Soma Buena Vista Mixte

[KnottedYet]

Looks like the frame will (maybe!) be available August 1.
http://somafab.blogspot.com/2008/04/...xte-frame.html

[xeney]

My husband talked to our local Soma dealer (the Bicycle Business, Soma's current featured dealer) and they said they expected it any day. I thought about getting on the waiting list but I decided to go with the Speedster and then see what the reviews/geometry for the first run of mixtes looks like.

I'm still pretty excited about it, though. Rivendell's mixte doesn't appeal to me personally for several reasons, and the Velo-Orange models are too similar to what I already have, and I don't know of any other mixtes being made right now.

[sbctwin]

I am keeping my fingers cross for the Soma mixte. The bike store I am working with said 'they are tight' with Soma and have already put in place my needs. Ohhhhh, I am so hoping I get one of these. I really want a new commuter bike that has some versatility....keep your fingers crossed for me. I can't believe there will be many other there wanting the 'smallest' size they have....

[xeney]

The geometry is up now on the website. Scroll down to the bottom.

That is CRAZY geometry. The size medium has a 555mm effective top tube! That is a dude's bike. I'm glad I didn't hold out for one of these because I don't think it would fit me. The proportions really do seem like they are intended to fit men more than women: shorter legs in proportion to the upper body, steep seat tube angle.

[mimitabby]

yes, and the small has a top tube length the same as my Bianchi (which was a 49cm with a 51.5cm top tube.)
what's up with that?

[sbctwin]

AAAACK...

[uforgot]

Xeney...look at this pic. Is this the new one or has Soma made these in the past?

[xeney]

Oh, wow. There are older bikes branded Soma -- I think it was one of the 80s Japanese manufacturers, and I've seen mixtes from that older Soma brand on eBay. But that is the current Soma logo! I have no idea how old that is but it's a sharp looking bike.

It looks more upright than the Buena Vista, though. And the Buena Vista only comes in white. Must be an older frame ... did they ever do custom work?

[viola]

On the Soma Blog it says that was the Buena Vista prototype.

[Blueberry]

Cool Looks like it's gonna be a sweet bike

[Thommy]

Thank you ladies for letting me in. As you can tell from the log in I'm a guy. Came accross this site doing a search for the new Soma mixte. from what I'm reading on this forum I'd say the geometry for this frame isn't very lady-like. My lady stands 4' 13", she currently rides two road bikes with 48 cm top tubes, and one hybrid, 15" Trek. All these bikes have 700 wheels on them. I've had my lady on a 650 wheeled bike and she dwarfed it. I don't buy that she should be on a 650 bike, no way, no how. My lady isn't over stretched on her road bike at all. I feel most bike builders just don't want or aren't capable of building women's smaller frames with 700 wheels. My lady's feet do not hit her front wheel. So, what's with all the "you should be on a 650 automatically if you're under 5'5"?" Baloney!!!
Ok, thanks for listening to the rant. The reason I was looking at Soma was because the only choices it seems for mixtes are all used mixtes from the 70's and 80's. For my lady's golden years I want to build her a nice new mixte with a 44 tooth single chain ring up front and an eight speed out back using a new Grip Shift 8 speed system, no drop bars this time around. Masi isn't even an option as they only want to sell complete bikes. I have been enlightened reading all the replies here on this forum. Why not get a woman's view? I am trying to build a woman's bike. I'm hoping someone over at Soma will read the views presented on these forums and tweak the dimensions for this frame.
I really don't want to build on an older frame that I will have to convert the wheels from 27" over to 700. It seems a lot of the older mixtes I've been looking at also have crappy brakes. Anyway, thank you ladies, I will keep hoping for a new frame for my lady. Thank you for all the insight.

[Blueberry]

Welcome, Thommy, and good luck with your lady's new bike

Have you looked at the Rivendell Mixte? It's beautiful, but pricey.

CA

[uforgot]

Velo Orange has a mixte, also and so does Masi. I put a deposit down on the Masi and they said it would be over a month. The Masi starts at 16" which may be a little big, but the Velo Orange one is built to fit. It's pricey too at around $1600 for the frame.

[Tri Girl]

My lady stands 4' 13"

You mean, 5' 1"?
I hope you find a good bike for your lady. Good luck!

[Thommy]

Yes, 5' 1". No, Rivendell is too pricey. I have many many parts, no reason to pay for someone else's labor and overhead. I really enjoy building the bikes and wheels from the ground up. In my opinion the Masi looks cheesy and I really don't like the guy on the Masi website's goofy haircut. I can't wait to actually see a Buena Vista frame "live". I will be measuring it carefully.