Bodies at rest tend to stay at rest. That’s Newton’s first law. So you can imagine the difficulty one encounters trying to rise from a warm bed before the sun has even sighted the horizon, to fortify oneself with hot coffee, and then head out for a trail ride. That the temperature is in the mid-20s only compounds the challenge.
And yet, it’s January in New England and the trails are not yet coated in snow and ice, so we do what we can.
And all the way to the meet up, you have those second thoughts reverberating around your cranium. “What am I doing? Man, it’s cold. This is stupid. The guys probably won’t even show up. I really could have used the sleep.”
Then the guys DO show up and next thing you know the heat is coming into your legs, into your core. The leaves crunch under your treads. Frozen earth rides like asphalt in places. The wet parts have gone crusty in the hard morning freeze.
You still can’t quite believe you’re there as the sun begins to suffuse the woods with gray light, but the equation is shifting. You’ve kicked off that equal but opposite reaction, joy and inspiration pushing you down the trail, momentum interrupted only by the odd rock or root. Quite unwittingly, you’re smiling.
And then you’re at it hammer and tongs. Up steep ridges you grind, your breath coming in great billowing gusts. Your fork floats and pops as you hurdle downed trees and then you find a brook in full babble, and you brake without saying a word to your companions. You stop and listen. As much as the riding, this is what you get out of bed for.
Our group of riders smashed through the messy roadway. The speed plummeted as riders on light carbon frames balked at the clacking and popping sounds of their gear shuddering across uneven roadway. I was keenly aware that my speed remained stable as I slid to the front to plan my endgame. Stiff enough to feel… but the suspension of titanium was all there. Goldilocks would have been impressed.
Just prior to the holiday break, we were treated to a lovely long term review of an Axiom SL, courtesy of a blog post by Andrew Kerslake. Unlike many other reviewers, Andrew bit his tongue until he logged many miles over a wide variety of terrain, and then commenced on crafting a thorough report. We are pleased that he is enjoying his new bike, but especially enjoyed reading his entertaining blog entry, which was full of insight and energy.
Before deciding which bike he wanted, Andrew did a fair share of research and soul searching,
“We take on a certain degree of ownership that extends beyond the product and into the brand. The brand’s identity often speaks to our own identity.â€
However, as an avid cyclist, Andrew knew what type of outfit he was looking for,
“a titanium race bike to be agile enough for Taiwan’s roads, stiff enough in the drivetrain and stiff enough in the front and rear triangles to transfer over a fair amount of road feel to better assess my tack on the surface. I also wanted the bike to be just, and only just, comfortable enough to handle my notoriously long rides over Taiwanese roads. I also needed a bike aggressive enough for Taiwan’s yearlong bicycle event season. I wanted something that would be comparable to the carbon performance bikes, but still hold that solid metallic feel that I love with the durability of titanium. I have been known to be a bit careless or a klutz.â€
We were lucky to have been chosen to turn his dream into a reality.
The results?
“After each ride, no matter the distance or amount of effort, I can get off the bike and feel fresh. I can still run around and walk normally. I might be tired, but not beat-up.â€
We hope you enjoy the review as much as we did. Thanks to Andrew for the stellar report.
Keeping one’s senses in tact is not usually something to which holiday party revelers aspire. Thankfully, we have Matt O’Keefe as one of our helmers, and he managed to not only take these amazing photos of Seven’s holiday bash, he also proved to be a wicked good candlepin bowler.
Candlepin KitThe kids show us how to roll a strike!
A great time was had by all, especially the youngsters who showed us all a thing or two about bowling stamina and the thrill of the gutter ball!
Awards were handed out for best form, worst form, and highest and lowest scores. Although the night had to end, most of us were lingering until the folks at Sacco’s Bowl Haven politely told us it was time to give up the lanes for the next round of patrons.
