622 XX – Page 2 – Seven Cycles

Lovely Bicycle Laps the Lough

Lap the Lough is an annual cycle event around Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland and Britain. Our friend and erstwhile correspondent Lovely Bicycle recently took on this ride on her Seven 622 SLX, and the report is worth reading.

Three cyclists smile and laugh together as they ride up a country road on a sunny summer day

She writes:

While most of the Lap the Lough route really was comparatively “flat,” by local standards, the final 5 miles featured a sustained, at times quite steep, climb into Dungannon, culminating in a cobblestone(!) section straight up the Hill of the O’Neill. While for those of us “lucky” enough to live in the northwest of Ireland, the climb was really nothing unusual (and really a rather fine way to end a 100 mile ride, if you ask me!) others were quite taken aback by this twist to the plot at the end. A few people got off their bikes and walked. Unprintable words were uttered.

For the rest of the story, click over to Lovely Bicycle.

Brian’s 622 SLX

This is Brian’s new 622 SLX, built with our good friends at Get-a-Grip Cycles in Chicago. Brian was going for a very refined look, so he painted the 622’s carbon tubes Platinum to match the titanium lugs and added a Ti post and stem. The result is pretty stunning, we think. Some kind words from Brian also, below.

622 SLX painted platinum and graphite

Dear Seven,

…………….it is EXTRORDINARY.

It really is a work of art.

Thanks for putting up with me — I was stressed about dropping so much dough on a bike, but seeing the end product I have absolutely NO regrets.

Looking forward to the inaugural ride tomorrow morning (I’m a bit giddy at the thought of it!). So far I’ve just spun around the block to test the saddle and eTap which were also both amazing.

Anyway, enjoy the pics and let me know what you think.

All my best,

Brian

Seven in Chicago Magazine

We were fortunate to be featured in Chicago Magazine this last month, with a little help from our friends at Get-a-Grip Cycles. With a two-page spread of our (actually rider Shawn Briggs’) 622 SLX, the piece does a nice job of quickly dissecting what goes into a bike customized to the nines. Many potential riders can by put off by a price tag, without considering all the components that go into it, and the long term value you get from designing and building the right thing the first time.

Detail of a spread titled the making of a $13,000 bike

The making of a $13,000 bike - Here's what goes into building a masterpiece on two wheels

Matt’s 622 SLX

This is Matt with his new 622 SLX. We built this one with our friends Matt and Wade at The Spokesman in Santa Cruz, CA.

He says:

Hey Matt and Wade,

I have had my bike now for 1 week, and I have to say it has far exceeded my expectations and wanted to thank you both. I have to say the fit is awesome. I have done several rides in the past week from 1-3 hours each. I used to always get lower back stiffness/soreness. That does NOT happen.

The ride is fantastic, little or no vibration yet a stiff frame with great acceleration! I was going down a hill today and looked down and could not believe I was going 42+ mph!

The components you guys recommend all rock, and I really like them. Disc breaks are great. I am most surprised with how much I like the Di2. I always heard it was good, but I always thought electronic shifting, big deal can’t be that different. Wow! Was I wrong!? It is so clean and exact.

I have been riding up Hicks Rd. for years. I can’t believe that with the Seven I did my best time ever! How is that possible?! Anyway I just want to thank you guys very much for all of your help to make this happen! Thank you very much!

Matt

Alex’s 622 SLX and the Mt. Evans Hill Climb

This is Alex and her new 622 SLX, which, as you can see, is made for climbing, right down to its Queen-of-the-Mountains paint scheme. All the titanium is painted Dianthus, one of our new colors for this season. We built it with Mark Brone at Brone’s Bike Shop in Fountain City, WI. We finished it just in time for Alex to take to Colorado for two weeks, culminating in the Mt. Evans Hill Climb. Here is her quick report from the trip:

Hi Seven,

I would just like to give you a feed back about my new bike.

We have returned from our trip to Colorado and the bike is amazing!

I was curious how this “custom made” is going to turn out and if I was going to notice any difference in the fit/feel. I have several bikes that are all “fine”, so it had to be better than “fine” to stand out.

And it…did!! Amazing, how comfortable it is. Not just a smooth ride, but I have never had any aches or pains (with climbing I got used to a uncomfortable “straining” feel in my lower back). I thought that the strain/pressure in my lower back is simply “a deal” for me in climbing position, not avoidable.

We first did the Independence Pass, then Loveland Pass (both from the harder sides, both about 12,000 ft elevation). A big surprise: I was not even thinking about any discomfort (other then the thin air…) and later on realized that I had no discomfort of any kind on that bike! Great!!

Our main event, at the end of the trip, was Bob Cook Road Bike race on Mt. Evans, to 14,140 ft elevation and about 7,000 ft of climbing in 28 miles. I was doubtful if I would make it to the top, but I did it! It took me 5 and a half hours (my husband did in 3hrs 22 min, riding conservatively as we did not know what to expect), but who cares? The weather was great (just luck), I felt perfectly fine going my relaxed tempo, so I kept going. It was an amazing feel to go through that finish line on over 14,000 ft height. Wow!!!

I am so happy that I was able to take my new bike on that trip. It would not be the same without it, so thank you for making the best effort at the end to make it happen!

Alex