A guy here in c-bus said eh took the decals off his steamroller with a tire lever and some elbow grease (make sure you stop at the store and pick some of that up, and some headlight fluid for the puma).

His paint looked fine where the decals came off, so I guess they're pretty easily removable.

how so?

A casual search reveals the Soma to be less expensive than the Surly. Perhaps this is what was meant.

Curious, I've had my eye on a Steamroller. What size tires will the Soma accomodate? My current fixie runs fairly fat 27x1-3/8" (38-630) tires, which I kinda like. Generous tire clearance is a plus. The Surly specifically advertises this selling point. I haven't found such info on the Soma Rush.

Soma takes 25c's without a prob.

I have both a Soma and am currently building up a Steamroller. I'v ridden my pals Steamroller, and can say that both Rush and 'Roller are fine bikes

I can't speak about the Soma 'cause I've never seen one. However, I LOVE my Steamroller! I don't give a rat's arse about the decals.

has anyone actuallly found the BB on the surly to be too low? i can only imagine it was built with an eye for pedal strikes...any stories?

I ride 175mm cranks with my Steamroller and never had a problem, BUT, I don't ride fixed. If I did, I'd use alot shorter crank. I did have a pedal strike on my 72mm drop Rodriguez, lame because that's not fixed either, and whacked the end of my Selle Italia SLR into my tailbone ... really hard.

Jim

I have had both. Rode the Steamroller last two winters and just got the Rush about a month ago.

Short answer: The Steamroller is a Jeep. The rush is a sports car, more of a real track bike.

For me, the Rush is just more fun. More responsive, less mass. If you want an urban assault vehicle go with the Surly. Both are quality, inexpensive steel.

I've only recently bought my steamroller and love it, very well made and versatile. And, if you're patient you may find a good deal on one on Craig's List.

lol this thread is like 5 years old, man. Welcome to BF, though!

lol

The names say it all. "Streamroller" "Rush"

Soma Rush vs Surly Steamroller Fixed Gear Frame
 

@velopreacher: you have that right. I had a 61cm steamroller that I powdercoated in a stunning cocaine white before Surly released it as "creamroller" which is a soft white. Ended up trickin' with the Steamroller on the factory fork with a 26" MTB front wheel for barspins. I was also able to pop some cross tires in the chainstays which were really FFF Fatties Fit Fine. It was good for tricking. The 4130 straight gauge tubing was beefy, soft and heavy, again, good for tricking in the pipe and running through chain link fences.


The Rush I now have built as a 61cm is sparkling pearlescent (glows) white with chrome fork, no 4130 Steamroller but an upgraded Japan's finest Tange Prestige and Infinity tubeset. It's built for moving and shaking in traffic, brakeset front and rear with a 45:17 drivetrain for the rollers and hills alike. It was really made for speed commuting and 40 mile training loops. Although my buddy has the Rush set up with brakeless track setup and looks very aggressive. Really stoked that the Soma Rush can be set up for both and even just single speed for casual coasting with the girlfriend using the flip flop hub setup.

To compare the Surly Steamroller to the Soma Rush, you look at value and purpose. The Surly frameset (frame and fork) goes for +/- $420 while the Soma Rush is $375 for frame only. Add the Soma Tange Infinity fork for $150 and you can see you're paying a premium for track geometry, water bosses, brake drilling, upgraded tubeset (lighter and stiffer), and a better paintjob (2 stage pearlescent pearl which my painter typically charges a $100 upcharge over a 1 stage).

Here's a Soma Rush for you to check out, it's pearl white with the limited edition flat crown lugged fork in chrome. :thumb:

http://www.dragonmotif.com/ebay/soma_rush_1.jpg

Funny how 6 years ago I was in this same predicament. :lol: I ended up going with a Steamroller for the simple fact that bigger tires fit on it and its 'indistructable' feel. It certainly did well for a first fixed gear city bike.

Be sure not to wear a helmet and leave an recent will.

velopreacher: that applies to all sports, really. :crash: