Seven – Page 112 – Seven Cycles

The Seven Cycles Showroom

Our showroom, such as it is, is a beautiful space, with vaulted ceilings and a generous supply of natural light. In the morning, the sun slants in through the blinds and bathes the few bikes that live there in a warm glow.

Invariably, we display our project bikes there. The Berlin Bike is often in residence. The Bicycling Magazine bike has been a frequent occupant. But, also invariably, those bikes want to go out to bike shops for display or for special events.

Today, just today, the bikes in the showroom consist of: Rex, the very first Seven, the primogenitor, the bike that spawned all others; Rob’s belt drive Cafe Racer with custom Tiberius handlebar and S&S frame couplers; Karl’s Elium SL, all carbon lightness in a pure-speed build.

We should make clear that employee bikes end up in the showroom quite a bit. Back at home, garages and storage rooms struggle to accommodate all of our cycling predilections. It ends up being a symbiotic arrangement. The showroom gets beautiful bikes to display. And our loyal Seven staff get more space for even more bikes.

There are a few frames hung in one corner, examples of our best custom paint work, and a pair of Elium SLXs with internally routed Di2 builds. They’re on their way out, demo bikes for shops who want the very latest in their own showrooms.

We joke a lot about the showroom. What do you call a bike company with no bikes? More than once, a passing tour has offered to buy an employee’s bike right off the display rack. It’s good to make a product you can’t keep in stock. It’s the problem you want to have.

Shop Ride: Sevens on the Trail

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.

Customer Review: Axiom SL

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,

â€œWe take on a certain degree of ownership that extends beyond the product and into the brand. The brandâ€™s identity often speaks to our own identity.â€

However, as an avid cyclist, Andrew knew what type of outfit he was looking for,

â€œa titanium race bike to be agile enough for Taiwanâ€™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 Taiwanâ€™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?

â€œAfter 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.

Seven Holiday Party Photos by Matt O’Keefe

Folks congregating — Pre-Bowling Warm Ups

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.

Kids bowling — The 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!

Karl makes an announcement — Karl B. the evening’s master of ceremonies

Friends of Seven: Sean Griffing

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!