Smoothie (Performance Road) [RETIRED]

[This model of the Smoothie was retired at the end of 2020. A re-design with disc brake compatibility should be released in the Spring or Summer of 2022.]
The Smoothie road race frame is agile and responsive. Excellent for stage races and competitive club rides. But also comfortable enough for daily commutes and charity rides. The semi-compact geometry allows for more standover clearance and fitting options, but we don't cheat you by only offering 5 sizes. In sizes 48 to 66cm!

- Tange Prestige heat-treated butted CrMo steel front triangle; butted CrMo rear end

- Semi-compact road geometry; responsive and stiff

- Rear rack mounts

- Optional matching carbon fork w/ alloy steerer available (The carbon fork may not fit some 28c tires); matching lugged steel fork available as well

- 1-1/8" headtube (fits EC34/28.6|EC34/30 headsets)

- Hub compatibility: 130mm QR

- 27.2mm seatpost size

- Max tire size: 28c

- 8 sizes: 48, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 66cm (sizes do not go by seat tube length)

- 4.1 lbs (54cm)

- In Baja Blue

purchase!

Smoothie (Performance Road) [RETIRED]

  • Smoothie Specifications:

    Headset: 1-1/8" (threadless external cup; SHIS: EC34/28.6 | EC34/30)
    Front derailleur: 28.6mm, bottom pull
    Seatpost: 27.2mm
    Seat collar: 2-piece bolt included
    Hub rear spacing: 130mm OLD
    Brakes: Dual-pivot road brakes, 39-49mm reach
    Bottom bracket shell: 68mm wide, English threads
    Chainring clearance: 53-39t double, 52-39-30t triple
    Water bottle bosses: 2 sets
    Compatible with downtube shifters

  • I have general questions about your frames... (i.e. frame material, country of origin, fit questions, how to order).

    Go to our General FAQ page. Link is on the bottom of each page.

  • How is the size determined in the geometry chart?

    The "size" is not based upon seat tube length. Actual seat tube length is in parentheses.

  • What is the rear hub spacing?

    Rear hub spacing: 130mm

  • What is the size measurement based on?

    The "size" is not based upon seat tube length. Actual seat tube length is in parentheses.

Smoothie (Performance Road) [RETIRED]

  • Toying around with steel

    “I built up a steel roadie just to see if I like steel. I love the ride of steel hardtails on the mtn... so I figured this might be similar. So I picked up a used 56cm Soma Smoothie Race and hung all the parts from my Carbon bike on it. Carbon fork, Ultegra wheels, ultegra components. 38 miles with a group yesterday. The ride was really good, over choppy pavement it is far more forgiving than my carbon frame. The geometry is a bit more compact so even though it was a mellower ride over the bumps, it seemed to handle better. I didn't notice the weight or any flexing on the climbs at all, and had no problems with a 50mph downhill so the frame's alignment must be spot on. Plus, I think all the modern parts on such a clean retro frame looks pretty cool. ”

    Golgia, , OK

  • This frame is awesome!

    “ I built it up as a fair-weather commuter and weekend pavement eater. I don’t race, but I spend a fair amount of time in the west hills of Portland, Oregon. This bike feels snappy and lively on the ascents, but confident and stable on the descents. I’ve taken it on a few short rides on gravel and the frame really soaks up the rough stuff. I have ridden many aluminum, steel and a few carbon bikes and this one compares very favorably. Not only does it feel great to ride, it looks beautiful as well. All around, a very solid choice if you are looking for an affordable, relatively light steel road frame.”

