Sometimes the best builds start with single thought, such as "I wish I had a steel commuter with real gear range and cool part list." A similar approach was taken as we decided this Excel Sports build- the SOMA ES Urban Bicycle. Having had some up close experience with the sheer practical nature of SOMA's well built Tange Prestige CrMo steel ES frameset, the forgiving ride quality, more stable handling, and still snappy response made for an intriguing foundation for the Urban. With front and rear rack and fender mounts, ample clearance for a 700x32 tire and old school simple graphics package, the ES makes for a great long distance, multi-day, or simply- every day bike. We just had to build it out for performance, comfort and style, with a look that matched the aesthetics of the frameset, yet still offered the full advantages of current component offerings and the subsequent build and set-up flexibility offered.

We started with the extra smooth ride of the SOMA Fabrications ES frame and fork, loving the clean, sharp, simple graphics of the Pacific Blue frame; added an XT 10-speed shifter, 11-34 cassette and rear derailleur, as well as Sugino's XD-2 compact crankarms with a 40T chainring. With the drivetrain sorted out, the BR-R650 57mm mid reach dual caliper brakes were added, to be controlled by the BL-500 flat bar road brake levers. Nitto's UI-25 CNC stem and wide B352AA Albatross swept touring-style handlebar build out the front of the cockpit with Supacaz's Grizips Handlebar Grips keeping you in control. The whole assembly rides on the Tange Infinity fork with the premium quality steel bearings of the Chris King 1⅛ Threadless Headset. MKS Sylvan Stream Pedals allow you roll with the footwear you choose. Speaking of rolling, We opted for a classic looking 32 hole, 3x wheelset built from Mavic Open Pro Rims, Shimano Ultegra 6800 hubs, and DT Competition 14/15 double butted spokes, with DT Alloy Nipples. The durable wheels roll smoothly, help to fade way road chatter and are easily serviced, while carrying Panaracer's GravelKing SG tires.

SOMA uses the current heat-treated, butted Prestige CrMo for the front triangle, which lends itself to better torsional resistance in the more traditional design. For the rider this translates to limited lateral flex from hard pedaling action or aggressive sprinting the drops. Prestige has always been known it's smooth ride and and great feel, but the hardness of the steel also means performance does not suffer. The rear triangle is made with butted CrMo, which tends to ride a little smoother overall, limiting impact and vibration on the rider, and particularly effective with the longer chainstays. The selection and application of the steel and overall geometry deliver a bike that truly is Extra Smooth, and ideal for long hours on the bike. Ride quality overall is balanced with the Tange Infinity steel fork, with it's attractive investment cast crown design and seamed fork legs. Butted tubing keeps the weight manageable and improves lateral deflection under load. Your hands will love the ride, but when you need to gear down and power up out of the saddle, you won't have reason to consider the fork. It will feel solid- just what you want.

While head and seat tube angles are fairly common and well matched to a steel road bike, the ES lengthens the front-center and the rear chainstays. This equates to a longer wheel base than the more race-geometry Smoothie frame, and more comfort. Combine the great range and quick shifts from the 1x10 drivetrain, with an expertly handbuilt wheelset and you have a sweet complete Urban bike package. We hope you will love the build of our SOMA Fabrications ES Urban Bicycle as much as we do. Reach out via phone or email to give us feedback or to have a conversation about how we can deliver this complete bike to your door.