The Perfect Ride
bicycling.com
Joe Lindsey
- In Seven's expansive line of road frames, the Aerios is the lightweight champ. The frame employs Seven's most radically butted tube set, compact geometry, and minimalist non-adjustable housing stops at the head tube. Like all Seven frames, it's offered in stock geometry-but seven will build you a complete custom bike at no extra charge.
- Seven custom-built the Aerios for our test-drive. The geometry numbers looked wrong at first—Seven designs the bike with a much shorter top tube and higher bar than our subject usually rides. After extensive riding however, including the six-day Bicycle Tour of Colorado, our test rider fell in love with Seven's fit. "It completely eliminated the neck, shoulder and upper back pain that had nagged me on longer rides. The position isn't as aerodynamic as my previous bike, but I can ride longer and more comfortably now. I completely changed how I feel about my bike fit."
- Besides reducing the Aerios overall weight, the medium diameter, thin walled, butted 3/2.5 titanium tubes have a delicious ride quality. Take the best traits of carbon and steel frames, throw them into a blender, and the resulting mix is much like the Aerios ride. It's smooth and comfortable, yet it maintains a communicative feel. Seven customizes the tubeset for the rider right down to the butting.
- Because he was concerned about the overall stiffness of the frame, our 165 pound test rider requested that Seven put some extra beef in the platform. That lead to a slightly heavier frame, but at just 2.4 pounds it's hardly porky, and it was plenty rigid enough for our tester to be happy with the ride.
- Our tester told Seven what he was looking for in terms of handling, and the company nailed it. "I wanted something like my previous bike. It's on the quicker side, responsive and sporty, but it doesn't fall into corners and it doesn't have too-light a front end. It's planted and hooked up going down or going up."
Best Thing: Having a lightweight road rocket built just for you
Worst Thing: Once you have this bike, will you never want another?
Our Verdict: Another amazing bike from Seven
Weight: 16 lb., 2 oz. (54cm w/o pedals)
Sizes: 44 to 67cm in 1cm increments (custom 54cm tested); custom (no charge)
Component Highlights: (as tested) Compagnolo Record 10-speed group; Neutron wheels; USE Alien post; Thomson X2 stem; 3T Zepp XL bar; Fi'zik Aerione saddle; Vitoria Open Course EVO CX tires
Contact: 617.923.7774; sevencycles.com
