53cm Somec Air Vintage Italian Steel Road Bike Frame Set

✓ Original vintage frame - built in the 1980s
✓ Suitable for historic cycling events such as L'Eroica
✓ Thoroughly checked over & photographed in detail
✓ Worldwide shipping

Born out of a pure passion for cycling, Oliviero Gallegati introduced Somec to the world back in 1973. When we say world, we actually mean the lucky few from the small town of Lugo in the Romagna region of Italy who had the pleasure of being the first cyclist to own these magnificent bicycles. With a name derived from the ‘Societa Meccahnica’ (Mechanic’s society), it’s no surprise that technology was at the forefront of everything that Somec produced, and over the years they became famous not only for their exquisite paint but also for what could be described as futuristic design features, such as the arched brake bridge and integrated seat collar. This kind of detail results in a rare ability to look at a Somec and know that it’s going to be a killer bike to ride, it sounds weird but we’re yet to be proven wrong.

The Air is a very special model, combining Columbus SLX with their profiled Air tubing, which is the reason it gets its name of course. One of Somec's finest frames available at the time, with wonderful cut-outs and engravings all over the place, a generous helping of chrome, alongside the trademark Somec paintwork. A real work of art.

If you're taking part in L'Eroica or a similar vintage event, this frame is of the correct age, so you won't be disqualified for being a rule breaker!

The frame's been carefully checked by one of our mechanics to confirm the alignment's correct and there's no damage to the threads. If there are any minor issues worth noting we will do so in the overview section below. Please take a good look at the detailed photos so you can see the cosmetic condition of the frame before you buy.

OVERVIEW


Era - 1980s
Country - Italian
Frame Material - Steel
Tubing - Columbus SLX / Air
Weight - 2.58 kg
Stock Code - U-F-R118V

SIZING


Size Guide* - Small/Medium (Approx 31 1/2" Inside Leg)
Seat Tube (ctc) - 53 cm
Top Tube (ctc) - 52.5 cm
Head Tube - 128 mm
Chainstay Length - 40 cm
Wheelbase - 97 cm

*This is just a guide, not a guarantee the frame will fit as every rider is different. If you're unsure of your size we'd always recommend trying out a bike with similar frame dimensions first.

TECHNICAL INFO


Rear Spacing - 126 mm
Front Spacing - 102 mm
Seatpost Diameter - 27.2 mm
Wheel Size - 700c/28"
Brake Fixing - Recessed Allen Key
Front Brake Drop - 46 mm
Rear Brake Drop - 45 mm
Bottom Bracket Thread - Italian Thread
Headset Thread - Standard ISO (24 TPI - British/Italian)
Headset Stack Height - 39 mm
Fork Crown Race - 26.4 mm (ISO)
Shifter Fittings - Downtube Braze-On
Headtube Internal Diameter - 30.2 mm
Steerer Internal Diameter - 22.2 mm (Standard)

SHIPPING, TAXES & RETURNS

We've been safely sending orders around the world since 2010. There's a handy shipping calculator on the shopping cart page so you can see the cost of postage as soon as you've added it to your basket. Your order will be carefully packed and sent with tracking & insurance, we despatch most orders within 2-3 days but larger items and orders placed before the weekend can take an extra day or two to process.

We accept returns, please notify us within 14 days and ensure the item arrives back with us no later than 30 days after the order was received.

We don't charge VAT, however, if buying from outside of the UK please remember that there may be import fees to pay directly to the delivery company before receiving the order. Unfortunately we can’t advise on the exact costs as it varies from country to country, so please check your national rates before purchasing.

HELP SECTION

Seat Tube (ctc) - we measure from the centre of the bottom bracket shell up to the centre line of the top tube to give a consistent measurement regardless of frame design (ctc means centre to centre).

Top Tube (ctc) - this is measured from the centre of the head tube to the centre of the seat tube, along the centre of the top tube.

Chainstay Length - measured from the centre of the bottom bracket shell to the centre point of the rear dropout.

Wheelbase - measured from the centre of the front fork dropout to the centre point of the rear dropout.

Front & Rear Spacing - measured from the inside of one dropout to the other. The dropouts on steel frames can be stretched or squeezed a few mm but it's always best to avoid this if possible, aluminium or carbon frames should never be stretched.

Brake Drop - measured using wheels of the relevant size for the frame, as stated in the technical info section.

Headset Threads - although it's generally recommended to match threaded parts exactly, with headsets you can technically mix and match, unless you have French or the obscure old Raleigh threads, in which case you need to stick to that type.