The Fleet (Part 6)

This, my only Italian racer, is the pride of the fleet; an extremely rare Somec Air Record. The only other Air Record I have seen was on e-bay. According to a catalog I discovered, this one was the top of the Somec line.

I almost didn't buy the frame at first. The paint scheme, an Americana theme, didn't excite me, and I had no idea who Somec was. When I picked it up, I thought, "is this steel?" I had become very curios, and went home to learn more about Somec. Thirty minutes later, I was back in the little bicycle shop on Sandy Boulevard with a hand full of cash, eager to buy the frame.

Although this frame is nicked, gritty, and one size too small, my Somec always gets me home after a long ride.

Many Italian frame builders carve a unique symbol into the frame lugs. Somec chose the lotus, as shown in the photograph above. Below, the unusual routing of the rear brake cable.

The derailleur cables are nearly invisible. They are neatly routed through the down tube to exit at the back of the seat tube, and the other at the end of the chain stay.

I tidied things up a little, but bits of dirt remain here and there. Below, one of the frame's mysteries: who made the fork? It's not from Somec.

More details...

My Somec Air Record. I'll never sell it.

The Specs:

Nickname: Somec Americana
Frame: Columbus steel tubing, most likely SL. 56cm.
Wheels: Velocity deep V laced to Gippiemme hubs.
Gear train: A hodgepodge of Campagnolo Victory, Mirage, and Chorus, with a Regina freewheel and chain.

Pedals: Campagnolo Centaur
Seat: Fizik Arione
Tires: Vittoria Rubino Pro
Bars: Ritchey Bio Max
Brakes: Campagnolo C Record levers (good looks, so-so performance) and Gipiemme calipers

Tags: Somec, Somec road bike, Somec Air Record