The driveside dropout can also be separated from the seatstay by a cleverly hidden bolt so that the Gates belt can be fed into the rear triangle. Two details are worth mentioning, though: one is the well thought out slider rear dropouts, which are necessary to tension the belt and both easier to adjust and less prone to creaking than eccentric bottom brackets. There’s some modest shaping on the top tube and down tube but it’s mostly for style, and surrounding the carbon bladed fork up front is a straight 1-1/8in head tube anchored at either end by a sveltely integrated headset. The frame on the Trek Soho Deluxe again follows the utilitarian theme with a basic, TIG-welded double-diamond aluminum layout. go ahead and careless lean the bike against a parking meter – it won’t even leave a mark James Huang/Future Publishing
go ahead and careless lean the bike against a parking meter – it won’t even leave a mark: the full length of the top tube is protected by this thick rubber pad. The full length of the top tube is protected by this thick rubber pad. It’s a pleasant enough bike to ride around town all day thanks to the semi-upright position and cushy grips and seat, and the fast-rolling tyres help offset the somewhat hefty 13.33kg (29.39lb) complete as-tested weight (17.5in size, with pedals).įrame: Straightforward TIG-welded aluminum Ride quality is nothing to write home about, what with the straightforward aluminum frame and thick-treaded tires, but in this context, that’s alright. It’s a heavy chunk of hardware and has a very rear-biased weight distribution – not the best for hopping curbs or potholes. Total gear range is fine for moderately hilly areas but might not be sufficient for riders lacking in fitness or if the bike is heavily loaded. Ratios are reasonably well spaced, too, and unlike traditional derailleurs, the Nexus can be shifted while either pedaling or at a standstill – great for commutes that include a lot of stoplights. The enclosed design is mostly protected from weather and requires less upkeep than a traditional drivetrain. The rear brake could use more power and the lever is notably squishier than the front one but modulation is excellent and it’s highly resistant to lockup – not the best for skidding competitions but certainly better when playing in traffic.Ĭapping off the SohoDeluxe’s carefree attitude is the Shimano Nexus eight-speed internally geared rear hub. Front braking is powerful, easily controllable, and consistent in both wet and dry conditions – not to mention admirably quiet. Our test bike’s gates centertrack belt drive system required no maintenance, even through the rain, snow and slush of a colorado winter: our test bike’s gates centertrack belt drive system required no maintenance, even through the rain, snow and slush of a colorado winter James Huang/Future Publishingįollowing along that same philosophy are the rear drum and front disc brakes.