I'm getting a Seven!!!!!

[bikerz]

There, I just had to say it. No sly lead in.

So here's the story. On Friday, I test rode a Calfee carbon (just to see what carbon was like), and a Habanero titanium for the second time. I had talked myself into getting a custom Habanero, because it was cheaper than the Seven, and I was afraid that I'd louse up the custom specs, therefore, the Habanero would have been a cheaper mistake. And then one day (sigh) I'd get my Dream Bike -- the Seven.

Anyway, the Voice of Sanity (or The One Who Has No Qualms Spending My Money) was riding with me and convinced me to give the Seven "just one more spin -- you know you love it." Not coincidentally, my accountant had recently given me the good news that Uncle Sam was graciously returning the interest-free loan I'd spotted him last year.

So I took the Seven for another spin, and ... well, what can I say? It was spectacular! And so gorgeous. I mean, have you seen the lines of those chain stays?

Today I went to the LBS for a 3 hour session on the fit cycle. Did you know that I have femurs like Greg Lemond's? Who knew?! Another little bit-o-trivia: I've grown an inch over the past year. At any rate, I'm pretty convinced that we won't louse up the specs, so it looks like I will be getting my Dream Bike in early June.

Here's a link:
http://www.sevencycles.com/road_detail.php?bike=alaris

Isn't she gorgeous?

Still to come:
- final decisions about frame geometry
- some choices on componentry
- what to do with my old bike, since it really doesn't fit me very well.

I can't wait to have a bike I really love!! (How many days is it until June?)

[pooks]

She's beautiful!!!

[sarahlou]

I want one!! How long do you have to wait to get your new love?

[jobob]

Excellent! :cool:

[KnottedYet]

Oooh, baby! :p

Glad you listened to your "voice of sanity"!
(now, can she come tell me to pay off my Visa, rather than buying Flossie a triple? or tell me the opposite...:D )

[SadieKate]

Yes! That's what I've been waiting to hear! Yippee!

The "Voice of Reason" must have been listening to me thinking about this all week. Seriously. I've been thinking about you and the whole bike fit thing and needing a better bike and . . . . and . . . Yahoo!!!

[mimitabby]

YOu grew an inch since last year? May I ask what your age is?
your new bike is really beautiful, congrats!

[yellow]

someday...maybe...I'll have something that nice. :rolleyes: Congratulations! You deserve it!

[ace]

Given that you got that huge tax refund, how about forgiveness on the $2.06 I owe you?

As far as the Seven goes, I am looking forward to getting our new bikes together for a spin in June. Congratulations on your sensible and completely warranted purchase :D

[Thorn]

Congrats! You must keep us posted on the progress!

Apparently, my Voice of Insanity keeps winning....oddly, it isn't the money (I've set that aside and marked it for my Seven), it is, as you say, the fear of lousing it up.

So please keep us posted....you'll be helping all of our Voices of Sanity grow stronger!

[7rider]

Wow.
Congratulations!
As a Seven rider, I can say that you will have NO regrets. They are superb machines - beautiful to look at, stunning to ride. I have a Signature Size bike (that is, not custom - someday I'll get a custom one of my own!) and it is outstanding. It's like riding turbo-charged silk on the road. My DH just got his custom ID8 in February and he LOVES it. He is jumpy and can't wait to ride it every single day. When he can't ride, he just goes and looks at it.
Congratulations again! Enjoy your new ride. Can't wait to see pictures.

[maillotpois]

Oh that's fantastic!! Yay!

[FreshNewbie]

bike lust :D Congruts! many many miles to you and your new baby

[aka_kim]

What a surprise! :p

I know you'll have many happy miles together. And I can't wait to see it. We'll need to do an Oakland hills ride this summer.

[bikerz]

Woo hoo! I am so excited!

The long femurs were a surprise (well, long relative to my calves - I don't think they are freakishly long!).

Now I know why I always feel like I need to push my saddle way back (until it's like a springy diving board - not good!), or scoot myself right off the back of it.

I am in my early 40s, so I don't think I actualy "grew" an inch :rolleyes:, but I must be standing up straighter these days, and that seems to have made a difference. I am officially 5'3.85", and I have always thought of myself as 5'2". This changes everything!

Kim - Oakland hills rides are definitely on the agenda, but as great as this bike will be, it's still the same old slow up-hill rider pedaling! Although, I should have a more efficient pedal stroke when I am positioned better on the bike - maybe that will help get up those hills!

P.S. Ace - you can just forget that $2.-whatever!

[SadieKate]

I'm still waiting to ride the Bears with you.

My tapping foot and drumming fingers are driving Bubba crazy. :)

[bikerz]

Maybe the Bears should be my inaugural ride on the new bike? I'll suffer on the climbs (as usual) but we'll be picking the bugs out of my teeth after the downhills! :D

<====== (... and a new avatar :D)

[quint41]

She's beautiful! So shiny! Good for you!

[snapdragen]

I dunno. New bike. Trip to England. Harrumph. I think I'm jealous.

;) :D ;) :D

Yay and congratulations!

Oh - and the new avatar is excellent!

[Adventure Girl]

Bikerz, you seem to always have a positive, happy attitude and an easy smile (I wish I were more like you!) But hanging out after the Cinderella ride on Saturday, you seemed extra happy! At long last you're going to have the bike that you LOVE. Congratulations! Happy dance! Happy dance!:D

[Trekhawk]

Oh that is beautiful!!:)

[Derf]

There, I just had to say it. No sly lead in.

