Seven – Page 105 – Seven Cycles

Team Seven Cycles: Scott L.’s Sola 29er

Team Seven Cycles member and long time Seven ambassador, Scott Livingston, picked up two new Sevens last week. Scott was really fun to work with on these builds because he knew what he wanted the bikes to do, but was open to collaborating on a lot of the details.

We designed a Sola 29 SL belt drive single speed for Scott to ride in the single track of his home state of Connecticut. The bike would also see action at the Vermont 50, which Scott has done something like 12 times. Scott knew the bike would be single speed, 29″ wheeled, rigid, and light. Together we arrived at Rocker drops, Gates carbon belt drive, 44 mm head tube, tubeless wheels, and tapered carbon fork.

I was blown away with how well the bike came out, and I think Scott was too. The only time I have been to the Vermont 50, it was a terrifically muddy affair. Should that be the case this year, Scott will be pedaling away on a mud-proof belt drive train, or when the climbs get too steep, portaging an ultra light 19 lb hard tail. It’s the perfect bike to challenge and excite him at a race that he knows so well.

Stay tuned for a post about Scott’s Axiom SL Commuter!

-Dan V.

Data, Experience, Passion, Results

When we set out to build custom bikes on a timeline measured in weeks rather than years, there were a litany of challenges to overcome. Chief among them was how to bring all of our collective experience to bear on each frame. Because of the scale and speed of what we do, making sure each person working on a Seven frame had the benefit of the years of frame-building work that had come before, became a real arbiter of our long-term success.

There are usually 10-15 people working on our factory floor. About a third of them have been engaged in frame-building for more than twenty-years. Another third fall in the 10-20 year category, and then finally we have a handful just embarking on their bike industry careers. Everyone who works here, regardless of their experience, brings a passion with them. That passion may be for high-end paint finishes, or for precision welding, rather than the “it’s all about the bike” mentality, but passion is one thing you can’t teach. To work at Seven, you have to bring a certain level of motivation with you. The rest we can teach.

And when we say teach, what we really mean is that we can show you the way we do things. In order to transfer the knowledge and experience of our most seasoned staff, we created highly-defined systems based on real-world data. We can’t impart five, ten or fifteen years of experience to people walking through the door, but we can build it into our way of doing things, so that those who are motivated to learn to do things the right way can replicate our results while they’re on their way to becoming veteran craftspeople, when muscle memory takes over.

We romanticize the craft of what we do all the time, but the truth is that, while important, craft alone would not let us achieve what we set out to do. We are a long way from the one-person workshop, cranking out single frames in stoic silence. We certainly have a crew of builders here who could step into that shop and build those bikes, but what we have tried to do is bring riders the same, full-custom experience you might expect from a single craftsperson, but without the long wait that comes along with the that type of custom work.

Doing what we do requires passion and drive. Those things are a given. One of the greatest sources of pride for us is that we are also data-driven, systems oriented, and customer focused. We founded this company with the goal that every Seven embody the breadth and depth of our experience, expertise, skill, precision, knowledge and commitment to the customer no matter who builds it.

Elium SLX – Halfway Home

Seven Cycles at the “Let’s Talk About Bikes” Opening Night at the BSA

Many thanks to Mark Pasnik and the folks at over,under for putting on the incredible, “Let’s Talk About Bikes” exhibit at the Boston Society of Architects Space. We were honored to be included in such a thoughtful way, and we were floored when we walked into the massive exhibit space.

There were bikes displayed along the entire perimeter of the second floor, with bigger-than-life photographs papering the walls behind each bike. We were excited to see that the exhibit designers used a photo of Seven’s own Staci Sommers as the backdrop for the Seven Cycles Berlin Bike display. Staci painted the Berlin Bike, and over,under conducted an extensive interview with her about the development of the Berlin Bike’s unique paint scheme, which is published in the “Let’s Talk About Bikes” brochure.

Along with the photographic backdrop were cool graphics that contained a description of the process that took the Berlin Bike from concept to build. We’ve never before seen such an aesthetically sophisticated display of this bike. Because of the layout of the exhibit, the guests were encouraged to ogle each detail of the bikes on display, but there was a flow to the space that kept everyone moving around from bike to bike, which actually encouraged conversation and resulted in a palpable excitement in the room.

Seven also had Mike Salvatore’s Elium track bike on display in the front window of the exhibit. We were honored to have 2 bikes in this show. There were bikes on display from SCUL, Saila, Royal H, each of whom are Seveneers who also have their own brands. There were also bikes from Boston-based bike builders Parlee and Firefly. We don’t usually get to see all of these bikes simultaneously, and it was a treat to get a closer look at the creativity and skill that each builder brings to their bikes. It was also fun to see the reactions of the guests to the artisanship on display.

The exhibit also celebrated bike photography, and the myriad ways that riding has inspired photographers from all over the city. Seveneers Matt O’Keefe and Jonathan Henig had photographs on display, and friends of Seven Susi Ecker and Natalia Boltukhova were also represented.

Giant video installations dotted the exhibit, with one featuring the experience of Team Greenline Velo, and another shot from the perspective of a commuter’s bike ride through downtown Boston. The video installations, along with the variety of bikes around the gallery illustrated the mission of “Let’s Talk About Bikes”: to show the diversity of riding cultures and history in the Boston area, and to encourage discussion about how all of us as a community can make riding bikes more accessible and safe. “Let’s Talk About Bike” seeks to start a discussion among urban planners, architects, cyclists, and citizens about how the integration of a cycling-centric culture into an urban landscape can shape our cities in the 21^st century, and can have a positive impact on everything from the economy to the environment.

Along with the creativity and energy in the room, there was also amazing food and drink, generously donated by Trade Restaurant, which is located next door to the BSA. This elegant touch lent the evening a note of celebration and fun that made everyone feel like they were at the best party in Boston. If you missed this event, do not despair! The exhibit is up through August 31. If you are in the Boston area this summer, we encourage you to make the “Let’s Talk About Bikes” exhibit at the BSA a must-see destination.

Seven Cycles in the “Let’s Talk About Bikes” Exhibit at the BSA

We are excited to participate in the “Let’s Talk About Bikes” exhibit at the Boston Society of Architects. The exhibit opens on Tuesday, June 12, with a party at the BSA from 6-8pm.

“Let’s Talk About Bikes” was conceived by the folks at the design firm, over, under to celebrate the history of framebuilding in Boston, and to explore the role of the bicycle in an urban environment:

“The expansion of urban biking raises broader transit-related questions about the relationship of bicycles to urban and environmental public policy. The exhibition examines this theme, from the Complete Streets movement to advocacy activism to concerns raised in Boston’s larger community about roadway use. Let’s Talk About Bikes presents many stories and outlooks in order to raise awareness and questions about the role of the bicycle in cities today.”

Seven Cycles was asked to loan The Berlin Bike and Seveneer Mike Salvatore’s Elium to the exhibit. Each bike represents a specific type of riding: the Berlin Bike is a commuter bike and Mike’s Elium was build specifically for track racing. Parlee Cycles and Friefly Bicycles also have bikes in the exhibit. In addition,Â Rob V. conceptualized and edited a family tree of Boston bike building for the exhibit. Many Seveneers are included in various aspects of the show: Matt O’Keefe’s and Jonathan Henig’s photographs will be displayed, and bikes built by Saila, Royal H., and the SCUL gang will also be part of the show.

We hope that if you’re in or around Boston over the summer, you’ll stop by the BSA to have a look at the craftsmanship on display. “Let’s Talk About Bikes” runs from June 12-August 31, 2012.