SOMEC Revolution from Race Scene (U.K.)

Italian Cycling Journal reader Stephen from the U.K. writes to follow-up on the previous SOMEC story:

"I am sending you photographs I have taken of my new bici - it is a true Italian beauty and I believe the first in the UK. It is Somec's newest bike - the "Revolution" with a revolutionary carbon honeycomb construction. It is very light and unbelievably stiff - they state that the frame is 900 grams - and when fully built I believe it weighs in at around 6400 grams. Even after only the few miles I have managed to get out on it, in the depths of a British winter - I can already tell it is going to be an amazing machine. I've never ridden a bike where the only limitation is your strength and will. The group set is Record 11, the bars and stem white Deda Zero, the bar tape is black leather Eleganza by Stella Azzurra, the saddle is a San Marco Aspide which sits upon the integrated seat post; the wheels are probably Taiwanese but have been finished exquisitely by Stella Azzurra.

The process by Somec is meticulous. I bought the bike through Race Scene in Barnsley. They are qualified fitters. I was fitted by an ex-elite level cyclist at the shop, Glyn Shirley - known to everyone as Freddie. So I travelled up there and had a four hour fitting - the measurements were discussed and sent to Somec along with my paint requirements which were followed to the letter. I opted for red and white because they were the colours of my first proper road bike, an old Basso "Coral", and slightly less lettering than is the modern norm. I think the results are stunning!

The process took 8 weeks during which time I received lots of correspondence from Freddie updating me as to the progress. Somec are renowned for their painting skills and you may not know that there are two logos on a Somec bike - the first is the famous Cavallino Rampante - but under that is the tulip - which represents the many colours you can have for your new Somec."

Photos: by Stephen

I took a look at the Race Scene website and the shop sells an impressive collection of Italian bikes: SOMEC, Casati, Gios, Ciocc and Kuota (Kuota is designed in Italy). Their bike display is amazing. Take a look at http://www.racescene.co.uk/ Bravi!

The SOMEC website is http://www.somec.com

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome, contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog, the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.

SOMEC

In the 60's, Oliviero Gallegati worked as a mechanic for the Giro d'Italia. Seeing a need to establish standards for Giro mechanics, he established the Società Meccanica (Mechanic's Society) thus creating the acronym for SOMEC frames which he began building in 1973. Not naming frames after oneself in Italy is a rarity among Italian framebuilders.

SOMEC adopted two symbols to identify its brand: the tulip and the prancing horse. The tulip chosen for its elegance, sweetness and variety of colors. The prancing horse, symbol of the famous aviator Francesco Baracca Lugo. When you see the SOMEC logo, do not be confused with Ferrari. As the story goes, back in ancient history when Oliviero and Enzo Ferrari both wanted to show the Cavallino on their product, they came to an agreement as fellow "Romagnesi": Ferrari would put the tail up, SOMEC the tail down. They have never argued from that day.

SOMEC has created some very beautiful bikes through the years, and they continue in business today, building carbon, steel, aluminum and titanium frames. They can be found at:
Somec Srl
Via S. Martino, 1/A
S. Agata sul Santerno (RA)
www.somec.com

Photos: vintage steel SOMEC bikes, pantographed Campagnolo Delta brake, Carbon SOMEC

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome, contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,000 stories in this blog, the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.