Bike Check: Sada’s Squid So-Ez
I tend to insist a lot on the whole “Summer is finally here!” thing and if the recent “Summer special” podcast, or “Summer Newsletter” didn’t bash your heads enough with my love for the hot season, this write-up might be the skid that kills the tire, so to say. A few months back, while I was in Japan, I had the opportunity to go to “Bike Lore” which is a CX event full of various cool races, and usually in a beautiful setting.
Here stands the winner of the tracklocross race AND the all categories elimination race! (yes, he did win brakeless against fully geared out CX and gravel bikes). Sada has always been a madman on and off the road, and today, I couldn’t pass up this chance to show one of his bikes.
The So-Ez has been around since 2019, yet, I can almost guarantee you’ve never seen the same one twice. This one in particular was custom painted at the Squid HQ in Sacramento and then imported to Japan. It features a purple and silver “Soap Paint” over a black coat, with some very nice teal accents all around the frame. With that many colors, you would think it would be pretty hard to put a coherent build together that doesn’t end up with a unicorn rainbow style… Well, you’re wrong….
Starting straight up with the fancy bits. The unusual 135 mm rear spacing of the So-Ez, does require a special hub. Sada decided to go with a rear Paul World hub, and a high flange front to match the anodization. Threaded here is a Phil Wood SLR cog in the 19T variant to assure that low tracklocross gear ratio. Each hub is then laced to some DT Swiss RR511 rims, which wide, not too deep, and overall, perfect for the job.
The Squid So-Ez is one of those frames, where you’ve seen dozens of them, hundreds online, but you’re still finding new ones to this day. A frame that was made to be custom painted was a great idea, but the customization had to be pushed a little further with these hand drawn rims by one member of his crew: @markers_stand_here.
Allow me to talk about the Markers for a second because they embodied the exact thing I’m trying to share through SSS. Putting a name on a group to officially establish things usually has some side effects. When you see yourself as an entity in a world with similar beings, most of us will see them as rivals. “We need to push further: better bikes, better tricks, faster members, crazier videos”
And trust me, I did it too… As a group, you have this extra momentum that, if in the wrong direction, could just end up creating a toxic vibe. Markers represent two of the values I try to live by and communicate to the fixed gear community: simplicity and authenticity. It’s ok to not have the best bike; we’re not in an arms race anyway. I will respect you, 10000 times more if you’re a chill person with a simple bike, than a dick with the wildest collection.
On that note, back to our So-EZ.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset Custom Painted
50cm Squid So-EZ
Chainring and Cog
Sugino 75 45T, Philwood SLR 19T
Crank
Black Sugino 75 165mm
Seatpost and Saddle
Selcof , Prologo Evo
Stem and Handlebar
Dixna, TNI Nitto Forshred limited edition
Wheels DT Swiss RR511 laced to Paul Components
Tires IRC Boken 35c
Like you just read above, Sada is rocking a 45x19 ratio for all that tracklocross action. With no better pair than a Sugino 75 crank AND chainring, beautifully showed in this fine sunburned color, giving the cranks an almost a bronze-purple tint.
A pair of Time Atac pedals is also here to get well strapped on. And you should be good for any skid you’ll throw at this bike.
Talking about skids, I originally placed myself at the end of a long backstretch on the course to take pictures there. Since it’s an easy gravel road with a sharp 90-degree corner at the end, I thought to myself that I was a genius for getting the best spot and probably some amazing, fast-paced skid pictures.
Guess who never skidded? Who didn’t even slow down to take that corner and pushed these poor 36c tires to their absolute limit?
Damn, I wish I had a video of that….
Below, the well known Nitto for shred bar in this teal limited edition by BlueLug held by a Dixna stem. On it, you can see what’s left of some cotton tape, because we all know that “the older, the cooler” with cotton tape, although this might be the very limit…
At last, a White Industries headset matching the hubs for this last piece of bling. It’s well-balanced, just the right amount of fancy, and it’s ridden like no tomorrow. Exactly as we like them! You can see more of Sada’s mad skills here: @sada_markers. As well as his friends from @markers_stand_here.
When the streets are not enough, and now you need to ride on water…
🎞: FilmNeverDie KIRO 400
📷: Nikon F100
