Senior Ryder
Active Member
- Location
- Left Coast USA - Oregon Beaches
@Bill Soens
@biggs682
@Tony Smith
@midlife
@mikeymustard
@fossyant
@Dean Griffin
@DonSchwann
@Sharky
@Rob Elliott
@sittingbull
These recent posts reminded me that I haven't updated the status of my Soens bike for some time.
About a year ago I placed old 777 into storage in order to pursue other bicycle projects. Recently, I put this Bill Soens built bike (frame?) back into service. I continue to be impressed and amazed by this bike. My stable ranges from a couple of mid 60s bikes through a trio of late 70s, plus a 1988 Schwinn Paramount 50th Anniversary Edition. My only modern bike is a 2013 Ridley CX bike.
Although I’m in my mid 70s, I prefer a quick handling bike. This is what is so special about my Soens. First of all, it is relatively light for the vintage, ~10kg. It is responsive and stable. I have a Holdsworth Typhoon of the same vintage and it’s a slug by comparison. The 50+ year old Soens does everything as well as my late models. One of the projects that sidelined the Soens was the rebuild of an 84 Bianchi Nuovo Racing. Although the Bianchi is almost 20 years newer with late 80s components, it weighs the same and is not as stable. Like the Bianchi, the Paramount is also a Columbus SLX frame, but is considerably stiffer than both the Bianchi and the Soens and is a bit twitchy at speed. The only one of my bikes that matches the performance of the Soens is a frame that was custom made for me of Reynolds 531 in 1979. It’s a short wheelbase bike with slightly relaxed angles that was designed for century rides that I was doing at that time.
When I acquired this Soens from Martin Biggs three years ago, it had, in addition to a nice frame, what appeared to have been the original bars/stem and a great set of Campag hubbed wheels, but was the typical “traditional/evolving” bicycle. Most of the components had been replaced. While reliable, these parts did not do the frame justice. Initially, I put it together with the existing parts, sorted it out and rode it. Over the next few weeks I “upgraded” it with better components from my spares bin while I looked for more appropriate ones.
Currently, the bike has Campagnolo GS drive train (chain set, front & rear derailleurs) shifted with Suntour bar ends. GB randonneur bars on the Milremo stem. Weinmann 605 brakes with drilled levers and Kool-Stop pads. An SR Laprade seat post attached to a Brooks copy leather saddle. The wheels have Campag Record high flange hubs laced to reproduction vintages rims. I kept the Tange Levin HS and Shimano sealed bearing BB that came with it. I also installed an indexing freewheel and chain which, although not period correct, greatly improves shifting. Those of you who saw my previous posts will notice that the garish HB tape is gone. ;-)
Thank you, Bill for creating such a wonderful machine that was leading edge.
Cheers & regards,
Van
@biggs682
@Tony Smith
@midlife
@mikeymustard
@fossyant
@Dean Griffin
@DonSchwann
@Sharky
@Rob Elliott
@sittingbull
These recent posts reminded me that I haven't updated the status of my Soens bike for some time.
About a year ago I placed old 777 into storage in order to pursue other bicycle projects. Recently, I put this Bill Soens built bike (frame?) back into service. I continue to be impressed and amazed by this bike. My stable ranges from a couple of mid 60s bikes through a trio of late 70s, plus a 1988 Schwinn Paramount 50th Anniversary Edition. My only modern bike is a 2013 Ridley CX bike.
Although I’m in my mid 70s, I prefer a quick handling bike. This is what is so special about my Soens. First of all, it is relatively light for the vintage, ~10kg. It is responsive and stable. I have a Holdsworth Typhoon of the same vintage and it’s a slug by comparison. The 50+ year old Soens does everything as well as my late models. One of the projects that sidelined the Soens was the rebuild of an 84 Bianchi Nuovo Racing. Although the Bianchi is almost 20 years newer with late 80s components, it weighs the same and is not as stable. Like the Bianchi, the Paramount is also a Columbus SLX frame, but is considerably stiffer than both the Bianchi and the Soens and is a bit twitchy at speed. The only one of my bikes that matches the performance of the Soens is a frame that was custom made for me of Reynolds 531 in 1979. It’s a short wheelbase bike with slightly relaxed angles that was designed for century rides that I was doing at that time.
When I acquired this Soens from Martin Biggs three years ago, it had, in addition to a nice frame, what appeared to have been the original bars/stem and a great set of Campag hubbed wheels, but was the typical “traditional/evolving” bicycle. Most of the components had been replaced. While reliable, these parts did not do the frame justice. Initially, I put it together with the existing parts, sorted it out and rode it. Over the next few weeks I “upgraded” it with better components from my spares bin while I looked for more appropriate ones.
Currently, the bike has Campagnolo GS drive train (chain set, front & rear derailleurs) shifted with Suntour bar ends. GB randonneur bars on the Milremo stem. Weinmann 605 brakes with drilled levers and Kool-Stop pads. An SR Laprade seat post attached to a Brooks copy leather saddle. The wheels have Campag Record high flange hubs laced to reproduction vintages rims. I kept the Tange Levin HS and Shimano sealed bearing BB that came with it. I also installed an indexing freewheel and chain which, although not period correct, greatly improves shifting. Those of you who saw my previous posts will notice that the garish HB tape is gone. ;-)
Thank you, Bill for creating such a wonderful machine that was leading edge.
Cheers & regards,
Van
