Somec Elite NOS Road Bike 1994

The SOcietà MECcanica was founded in 1973 by Oliviero Gallegati in Lugo di Romagna (Italy). Being a rather small manufacturer, Somec did not produce as many bikes as the more famous competition, especially in the beginnings.

It was in the 1980s that besides their perfect craftsmanship they became famous for the use of advanced tubings, lugs and their special paintjobs. A fame which they nourished by their flamboyant and technically perfect bikes.

Our Somec Elite SL is one of those bikes. As the name suggest, the frame is made of racing level Columbus SL tubes, which had been the choice for high end frames for several decades. It has been developed with classic lugged frames in mind and so it is no surprise that we find it on our lugged construction here. And what a frame Somec made from it. This heap of refined details shows precise pantographs, elegant chromed stays and an absolutely mindblowing paintjob.

This paint is easily recognized to come from the hands of one of the most ingenius of Italian frame painters: Mario Martini. Mario turned colouring frames into art and developed a unique and recognisable style which played with fadings, sharp-lined layering and smashing colours.

What makes it even better is the condition of the frame, since this bike has been built using a New Old Stock frameset!

Furthermore, the bike has also been equipped with parts in excellent condition, many have been NOS too. What we find is a Campagnolo Record groupset from '93/'94. This was the last one which came with the classic C-Record crankset. Everything is top notch, from the Flite Titanium saddle to the rare and expensive Mavic Ceramic rims.

Probably the best preserved Somec from the mid 1990s out there.