in my two sense... I have used Soma cogs on all three of my fixies for over a year with no problem. They threaded fine, seem to wearing fine and have shown no signs of bad machining. FYI, I run no brakes and skid/skip, so they are under a lot of stress. Are they that much cheaper than the alternatives? Prices seem pretty compariable... https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed-sprockets.html
#44
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by OneTinSloth
eai just plain sucks. they screw over their dealers, they publish and distribute a catalog once a year, and only give it out to a select few dealers, they change their prices at a moment's notice, and they're rude little bastards.
they have a lot of cool NOS stuff, and their cogs are pretty nice, but from a dealer/shop standpoint, they're just not worth dealing with, unless you're "down" with them.
they have a lot of cool NOS stuff, and their cogs are pretty nice, but from a dealer/shop standpoint, they're just not worth dealing with, unless you're "down" with them.
Seriously, the vehemence with which you make your accusations puts your credibility here on the line. You might want to rein in that mouth/keyboard of yours. Otherwise, you run the risk of having your opinions discounted, and you marginalized as just another disgruntled guy with an axe to grind.
You're doing yourself and the shop you work for a disservice by airing your issues in public. Whether it's personal or business, in the long run, you'll be better off trying to resolve your problems in a reasonable manner.
#45
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Steamroller, Jonnycycles Track, 80's Schwiinn Voyager SA 3 speed conversion/fixed, Schwinn Voyager SA 3 speed conversion standard. 1973 Schwinn Twinn Deluxe
Originally Posted by Jinks
I like House of Track. I ordered a 15t Dura Ace cog, and they shipped a 15t EAI cog to me a couple days after the order. This was a month ago. Suites me just fine 

#46
Drunken Harmonica Band
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Philly / CT
Bikes: Windsor, Schwinn Le Tour, Schwinn Varsity
[QUOTE=Halcyon Days]Seriously, the vehemence with which you make your accusations puts your credibility here on the line. QUOTE]
First/Last time anyone will ever say vehemence on BF again, agreed?
First/Last time anyone will ever say vehemence on BF again, agreed?
#47
Originally Posted by shants
hey, have you tried contacting soma about this?
Originally Posted by OneTinSloth
...why don't you just call up soma and work something out with them. i'm sure their warranty covers manufacturing defects.
Originally Posted by jim-bob
You talked to anyone at soma about it?
Originally Posted by votedean
And most importantly: have you contacted Soma? Because if you haven't and you are just reporting your experience with a frame on this board as 'Soma is crap' then you're not doing any good for anyone.
Originally Posted by phidauex
I wouldn't just whine about it on the forum, I'd call 'em up.
sam
sam
#49
I have to agree with Ira. I just checked out my Rush and everything on it looks great. A b uddy of mine just got a double cross and has nothing but great things to say about that frame either.