    K.R., Portland, OR

  • I almost went full custom until discovering SOMA Fabrications

    “I'm short male at 5'4" and although most bike fit calculators will estimate the frame size for me to be about 52 cm, I've discovered after 12 years of cycling/racing and owning 8 different road bikes of various sizes, there's a lot more that goes into getting the proper frame than just your height. Most bike manufacturers do not offer frames for adults who wish to ride the 700c wheelset with an effective top tube under 525mm. I almost went full custom ($1500-4000) until discovering SOMA Fabrications. The 48cm Smoothie was perfect and at a fraction of the cost ($400). So, what about steel? It's safe to say that most cyclists are aware of the outstanding ride quality that is characteristic to steel frames, "Steel is Real". But, what about the weight? [The Smoothie is] a proven race machine that weighs in at 16 pounds with pedals. ”

    Shawn, ,

  • “I hadn't ridden a steel bike for several years, mostly riding carbon and aluminum in recent years. The first time I got on the bike I couldn't believe how smooth it was. I took it out for a longer ride on some rough chip seal roads in texas. As my bike entered the rough roads I kept waiting for the bone jarring I was used to with my carbon bike. It never happened, I felt as though I was floating on top of the rough road. I then remembered that this that was awesome feeling I got 30 years ago when I fell in love with cycling. Thanks for the great ride Soma!”

    P, ,

  • “I love this bike.
    Lives up to it's name, this bike is as smooth as any carbon ride out there but with more of that lively steel feeling. Tight geometry and very responsive. No flexing while climbing. Smooth on descents. Fast and fun.”

    WW, ,

Smoothie (Performance Road) [RETIRED]

  • Bikes Etc. Magazine UK Reviews the Smoothie (4/16)

    Highlights: "absolutely a mid-70's Stevie Nicks-level gorgeous. It's hard not to warm to a bike when it looks this good. Luckily, even it were pug-ugly the Soma would still endear itself with a ride that is, as its name suggests, extremely smooth."

    "The skinny tubes led us to suspect it might be on the flexy side. However, the back end, which come into play when pedaling hard, is fairly unbending.The front is more flexible side-to-side, although this only becomes noticeable when sprinting and even then not really to an annoying degree."

    "(The geometry) Not too slack, not too flighty, just right. The head tube is moderately tall, so the default position is more suited to hours in the saddle than smashing out hot laps. The frame does a fantastic job of drowning out the chatter; making pockmarked roads feel more like freshly-laid tarmac and is definitely the most comfortable on test.[This was a multi-bike test.]

    "Classly retro lookis combine with a comportable yet fast, responsive and lively ride. Overall marks: 8.5/10" [The test bike was built with a Kinesis carbon fork, Fulcrum 5 wheels, and a Shimano 105 gruppo

  • Saying "Steel is Real" is Annoying; Riding Steel is Not

    My first three “real” bikes were all steel, from a Shogun that got torn down within days to a Fiorelli Italian race bike with an ovalized headtube to a Reynolds 853 Lemond Zurich that got sold in a move. All individually and increasingly great. From there came the appeal of light-weight aluminum bikes. I have spent the last 10,000 miles on one of three aluminum bikes. When I talk about aluminum to people learning about frame materials, I use the reference to aluminum baseball bats and their twannngggg, but in reality the frames ride very well. If every bike out there had an aluminum frame, there would be no comparisons and no complaints. Fast forward to today’s updated needs: a skinny-tire bike that can take me hundreds of miles or around a criterium course, along with everything in between. Carbon is the obvious choice, and I eliminated aluminum from my materials palette because I was ready to try a new feel. We sell some fantastic carbon and aluminum road bikes and certain choices are obvious; the Giant TCR, Masi Evoluzione, or even the Kona Zing.

    I have ridden and truly enjoy all of the above bikes, but my mind kept wandering to something steel. Voices in the shop were encouraging, but prefaced their comments with “why don’t you just get X Carbon Bike?” Late nights on the LCD screen brought me to some steel race frames within my reach. The Soma Smoothie kept floating to the top. There were not a huge number of reviews or testimonials online, but the geometry sheet and specs seemed to fit: frame ordered.

    The frame arrived at the shop in a beautiful, almost pearlescent, off-white coating, just taunting me to clothe it in some components. With a set of Ultegra components from a great friend and co-worker and some hours in the shop, the bike was ready to ride.

