soma san marcos?

[Philip Kim]

I was looking through Riv's site and saw they had a demo one. Are they not being sold anymore?

It seems like a solid bike frame, and I hear it has lighter tubing than the Hillborne. Maybe a nice substitute for the A Homer Hilsen (in function as a club ride bike, not geo).

I debated between the Hillborne and the San Marcos and chose the Hillborne, but wondering if there were any Soma San Marcos owners out there and how you guys like it.

[Tim Gavin]

I picked up a San Marcos 51 cm for my girlfriend (1G light blue paint, 650b wheels).  The 650b model has ample tire clearance (38 mm plus fenders) but the 700c models are a little tighter (35 mm with fenders).  The fork is slightly lower-spec tubing (Tange Infinity), not that you'd notice without weighing it.

The San Marcos seems a bit more road-oriented than a Hilsen.  It has a 6 degree top tube (two tubes in the top sizes) but otherwise its geometry falls between a Hilsen and a Roadeo.  You could also see it as a budget Roadeo.  

My girlfriend's San Marcos is built up as a light tourer, with drop bars and a front Campee lowrider rack.  I'm about to change it from 8 speed STI to 9 or 10 speed bar ends (depending on which cassette I have lying around).

You're correct that the San Marcos doesn't show up on Riv's frame page.  I assume that a call to RIVHQ would answer the question of whether they'll continue to stock it.  The Clem fits into the "entry-level Riv" price slot that the SM has occupied.

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[Joe Bernard]

I believe it's still available from SOMA, plus there always seems to be a few on Ebay. I suspect the Ebay underpricing situation is why Riv stopped selling it..Grant mentioned it about a year ago on the Blug.

[Brewster Fong]

On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 1:59:43 PM UTC-7, Joe Bernard wrote:

I believe it's still available from SOMA, plus there always seems to be a few on Ebay. I suspect the Ebay underpricing situation is why Riv stopped selling it..Grant mentioned it about a year ago on the Blug.

 

Interestingly, Soma's website show a sale on the pearl blue 59/63cm SM framesets at about $850 (while supply lasts):

 

 http://store.somafab.com/sosanmadotof.html

 

But if you don't mind the tiburon blue color, its available in all sizes at the regular $930 price:

 

http://store.somafab.com/sosanmafr20.html

 

Soma's website explains the changes for 2015:

 

CHANGES for 2015: The 47 thru 57cm (57cm is a new addition) are designed for 650b wheels and 55-75mm reach road brakes. Max. tire fit: 38mm
The 59cm and 63cm are designed for 700c wheels and 55-75mm reach road brakes. Max. tire fit: 35mm
The 59 and 63cm have that Rivendell double top tube to restore the triangulation lost with the tall top tube.

 

Good Luck!

[Evan Baird]

In case you were wondering, here's pictures of a San Marcos that is for sale at AC in SF.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/americancycleryofficial/21988952090/in/dateposted/

I think it's pretty neat, but I guess to the rest of the world it's too heavy/too expensive/too much trail/too stiff/doesn't have paul racer mounts/chainstays too long/doesn't have thru axles/doesn't take press fit bearings ect. Anyway, if you want one you probably better jump on it, cause they really don't sell well enough to justify their existence. Anyway, Public bikes come with matching fenders, so that's a neat feature.

[Philip Kim]

Thanks gonna call them. Hopefully the smaller 650bs can fit 42s with fenders.

[Steve Palincsar]

On 10/16/2015 11:00 AM, Philip Kim wrote:

Thanks gonna call them. Hopefully the smaller 650bs can fit 42s with fenders.

I wouldn't expect so.  Their web site says:

CHANGES for 2015: The 47 thru 57cm (57cm is a new addition) are designed for 650b wheels and 55-75mm reach road brakes. Max. tire fit: 38mm

The 59cm and 63cm are designed for 700c wheels and 55-75mm reach road brakes. Max. tire fit: 35mm

The 59 and 63cm have that Rivendell double top tube to restore the triangulation lost with the tall top tube.

[emphasis mine]

-- http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/san-marcos-frame-set

[Tim Gavin]

On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 10:07 AM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:

On 10/16/2015 11:00 AM, Philip Kim wrote:

Thanks gonna call them. Hopefully the smaller 650bs can fit 42s with fenders.

I wouldn't expect so.  Their web site says:

CHANGES for 2015: The 47 thru 57cm (57cm is a new addition) are designed for 650b wheels and 55-75mm reach road brakes. Max. tire fit: 38mm

And yet, the above picture shows a 2015 San Marcos fitting 650 x 42 Cazaderos... 

[Garth]

   Likely Soma's specs are referring to with fenders , so that would account for the 42mm tires without fenders on the bike in the image.

As always, a phone call should clear that up. 

[Justin August]

I also imagine that there is some lawyer-language regarding "safe" minimum clearances with fenders, etc. In the same way that apparently a Mark's Rack can only carry like a peanut and some feathers, this could be a conservative estimate to appease the legal department.

-J

[Philip Kim]

Just gave them a call and said 42s would probably be too tight a fit. After looking at other pictures of the cazadero, I also think fenders and 42s probably wouldn't work. I think I'll just save my money for now.

[Evan Baird]

Soma's website is completely worthless. If you have questions about Soma bikes just call a Soma dealer. They just forward all the technical questions to me anyway.

[Evan Baird]

That's at least as much clearance as a Bleriot.