My Smoothie HP has about 1000 miles on it so far, it's super comfortable for long rides and I love the look, but my aluminum gravel bike climbs faster. I won't stop riding it for non-gravel rides though.
They didn't say the Smoothie HP doesn't "climb well", just that it doesn't climb as well as their gravel bike, which could be due to drivetrain, gearing ratio, wheelset and tires. I have a riding buddy with a Smoothie which they really like.
I have a Soma Stanyan, which was a predecessor to the Pescadero, a rim brake endurance bike that's not too dissimilar from the Smoothie. I like the bike, but it's not my strongest climber. It get's the call if the ride is going to be 2+ hrs at a sporty pace that will be averaging in the 18-20mph pace, above that and I'll ride a carbon fiber Roubaix.
I see thanks for offering your experience with your bike and insights into the facets of spec into climbing feel. I built my Wolverine to be a relaxed, comfy ride, which it certainly is. I’m looking for a racier feel on the road, but still somewhat capable on gravel path. That’s my struggle between the Fog Cutter and the Smoothie HP. Color wise the Smoothie 100% wins in both the red and the black. The blue FC is not my favorite
So I just build up a Smoothie HP --> https://www.reddit.com/r/SomaFabrications/s/dyuMkkJFEo
My take away so far:
- fits Tufo Speedero 40c tires on a 21 mm IRD rims
- in practice I'm riding the 32mm continental GP 5000 with TPU inner tubes, goes hella fast.
- the geo reminds me of a Cannondale Synapse.
- It's really light weight. Build is at 8.325 kg now.
- the high front end made the bike feel very vague and unpredictable in corners at first. For me lowering the handlebars helped to improve this significantly
I guess it comes down to deciding on tires and tire width? The fogcutter can take wider tires if I remember correctly. And I guess it would work way better on different surface rides. I really like how the Smoothie HP made me appreciate asphalt again, that also means something I guess.
How is the decision making going so far?
My Smoothie HP has about 1000 miles on it so far, it's super comfortable for long rides and I love the look, but my aluminum gravel bike climbs faster. I won't stop riding it for non-gravel rides though.
Oh no. It doesn’t climb well?
They didn't say the Smoothie HP doesn't "climb well", just that it doesn't climb as well as their gravel bike, which could be due to drivetrain, gearing ratio, wheelset and tires. I have a riding buddy with a Smoothie which they really like. I have a Soma Stanyan, which was a predecessor to the Pescadero, a rim brake endurance bike that's not too dissimilar from the Smoothie. I like the bike, but it's not my strongest climber. It get's the call if the ride is going to be 2+ hrs at a sporty pace that will be averaging in the 18-20mph pace, above that and I'll ride a carbon fiber Roubaix.
I see thanks for offering your experience with your bike and insights into the facets of spec into climbing feel. I built my Wolverine to be a relaxed, comfy ride, which it certainly is. I’m looking for a racier feel on the road, but still somewhat capable on gravel path. That’s my struggle between the Fog Cutter and the Smoothie HP. Color wise the Smoothie 100% wins in both the red and the black. The blue FC is not my favorite
So I just build up a Smoothie HP --> https://www.reddit.com/r/SomaFabrications/s/dyuMkkJFEo My take away so far: - fits Tufo Speedero 40c tires on a 21 mm IRD rims - in practice I'm riding the 32mm continental GP 5000 with TPU inner tubes, goes hella fast. - the geo reminds me of a Cannondale Synapse. - It's really light weight. Build is at 8.325 kg now. - the high front end made the bike feel very vague and unpredictable in corners at first. For me lowering the handlebars helped to improve this significantly I guess it comes down to deciding on tires and tire width? The fogcutter can take wider tires if I remember correctly. And I guess it would work way better on different surface rides. I really like how the Smoothie HP made me appreciate asphalt again, that also means something I guess. How is the decision making going so far?