    Shaken down, the classic steel statements started to come to mind, but one sensation surprised me. When I put some muscle into the crank the response was direct, powerful, and alive. I don’t need to jump into the age-old frame materials debate, but the steel frame just seems to accentuate everything around it. I find myself looking for compression cracks in the road and culvert dips to see how it responds with 700c/23 tires, and I remain impressed.

    What I’m realizing from helping customers and buying for myself is: resist the hype of materials and pressures of bike mags. My favorite line is “the right bike for you is the bike that feels the best when you’re riding it.” Here at the shop, we can help you find a similar true-love bike experience. -Parker, Urban Adventours, June 2012

  • Lovely Bicycle's Impression of the Smoothie - June '12

    "The Soma Smoothie is an intriguing bike and I am grateful to have it at my disposal for long enough to truly get to know it. My most dominant impression so far is that it is extremely comfortable for something so aggressive and speedy. It strikes me as a good choice for those who "want it all" in a single roadbike - speed, comfort, as well as options for commuting and randonneuring - and want it at a reasonable price."

    She also was happy she had no toe overlap on her 52cm frame.
    More at --- http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/06/soma-smoothie-impressionism.html.

  • Bicycling Magazine's Smoothie Review - July '12

    Like classic steel bikes crafted by Masi, Colnago, and Bianchi, the Soma is comfortable. On pavement, it resembles what many manufacturers now call a Classics bike—so called for the classic, one-day races in the spring on rough roads that greatly influenced their design. Like other bikes of this type, the Smoothie has a tall head tube and long chainstays that make for a stable ride. There’s a little lag in pedaling response—those who ride stiff carbon bikes will notice—but that doesn’t mean the bike is slow.

    At a recent training race, it was up to the task whether I was pedaling hard at the front of the bunch, sprinting for midrace points, or banking hard into the last corner before the finish line. And on a rainy-day charity ride that included several steep gravel climbs, the Smoothie easily soaked up washboard sections and muted rough roads. It provided stable, well-mannered, and predictable steering while still letting me shoot up climbs. The bike meets modern standards with its 1 1/8-inch headset and 27.2mm-diameter seatpost. Its down tube has braze-on bosses for cable stops or down-tube shifters, and the rear dropouts have eyelets for fenders and racks. The steel fork has a curved rake and lugged crown that help absorb bumps, and the generous clearance accommodates tires as wide as 28mm (ideal for rough dirt roads). If you want to save weight and stiffen the front end, you can opt for an IRD carbon fork when ordering your frame, but you’ll sacrifice your ability to run 28mm tires.

    Though Soma calls the Smoothie, made from highly desirable Tange Prestige tubing, a road-race frame, most racers today favor lighter and stiffer bikes (30 years ago the Smoothie would have been considered a top-level race bike). But in an age of oversize tubes rendered in moldable carbon, it’s no wonder so many riders covet this bike for its classic looks. The Smoothie’s traditional lines, spartan graphics, and clean white paint combine to make the bike a modern embodiment of historical frame designs.—Mike Yozell

    Buy It: if you crave steel’s legendary performance, but you’re on a budget.

    http://www.bicycling.com/gearfinderproductdetail?gfid=65643.

  • Cycle Cambridge's Take on the Smoothie

    "a modern version of that classic steel road bike." "lives up to it’s name. The ride is very smooth and comfortable. It provides superior road really feel but the bumps are muted. You may be a slight bit slower in the first half of a ride compared to people on [lighter] race bikes but faster in the second half as you haven’t been beaten up as much...The subtle give the frame has combined with a balanced geometry construct this an great cornering bike. Downhill corners really feel like you sling shot out of them. As opposed to stiffer bikes, the Soma Smoothie holds a line without having skipping out even though pushed to the maximum." Full review here. [Feb. 2010]