Soma post ride build

My original intention for this bike was to be a do it all adventure bike. However, after the build I had to make some adjustments. I replaced the seatpost with a promax carbon fiber post, then I replaced the stem for a longer version and carbon fiber. Then I bought a set of challenge gravel grinder 700x38c tires.

With the Kenda Karmas 1.9 tires the ride was supple but, obviously slow. I will change them back when I ride more single track. I was surprised to find that the carbon fiber bits and the 38c tires felt as supple as the 1.9's at nearly half the width. I think the combination of chromoly frame and the curved forks soak up the bumps pretty well. When riding over washboard roads you can barely feel them. I also think it is a combination of seat, carbon fiber post and stem. This is a very comfortable bike. I have added some blackburn frame and top tube bags.

This bike rides fast on hard pack and asphalt. I notice with the narrower tires I'm shifting less. That could be due to my fitness level now too. I'm running Cyclocross gearing up front mated to mountain gearing in the rear. I really wanted this bike to be a multipurpose machine. I have yet to do any mountain biking yet but, I will post more on that later.

There is a lot of farm and fields out by where I live. You could literally spend hours on these dirt roads. They are very flat, mostly hard pack and weave in and out between corn, grape, cotton crops and cattle ranches.

I think I have my bike dialed in for what I ride and what I want to ride. I'm glad I got the Soma the flat top fork really gives it an old school look. Geometry is comfortable and the frame for me has the right amount of springiness without feeling tight.

Soma Wolverine Build

http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/wolverine

I received these pictures via text from my wife. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to pre-sell the idea of me building another bike. She was cool but, I knew I had to buy her off and it would be honey do's for the next few weeks.

What I had planned to do was part out my all mountain Kona Honzo and then build up a do it all bike. I had always been intrigued with touring and had been reading lately about bikepacking.My Honzo was some what specialized for pointing it down mountains and it excelled at that however, it was not lightweight and not much fun on purely single track. I did love that bike and the idea of it but, I could never ride it to its full potential. Somewhere along the way I decided to build up a cheap drop bar 29er. I purchased a Gravity 29er SS, 

Gravity SS 29er

I put some Gary OS bars on it and found I loved it. So as proof of concept I decided to pull the trigger. I knew I wanted a steel frame and fork, a somewhat slack head tube angle, enough room to run 50mm tires, disc brakes, and the ability to put racks or attachments on it, also, I wanted to run fully rigid with dirt drop bars and did not want to spend an arm and a leg for the frame.

I looked at the Surly Straggler didn't like the drop outs, Soma Double Cross, not wide enough tires, Salsa Fargo too close to a mountain bike and expensive frame. I looked at the Vassagio Fistacuff etc.

I finally landed on the Soma Wolverine. I really liked the Geometry, loved the color and the frame price was right.

Just unboxed

Soma Wolverine Build
	Condition	Cost
Brookes B17 imperial narrow	New	129
Promax seat post 27.2mm	New	17
Shimano Downtube stops/adj	New	12
Celt seatpost clamp 30.00mm	New	12
Deda perferated bar wrap	New	13
Jagwire racer cableset	New	32
Salsa Cowchipper 44cm	New	75
Microshift barend shifters	New	69
Derailleur Shim	New	6
SRAM Rival Front Derailluer 2x	New	22.99
SRAM Rival CX crankset 46x36 gxp	New	142.86
Tektro RL520 brake levers for vbrakes	New	25.99
Kalloy Uno 90mm stem 6 degree	New	21.34
15mm - 9m qr adapter	New	23
Avid BB7 MTN Brakes	New	75
FSA Orbit Headset	New	29
Soma Wolverine frame 54cm	New	529
Kenda Karma 1.9 l3r KSCT	New	52.24
10 spd shimano chain	New	17.71
Lizard skins chain stay protector	Used
Wellgo c161 pedals	Used
XT shadow 10spd Der	Used
XT 11x36 Cassette	Used
Crane creek cross levers	Used	17
Easton EA70XC wheelset	Used
		1321.13

I started to assemble envisioning dirt and gravel roads, single track and bike packing.

Staring session

The Wolverine frame is setup to take hydraulic brakes. Why is that relevant? well if you wanted to switch over it will be easily doable. However, If you are building this bike and purchase a JagWire Road cable kit you will run out of cable before you are finished. This is due to a full length cable and housing for the rear mechanical brake. 

Soma Wolverine - Almost done!

I was prepared that night to ride my new bike. I was really bummed because I had to purchase more cable and housing. I decided to adjust the front and rear derailleurs and the rear brakes and take it for a spin anyway. I cannot believe how solid this machine feels. I just took a run around the block. More to follow.