Building a bike...from scratch!

Sorry it's been a bit quiet around here.  I'm tied up teaching a class at work and don't get regular breaks to waste time here!  When I have been free I've been scouring the web for parts and pieces to build wifey a custom ride for her Cycle Oregon experience this fall.

I don't have time to go through all the details right now, but let's just say it will be a bike to do it all, with as few compromises as possible (and more specifically EXACTLY the way wifey wants it)!

To get things started....it will be based on the Soma Mixte (Buena Vista) frameset which looks a little something like this:

Totally classic....with 650B wheels it will sport 38C tires and be perfect for rough road touring.  Also perfect since wifey often bikes in skirts!  To make it even better it will be fitted with this rear hub.

  

Yep, 8 speed, internal gears....no muss, no fuss for around town....and without a rear chain movement it will be chain guard compatible.  This tied with a wide low split ring up front and you've got all the gearing you could ever need!

 

Ok, that's enough bike geeking out for now.  The parts list is coming together and this thing is going to be sweet....