Thanks to Staci Sommers for her decorating expertise and for making all party goers feel like we had entered a winter wonderland instead of a bowling alley bar; and thanks to Karl Borne who not only thought up the awards categories, but who chose the prizes for each, and then handed them out with aplomb and holiday cheer! Happy Holidays to everyone and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!
At Seven, we are fortunate to have many friends, both around the world, and close to home in Boston. One of our pals is world-renowned chef, and restauranteur, Jodie Adams. Jodie is an avid cyclist, and so it comes as no surprise that Sean Griffing, one of her business partners in her new venture, Trade Restaurant, is also somewhat obsessed with riding. Sean was among the Boston celebrities that was recently asked by The Boston Globe what his greatest wish was for the holidays. We were extremely pleased, but not totally surprised, that Sean mentioned he’d owe Santa big-time is he found a 622 SLX road bike under his tree.
We hope to help make Sean’s wish come true in 2012. In the meantime, we will give thanks for all of the great friends we’ve made during the 15 years we’ve been in business. All the best to all of you in the new year!
“My first project bike was as basic as my development, a fixed gear with tubeless tires and a slammed stem.”
Nine months of confinement would break a lesser man’s spirits, but pile another four months of New England winter on top of that, and only a select few have the will power to avoid insanity. The day was December 21st, 1977, winter had just begun and so had I. Forty-six days later the blizzard of ’78 covered my world in white and I credit that storm with my profound imagination. Swaddled in a crib, next to the fireplace, I dreamt up my very first project bike.
For those who have experienced a perilous winter, you can probably relate to my fragile little mind’s wanderings, and may have even dreamt up a project bike of your own.
If you are reading this 7, surely you are aware of the “project bike” phenomenon, but just in case it’s news to you, I define a project bike as such:
Project Bike: (n. proj-ekt bahyk): A bike that is contemplated, devised, planned, or implemented over a harsh New England winter. Traditionally a large or major undertaking; especially one involving considerable money, personnel, day dreaming, and at times outright lusting. So long as the bike has been theorized, the project can be considered “underway” irregardless of how many provable steps have been taken in the bikes physical creation. Project bikes have shown to help maintain the sanity of those trapped indoors for multiple months out of the year.
My first project bike was as basic as my development, a fixed gear with tubeless tires and a slammed stem.
I suppose that it should come as no shock that on the day of my thirty-forth birthday, and winter underway once again, that I have begun another project bike. This bike, unlike the thirty-three before it, comes from a place that none of the others have, raging jealousy. In a recent 7 entry, John Lewis discusses the late night cross ride in which he and others have been participating. Well, he failed to mention that they have also been going on morning mountain bike rides too, in bigger numbers. What feels like every other day, I listen to the glee and general jubilance of my office mates laughing and sharing stories from their early morning mountain bike ride. “Do you remember when Neil crashed!?” Followed by uproarious laughter. “Or when Dan’s wheel spun out?” They even refer to it as “shredding†which sounds even more fun. It goes on all day, and I just know I am missing out on good times. I love good times.
My issue, at least the one I’ll discuss today, is that my stable is missing a mountain bike. Just yesterday my jealousy reached new heights when John took delivery of his brand new Sola SL, much to the delight of the rest of the group.
So consider my 34th winter project bike officially underway. I have determined a few things thus far, including:
Frame: Sola SL
Fork: Shock, but which make/model is still undecided.
Wheels: 650b
Bar: Flat, but the 90’s are calling and you best believe I’ll be rocking some stubby bar ends. Count on that.
Brakes: Hydro disc with humongous rotors. Make/Model are still undecided.
The real issues?
Geared or single?
44mm head tube or standard?
Set back or standard post–I’m still up in the air on the aesthetic.
Cable routing locale, though I’m leaning towards under the top tube.
Time frame.
As you can see, I am well underway, though I have nothing to show for it at the moment. Unlike thirty-two of my previous project bikes, I think this one has a good chance of coming to fruition.
How about you readers, any exciting project bike’s this year, any good stories of projects bikes from the past?
