Hi Linda, Test completed. First with just 24lbs in rear in panniers. not bad, front end really lightened up steering wise, which is expected. Some flex, but not too much. Second test 34lbs rear and 10 lbs in front basket. Noticeably more flexy, but not annoying, nor brake rub on an the few tight turns or climbing small hill. The steering was much heavier, as expected again. I do not have low riders on her yet, but usually I keep the rack weight very low and heavy stuff in front panniers. I hope to get low riders in near future to try. I hope your search is fruitful, Tom
On Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 8:17:57 PM UTC-5 Linda G wrote: > Does this bike feel flexy with a load in front and back, set fairly high > on your racks? I ask because I have a Velo Orange mixte, size 54, which has > a similar design and rack configuration. The flex bothers me. It's kind of > an unstable feeling side to side. It's also enough to make the rear brake > rub on a rough road. I'm looking for an alternative and the Platypus is too > long and big-tired for me. I like the fact that the Soma can run 650 b's. > Linda > > On Monday, March 1, 2021 at 6:18:25 AM UTC-8 Tom Palmer wrote: > >> Hi all, >> This is a cross post for IBob, with correction, now with Riv content. >> I built this Soma Buena Vista up over the winter and finally rode it. >> Probably the best first ride on a new bike ever, maybe I am finally >> understanding how to fit my own bikes. undoubtedly, things will change, but >> its pretty close right now. The build is pretty Bobish- 650b with 38mm Pari >> motos (red Hetres on the way as change #1) Shimano Deore rear hub Shimano >> dyno front on velocity Dyad rims. Tektro r559 brakes that stop very well. >> Riv Nitto Choco norm bars on long generic stem. SKS longboard fenders at >> least for now. Front basket and rear rack for commuting if that is ever a >> thing in the future. Drivtrain is 10 speed microshift shifters and Shimano >> SLX deraillers. and a vintage Shimano 600 crankset with Willow triplizer >> 46/30 chainrings. Rides great- tweaked the bars a few times after about 5 >> miles into the ride. Hit a couple steep hills and climbs well in the bends >> of the Chocos. The interweb info on this for tire fit is way conservative. >> I had 650bx48 Pari motos on at first and they fit fine, probably fenders >> too. The handling is typical high trail drop road bike even with the swept >> back bars. This is a little surprising. I was afraid it would be too light >> but the longer chainstays may play into it- 450mm. Geometry is pretty road >> bike too- 73 degree parallel with 45mm rake. This is the biggest frame they >> still make-58cm. They did have a 62 in the past. The color is tremendous- >> even better than anything on the web. Russo Red is what they call it and it >> really pops. Real paint, not powder coat. >> >> Doing a tour of lakes Huron, Superior, and Michigan in the fall, and this >> may be the ride. >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/90de2b47-57ae-4b32-a623-160ca127c59cn%40googlegroups.com.