polygon1

Soma has the rim brake version of the Buena Vista frameset on sale at 65% off right now - I'm thinking of building one up as a city/rough pavement bike, maybe with an internal 3-speed hub. How do these frames ride?

Rick

The 132.5 mm hub spacing is quite wide for a 3 speed internal. you would be allot closer with the 7, 8 or 11 speed internal geared hubs.

polygon1

I'm not really focused on the gearing, honestly – I live in a flat area and regularly ride single-speed gravel. If I decide I want a few gears, I'd just as soon put a front triple on it. More curious about the handling, feel, etc.

Fredo76 

A disk brake version has a riding impression at Path Less Pedaled:


Base2 built one up recently and likes his.

Garthr

The first thing I look at in bikes is the potential for toe overlap, and that frame looks like it has some unless one's feet are pretty small. I get the question about the ride, but I've never found anyone else's explanations of ride quality to transfer.

Darth Lefty 

It’s a sweet looking bike. I’d be proud to have one. But I’m past my kid seat years. I wish I’d had something like it at the time.

There are 135mm gear hubs. That’s what belt drive bikes come with.

marc_brumell

Looks good and vintage

base2 

I do indeed like my Buena Vista. Mine is the disc brake version. I set it up as a road bike with Ene Ciclo 2x11 down tube shifters and TRP Hylex hydraulic brakes. By way of trial and error, I discovered that I needed a 25mm setback seatpost and a shorter stem than I had anticipated. The published HTA/STA angles and the actual HTA/STA angles did not jive. I did swap in a much lighter Whiskey 7 fork with more nimble 47mm rake (as opposed to OEM 45mm rake.) I had the fork painted to match. The jury is out on how much the fork swap contributed to the apparent frame angle discrepancy.

It is a very responsive and fun ride. Firmly planted & smooth as a Cadillac with 700x38 GravelKing slicks set up tubeless.

As far as a character note: Set up as a road racing bike, It is a little bit noodle-y in the high speed twisties owing to the absence of a top tube. But that doesn't detract from the bike overall. It's a fair trade-off; The "instability" of frame flex while working the frame with the opposing forces necessary for counter steering & the frames rough road shock absorbing flexibility. It is a very fine road bike if you divorce yourself of the thought of making it into a "racing" bike.

I think SOMA did a good job. Especially considering exactly 0 out of 10 potential buyers intend to build it up with drop bars & ride it like a race bike down mountain side switchbacks screaming at the edge of traction like I do. So, any of my quibbles are not the negative they probably sound like. At sensible speeds, if you jam the handlebar, it will almost "whip" into a sharp corner. It's actually pretty cool once you get the hang of it. A positive. Great for avoiding obstacles or taking the inside line on a spirited group ride

Rough roads and broken pavement is where the mixte design really shines. The design is uniquely suited. Potholes, manhole covers, cobbles, broken pavement, gravel roads, etc...The Buena Vista is the right tool for the job.

It is my go-to bike for 30-60 mile urban rides.

How much, if any of this applies to the rim brake version or the disc version with the OEM 45mm rake fork is unknown. I don't know that 2mm of difference in rake between mine & OEM would appreciably change the character. I would definitely buy another one. In fact I have indeed thought about it just so I could build one up in upright city/shopping style.