The Soma Pescadero is in the house!
Also, on the road. We took our maiden voyage this morning, a rolling 20-miler around the Duck! City foothills to see what was what.
And what it was was … an excellent first impression.
The build goes 24.5 pounds, or just under a pound lighter than the New Albion Privateer. The feel is friskier — shorter, shaped chainstays, a skosh less rake, a nicely sporty ride.
The wheels may be a tad burly, but hey, this is Albuquerque; the roads are broken and bad, and I run 38mm tires at low pressures to keep the fillings in my teeth and the teeth in my head.
Drivetrain is nine-speed double for now, 46/30T x 11-32T, and I can see that it’s gonna take a few outings to fine-tune the friction shifting. Not the machinery; my operation of it. The Privateer is seven-speed, so basically I can just slap the shifter and be on the proper cog. Nine cogs want a little more delicacy of touch.
Who knows? I may go to seven-speed on the Pescadero, too. How many cogs does a geezer really need, anyway? Three? One for up, one for down, one for flat. You need more than that? Get an e-bike. Or a car.
And the Paul Components Racer centerpulls? Disco.
First change I make will be the saddle. This Soma Hishou is a perennial stand-in for (and an homage to) a classic Selle Italia Flite, of which I am all out at present. Further purchases may require additional authorization from The Management.
More as we learn it.
In the meantime, the best thing about the Soma Pescadero is that it took what remains of my mind off fascism for 98 refreshing minutes.
Mad Blog Media 
A real beauty, and it did exactly what it was supposed to do flushing the brain pan of built up toxins. I think you nailed the components too except the friction rear shifting. I am (was) spoiled with index shifting in the rear.
Paddy me boyo, I have a set of nine-speed Dura-Ace bar-end shifters on hand and nearly went that way; I have the same setup on my Nobilette.
But I’ve come to like the simplicity of friction shifting. When I can hit the right cog on the first try, anyway. …
I have a used, but good condition, classic Selle Italia Flite Titanium you can have if you want. Let me know and we can arrange a hand off.
Gracias, señor, for the most generous offer. But I’ve decided to pull a Flite for the Pescadero off one of my Soma Saga touring bikes and replace it with a Turbo I have handy. The Turbo is my second-favorite saddle.
Too damn’ many bikes around here. But they do come in handy as organ donors.
And it’s a good thing I got out for a spin yesterday, because today’s weather is less than optimal. I hope some of this rain/snow combo actually touches down instead of flying straight across us as per usual.
Amazon allegedly has Flites and Turbos. I used to love those Turbos, and then they got hard to find.
You need a Turbo, K? I have two still in their packaging. Snatched ’em up on sale from Excel some time ago and haven’t found a home for ’em yet.
My reply was going to let you know that I also have a Selle It Flite Ti gathering dust and if you could use it, let me know. However I suspect it may not be in as good of condition as asgelle’s offered above. I would consider mine in the “marginally good but functional condition”. But if you can use it let me know and I’ll send it your way.
Thanks, Shawn. I think I’m all good for now. Until I buy another bicycle, that is. …
Lovely build and frame, particularly the color. My Colonial Blue Pescadero sends its best regards to yours. Dale in soggy Mid-MO
Mine sez howdy back atcha, Dale. We’ve decided it’s “Periwinkle Blue,” as in the color of the caravan the Pikey wanted for his ma in the Guy Ritchie flick “Snatch.”
Pretty. I wonder if my therapist would prescribe a new bike for me.
Physician heal thy self, right? But, you missed the SOMA sale. When something on sale, you can buy it. When the significant other chides you for it, you can say, “I saved $800 on this buy.” Desperate times call for desperate measures. I saved $800 on this.
https://www.premierguitar.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=32992791&width=1200&height=1200
Santa Cruz has a Tallboy in my size on sale but my SO says NO.
One must accommodate the SO. XO. CFO. Whatever-O. Otherwise I’d have even more bikes and an AWD Mercedes-Benz Airstream Sprinter to fetch ’em around and about.
I got mine over the counter, Carl. UnitedHealthcare wouldn’t cover it. The sonsabitches.
Patrick
What’s your preferred saddle? I’ll trade you for that Flite wannabe. It’s my favourite.
You have my personal e-mail. Let’s chat
Make It a Great Day,
Michael Porter