I just finished putting together a Soma Fog Cutter, and after one ride: it’s fine?
I used a Whisky 9/8 fork and am going to stick to 32-34mm tires to clear the fenders.
The rear hydro hose routing runs too close to a normal bottle cage, and the overall dropout configuration is kludgey as hell, but for like $1000 frame and fork, it’s not bad.
How small?
probably 50-52 or so. she’s got a small covfefe grinder that fits well enough, so we were gonna base whatever she gets off that geo chart
52 isn’t small 
… is it? like extra smedium, right? right?
So the Coffee Grinder is 370/546 reach/stack. I like to throw those numbers into BikeInsights and see what matches. Watch for manufacturers doing funky things with front-end geometry at the small end of their size range (like 70deg HTA and no change in fork rake). Things that jump out on the BikeInsights list:
Not on the list is the Canyon Endurace. Their tiny bikes are great, so I’d assume their smallish bikes are too. The men’s XS is 370/532, the women’s small is significantly taller 369/561, so if your wife can go either shorter or taller there are options there. I know that the 650b version of the bike clears 32mm tires - I assume the 700c version does as well.
Going to leave this here because I’m becoming more and more convinced that this bike might not suck.
damn this is a great tip re: bikeinsights, thanks
I showed her the fog cutter and she seems to like that, and it looks like it’s pretty non-shitty too
I think it really depends on the 52 in question. She’s probably closer to a real 50 though I think…
just kidding. i’m really more of a 53 anyway…
What’s with the Fog Cutter dropouts? Not as dumb as the Wolverine but still, why is this good?
4.25 pounds in size 48 seems kinda heavy atmo. I’d second taking a look at the Canyon endurance. My buddy has one in a smallish size and has no complaints. Or…just use the money to build up a sweet second wheelset for the CG?
folks want options.
Soma isn’t going to provide you with those options directly, though. Per their website: “Alternative styles available thru Tange/Long Shen”
So yes they’ll sell you dropouts that have a full fucking billet of aluminum to put your rear caliper on, and yes you can contact a factory to get something different if you don’t like it.
I suppose. I think Surly may have done a better job accommodating both QR and TA on the Midnight Special dropouts tho.
And that said…I just bought a new road bike with QR dropouts in 2021 so I may live to wish they were “adaptable” lol
this was actually the original plan, however we decided that the grx cranks which are like 46t on the big side aren’t quite tall enough for actual road duty
the canyon endurance does look like a contender
unless you can do a 1-1 component swap into a fog cutter frame set, the canyon is probably a better deal. hell, probably rides better too.
why didn’t i get a canyon
hate to say it too, but unless you’re swapping components over to a new frame a complete bike will save you a ton of headaches particularly in this wild bicycle part market
would also look at the new scott addict if you have any of those local to you. lightweight, fits a 35mm tire, not too costly.
I think after showing here all these options she’s still about 60/40 on c’dale synapse/canyon
starting to think that a gesalt or nicasio frameset might be in my future
What is it?
I think its a gunnar
