The Soma Smoothie HP is an updated with a “High Performance” version of the original frame that Soma has been making since 2001. The focus is on a creating a tasty higher performance frame by utilizing premium materials and adding modern road bike touches
The Soma Smoothie HP uses a more oversized tubing than Soma’s other road offerings, but also in thinner gauges than they’ve ever used. (Tange Prestige and Prestige Japan to be specific).
Smaller sizes have a 34.9mm down tube. Larger sizes have a 38.1mm. Wall thicknesses go down to .4t. That and the oversized 32mm tall tapered chainstays increase torsional rigidity and promise to increase responsiveness and pedaling stiffness. This will a fun efficient bike for stronger riders, while not losing that communicative road feel that light steel frames are known for.
Modern road bike touches include tapered steerer carbon fork, thru-axle and flat mount disc brake compatibility, and tire clearance for up to 700c x 32mm tires with fenders.
Traditional and practical touches include English threaded BB shell, rust-inhibiting ED coating on the inside of the frame and under the paint, rear rack eyelets, fender eyelets, external cable routing for fewer hassles during maintenance time, and mounts for old school down tube shifters. The crown and brake bridge are even drilled for 57mm reach rim bikes. These aren’t necessarily the features that win you style points on club rides or make you faster, but nods to utility and backwards compatibility have always been part of Soma’s DNA.
The geometry has a sloping compact profile matched with stack that brings it into endurance road bike territory. But the seat and head angles are fairly traditional. And the wheelbase isn’t super long. Most notably it avoids how some modern endurance road bikes are using slacker headtubes with 50mm rake forks to restore fast handling. Yes, the trail number is about the same, but in some instances the front end doesn’t react the same as steeper head tube angles. This we hope adds up to confident handling on fast descents and responsiveness when you need it.
More info and geometry chart here:
http://somafab.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-smoothie-hp-new-high-protein.html
Full specs on website:
https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/smoothie-hp-performance-road-endurance-road
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