Soma Buena Vista Mixte

[chryss]

Perhaps your friend would like to take a look at the Linus and Public mixtes? They are not too expensive (under $1,000) and they are complete. http://www.linusbike.com/ http://publicbikes.com/

Though I haven't ridden a mixte in over 15 years I'll always have a soft spot for them: the first bike I bought from my own earned money at 16 was a white Peugeot mixte. While you shouldn't judge from looks alone I really like those of the Linus bike and can put in a positive vote for the Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub gear. That's what my previous bike had, which did a great job getting me around London. It's not ideal if you're in an area with steep hills (and not too athletic and running a heavy bike or transporting your weekly grocery shopping) -- there was one hill in park that overlooks London that got the better of me and I had to push for a few metres each time I attempted it. But otherwise, it's great, dependable, finely enough geared for just about any situation.

[KnottedYet]

The Linus is hi-ten, the Soma is Tange Infinity, and I can't find what kind of steel the Public is but the frame has a lifetime guarantee.

And that Bob Jackson.... Reynolds hot-n-sexy something or another.

Sigh.

I have no complaints about the 4130 of my Surly. I might be a bit hesitant about hi-ten, though I don't mind being at the bottom of the steel food-chain in general.

Here's someone with a graphite Soma Buena Vista, set up much the way I would set one up: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object...11EVSR.DTL&o=3

[yellow]

Both the Linus and Public are beautiful. Thanks, Knotted.

Her current bike is an 8 speed and a triple, and she loves having all those gears (and she needs them because the darn bike is about 35 pounds). She will ride it like a road bike, so more than around town and whatnot (she and I rode in Zion this spring and she kicked butt on the hybrid). I don't think 8 gears is enough for her, hence my suggestion that she have a bike built so she can choose how many gears and all that. I'm pretty sure the Soma dealer here also has a few Linus bikes. I will mention that to her as well.

Trek, you do know that I have a BJ in my stable, don't you? I don't ride it much, only when I'm feeling frisky enough to get home (I live on a big hill) with only 5 gears. I take it camping sometimes and use it to mosey around the campground.

Anyhoo, I want to make sure my friend gets something light and something that she will enjoy riding. It's nice to be the enabler!

[KnottedYet]

More frame trivia: the Buena Vista is 5 lbs. My Surly is just slightly less than that. (4.8 lbs)

2/10 of a pound isn't gonna make me fret...

One minute I think I've talked myself out of it, the next minute I'm talking myself back into it. Sheesh!

[Susan]

Hey Yellow and Knotted, I just got my Buena Vista, set up as a road bike - already posted about it here http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=41383&page=2

The photos don' t do it justice, I think it's much prettier in reality.
I don't want to talk anybody into something but I really love this bike

[KnottedYet]

Knot, have you been thinking about getting a Mixte from Soma since 2008?

Sheesh! What are you waiting for?!

Yes.... since a bit before then, even.

Been waiting for money. I have money now. I'm starting to think I may look into buying a used bike with nice components and using that to build up a Soma BV. I really can't bear to give up my Surly, when it gets right down to it.

But that would mean I'd have FOUR and a half bikes. That might be too many, but I can't imagine selling any of my current 3 1/2. 'Cept maybe the half. Which I was kind of planning to eventually turn into an Xtracycle. www.xtracycle.com

Too many bikes, not enough muscle...

[KnottedYet]

I'm leaning more and more toward buying a used bike for parts and building up a BV frame as a project to keep me sane this fall and winter. (this will be S'Knot's first year away from home in college, and I will need a project)

I lean toward the graphite gray frame, but I have fond memories of a white Nishiki bike I had in the 1970's. Maybe I want the cream/white BV?

What I want most of all is the headbadge with the Sutro tower...

I've seen the white BV frame in person. It's nice. If I'm keeping my black Surly as-is, there is no reason for me to choose graphite over white.

Decisions, decisions... (a few months leeway)

[Trek420]

Uh oh, Kona is making a steel mixte

http://files.konart.net/2k12/bikes/hires/roundabout.jpg