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Current Lead Times: Simple-Custom Framesets: 1 week. Full Custom Bikes: 7 weeks.

U.S. Built Custom Bicycles in Titanium and Titanium-Carbon Mix

Mark’s Evergreen S

This is Mark’s Evergreen S, delivered by our friends at Wheat Ridge Cyclery.Evergreen S

Mark says:

Hi Seven,

I never sent you a pic of the new rig!

I love the geometry! Great descending bike and my back is really liking the slightly taller front end!

Here’s the build:

-Chris King Headset, 44 mm

-Whiskey No. 9 fork with through axle and fender mounts (nice stiff fork, but the fender mount is located too close to the head tube and is not compatible with any existing fenders on the market)

-Wheels: DT Swiss 240s hubs laced to Pacenti SL25 rims, Specialized Robaix 32 mm tires (nice tires!) 

-Shimano components: Shimano mechanical hydraulic disc brakes, R 685 STI 11-speed levers and RS 785 brake caliper set, Shimano Ice tech rotors, Dura ace compact 50 x 34 crankset, Shimano Ultegra 6800 long cage derailleur, Shimano Dura Ace front derailleur

-Shimano Pro PLT handlebars, Thompson seatpost and bar

-Brooks Cambium C15 carved saddle…nice saddle for me for short distances, but I have a tendency to sit where the rivets are located. So I’ve since put my trustworthy Cobb saddle on this bike as well. 

The Drifters at the Maneha 250

Our own Brad Smith and Matt Masuzzo, bike builders, riders, all-around cool guys gave us the low down on a local event, the Maneha 250, that just celebrated its second running. Brad and Matt rode, as they often do, with their team The Drifters.

All words by Matty and photos by Brad below:

Three riders ascend a smooth dirt road

When I first learned the details of the Maneha 250, it quickly made its way towards the top of my ride bucket list. It’s certainly a singular event, unlike anything I’ve ridden before. The concept is straightforward enough — 250 miles of mixed terrain riding over the course of two days with roughly 14,000 feet of climbing. However, the content and execution of the route planning is what really sets the Maneha apart and makes it so unique. It’s definitely a maximalist approach to riding, as our tires seemed to touch every possible type of surface within New England.

Brad and Matt ride the trails

We left our respective homes at a time of day normally reserved for third shift security guards. Around 30 riders met at the start location, Ride Studio Cafe to sign in, and following a quick breakfast and round of coffee, groups started slowly rolling out around the 6 a.m. Grand Depart.

After some compulsory group photos, our team of three followed suit. We began the day on a long stretch of familiar gravel that often serves as a pre-work dirt commute. The morning sun was out in full effect and seemed to backlight all of the newly formed foliage along the path. The first 30 miles or so was a twisty-turny mix of mostly suburban hobo trails, the type you forget are practically in your backyard and beg to be explored and connected with bits of quiet paved back roads. From there we headed into some more secluded singletrack that wound through several town forests. Just as we were almost out of gas from a punishing climb up a lengthy rock garden, we were met by the affable sag wagon driver Mark, who supplied us with mini cokes and a cornucopia of gels, bars, and homemade rice cakes.

Brad and Matt ride the trails

The sun was starting to beat down as we continued on towards the New Hampshire state line. As we crossed into Granite State (official home of the vanity license plate) the ride took on a completely different feel. Rough single and double track gave way to peaceful gravel farm roads and rail trails. We stopped at mile 90 for a bonk break, quickly recovered and set our sights on the Mayfair Farm where we would be camping and feasting. The last few miles of Day 1 were a blur of steep yet smooth dirt roads, screaming legs, and some helpful locals offering friendly encouragements like  “You’ll never make it up that hill!”

Brad and Matt ride the trails

Once camp was set up at the farm, everyone began helping themselves to an amazing spread of food and drinks. We all swapped stories from the day as riders continued to pull into camp after nightfall.  Following some obligatory s’mores and fireside beers, we zipped up our tents just as the first few drops of rain began to fall.

Brad and Matt ride the trails

The next morning we awoke at dawn to get another early start and head back towards Boston. Day 2 promised to be an overall descent and there was rumor of a possible tailwind to provide a little extra help to get us home. We started on similar dirt roads to those that had been so taxing just 10 hours earlier. Unfortunately for us, they hadn’t flattened out overnight in spite of the steady rain. It was decidedly chillier than the previous morning, even more so when cruising down some of the long gravel descents as we made our way back into the great state of Massachusetts.

The majority of the second day rolled along much quicker than the first, even when we hit some bone-rattling singletrack in the northern portion of the state. Throughout the day we were met by the support van offering cold brew and snacks to keep us going. The rural landscape and vanity plates began to fade away as we entered the familiar exurbs of Boston where it seems an appreciation for the quirky charm of having a personalized slogan on your license plate is lost. 

Two riders on a wide trail on a spring day

By now I had figured out that any paved sections that promised a straight shot to our destination were off the table. The last leg of our journey was spent on overgrown MTB trails, a bike path or two, and a few wetland boardwalks for good measure.

Our team finished up the Maneha 250 in good spirits, a little beaten up but proud of the ground we had covered in under 48 hours. It was an incredible two days of riding on a route that epitomized what is quickly becoming a new standard of a truly memorable ride — the type that emphasizes ambitious mileage, less traffic, more dirt, great food, and somehow manages to be both physically exhausting and overwhelmingly fun at the same time. The Maneha 250 may be checked off the bucket list, but luckily it found a new home on the annual “essential rides” schedule.

The Drifters ride our Evergreen series of mixed-terrain bikes.

Joe Cruz, the Treeline SL Early Review

Our buddy Joe is a bike-packer of some skill and repute. Regular readers will recall that we built him a Treeline SL recently, in advance of a trip to Alaska (more on that to come). Now that he’s back, we’ve received an early review of the bike that we thought worth sharing.

Treeline SL in the rugged countryside

Hey Seven, 

Though I’ve had the Treeline for over a month, I’d only ever ridden it in Alaska on frozen rivers and snowmobile trails with a full load. It was fantastic in that context, the most perfect adventure bike I’ve been on.  

Treeline SL in the frosty woods

But tonight I joined up with our Thursday Night Mountain Bike Worlds and rode it unladen. Holy s*%t: that bike rips. I pointed it down chaotic corkscrew chunky pitches and it just carves and carves. The geo is brilliant, super fast turning but so easy to throw your hips to stand it back up it seemed like cheating.  So many thanks for your hard work.  

More soon,

Joe

Seven on the Top Step

We had this note (and photo) from Team Seven Cycles rider Hart Robinson, who did us proud with a win over the weekend:

Guys,

Bayou Boiling Point XC race was today on the banks of Arkabutla Lake in Mississippi.  The weather couldn’t have been better.  My Seven Sola SL SS did not disappoint.  The trail was tight, technical, and rooty with very short punch hills.  I managed a win among Cat 1 19-39.  My Sola SL soaked up all the bumps and left me feeling fresh.  The bike really is perfect for me. 

Team Seven Cycles' Hart Robinson on the top podium at Bayou Boiling Point XC race

At the (CX) Races, II

Our buddy Geoff has been at it again, this time taking in Orchard Cross and the Shedd Park races. He really captures what it’s like to race cyclocross in New England, although this season was warmer and drier than your typical autumn mudfest.

Colorful cyclocross racerBrad races 'crossBrad quickly scambles up the CX course with his MudhoneyA 'cross racer descending a course on her Mudhoney SLXBrad rides a bermDetermined 'cross racerCyclcross racer