Somec Elite Record Finest Road Bike 1980s

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.

Our beautiful Somec frameset has been equipped with some of the finest parts you could wish for. A searched for Campagnolo C-Record groupset from the first generation has been built onto this bike. This includes the rare and searched-for Sherriff-Star high flange hubs. But it does not end there other exquisit parts are to be found, too. There are the C-Record pedals, Campagnolo Omega rims, a Regina CX asymmetric chain and impressive, hexagonal Cinelli EXA handlebars! Add some perfectly executed pantographs into the mix and top it off with a Campagnolo Biodinamica bottle and you have one of the greatest bikes you could wish for in the second half of the 1980s.

What makes this bike even better than just the composure and the heap of gret parts is its condition. The bike is outstanding and has hardly been ridden. Many of the parts on this bike are actually new old stock and have not been used before they were added to this build.

This bike is an example of the highest level of late 1980s bicygle extravagance from the Emiglia Romagna.