Framebuilding – Page 2

On Framebuilding: Part Two: Welding

Six tables form the circumference of the welding area. Unlike the back and forth, on-their-feet movement of the machinists, welders work more like laboratory scientists. Instead of operating multiple, massive machines all at once, they set up shop on a broad metal desk with all of their tools within arm’s reach. A torch, argon purge hose, different lengths and widths of filler rod, metal blocks that serve as heat sinks, clamps, and of course the welding mask are all there.
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On Framebuilding: Part One – Machining

Collated in an ordinary manila folder are the details of your new bike. Body measurements, preliminary sketches, notes, revisions, and final drafts are all there, as is the signed confirmation form perched right on top. To non-cyclists, a loose sheaf of papers like this might not get the blood flowing, but it works for us, and probably does for you, too.

This paperwork, after all, is the blueprint to a bike that has never been seen before, a bike designed to make your favorite rides even better, a bike specifically for you.
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Myth vs. Material

At Seven, we adhere tightly to the philosophy that form follows function. That’s why when designing a bike, we start with its mission and work back to the frame material selection.

We believe there are no bad materials, just bad applications.

We recommend the same approach when choosing your bike. Instead of first deciding upon a frame material, consider, “What do I want from my bike? How do I ride?” Crit racing, charity rides, touring, fast club rides, randos, solo rides, mixed surface explorations, all of the above? The answer can help lead you to the right material—and it may surprise you.

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The Five Elements of Customization

We are, all of us, trying to get back to that moment, when we were two, or five, or ten-years-old, of first pushing off and feeling the freedom, the joy of riding a bike. The 5 Elements are meant to get us there, to strip away the fear and focus on the idea for a new bike.

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The Language of Custom

Custom is not a secret language developed in shops and factories where there are initiated whispers in hushed tones about the craft of metal work. Custom is not a collection of technical terms that necessitates the reading of obscure manuals or classes in physics to understand.

If you’ve ridden a bike, you can speak the language of custom.

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