So here's the story. On Friday, I test rode a Calfee carbon (just to see what carbon was like), and a Habanero titanium for the second time. I had talked myself into getting a custom Habanero, because it was cheaper than the Seven, and I was afraid that I'd louse up the custom specs, therefore, the Habanero would have been a cheaper mistake. And then one day (sigh) I'd get my Dream Bike -- the Seven.

Anyway, the Voice of Sanity (or The One Who Has No Qualms Spending My Money) was riding with me and convinced me to give the Seven "just one more spin -- you know you love it." Not coincidentally, my accountant had recently given me the good news that Uncle Sam was graciously returning the interest-free loan I'd spotted him last year.

So I took the Seven for another spin, and ... well, what can I say? It was spectacular! And so gorgeous. I mean, have you seen the lines of those chain stays?

Today I went to the LBS for a 3 hour session on the fit cycle. Did you know that I have femurs like Greg Lemond's? Who knew?! Another little bit-o-trivia: I've grown an inch over the past year. At any rate, I'm pretty convinced that we won't louse up the specs, so it looks like I will be getting my Dream Bike in early June.

Here's a link:
http://www.sevencycles.com/road_detail.php?bike=alaris

Isn't she gorgeous?

Still to come:
- final decisions about frame geometry
- some choices on componentry
- what to do with my old bike, since it really doesn't fit me very well.

I can't wait to have a bike I really love!! (How many days is it until June?)


How did the ride of the Seven compare to the Calfee?

[KnottedYet]

I like the new avatar, too.

[DrBee]

Congrats! She's a beauty! Wahoo! :D :D :D

Love the new avatar, too!

[cindysue]

Gorgeous! Congrats! I would love to join you for the inaugural ride.

xxoo

[SadieKate]

<====== (... and a new avatar :D)Hey, where's the cape? :p

She's on it, folks, she's on it.

[li10up]

Congrats on the new bike! I'm sure you're going to love every mile! Happy cycling!

[DirtDiva]

58 days until June...

[bikerz]

Ha! SK you crack me up - a cape - that would be something to see! I wonder how many wheel rotations before that thing got caught in my mongo rear cassette and it all came to a crashing, painful halt! :p

Derf - the Calfee felt fine - I can't say I hated or loved it - I was really only trying it out because I felt like I needed to try carbon, just to see what it's like, but since I'm not a fan of the carbon look, I wasn't really considering it as a potential bike match for me. It was more like "is it going to totally blow me away"?, and the answer was no. It was very smooth, but didn't feel quite as snappy as the Seven when starting up.

I hope to be seeing preliminary specs on my bike this week before leaving on vacation for a week, but I'm taking my laptop, so if they get delayed a bit, I'll still be able to look them over from London (just so nothng gets unneccesarily delayed! :rolleyes:)

[7rider]

Z - was thinking about you and your Seven yesterday as I was chatting with a co-worker about my DH's new Seven. I've been pondering my aches and pains and wondering if a custom ride wouldn't be the way to go for me (some of Kalidurga's pains she discussed in her benefits of fitting thread I could totally relate to). Of course, since we already have 2 Sevens in the household - my stock and DH's custom - for many reasons, Seven is really the only custom brand that I would consider. The first reason, of course, is that they are such dang sweet bikes and I'd hate to give it up.
So...I've discovered the one major downfall of owning a Seven. They spoil you for any other bike out there. Anything else would just be "settling" and it would only suffice until you got that Seven!

[bikerz]

Regina - I just read Kali's excellent post too, and it might be good for you to get a full fit on that Serrotta fitcycle AND on your Seven at that LBS in Frederick. The fitter there can probably tell you if any adjustments can be made, and/or if you really might benefit from a custom frame. For me, the issue is that I can't get positioned properly on my current bike relative to the pedals - raising the seat just takes me further away from the pedals, and moving the saddle back makes the saddle too bouncy, and makes the backs of my knees hurt. So none of the adjustable points will address the biomechanics properly. Once we had the numbers from the fit cycle, we could compare to my current bike and realy see the differences. It was very interesting to see.

[slinkedog]

Officially jealous. Yep. That would be me. ;)

Ann, you deserve a kick-a$$ bike cuz you are an amazing lady and I'm SO happy for you!! You have to come ride in my territory with me sometime so I can see it up close and personal.

HAVE FUN!

[teigyr]

I've got to say that bike is absolutely stunning. I stared at it, looked at the cost, and stared some more. Some day!!! I even showed DH last night...enjoy that bike!!!

[7rider]

Regina - I just read Kali's excellent post too, and it might be good for you to get a full fit on that Serrotta fitcycle AND on your Seven at that LBS in Frederick. The fitter there can probably tell you if any adjustments can be made, and/or if you really might benefit from a custom frame. For me, the issue is that I can't get positioned properly on my current bike relative to the pedals - raising the seat just takes me further away from the pedals, and moving the saddle back makes the saddle too bouncy, and makes the backs of my knees hurt. So none of the adjustable points will address the biomechanics properly. Once we had the numbers from the fit cycle, we could compare to my current bike and realy see the differences. It was very interesting to see.

Thanks, Z. I had the bike fitted to me - twice. Latest being after I rebuilt it to remove the triple and go to a compact crank in '05. The bike has been fine for 7 years now, I just think my deteriorating neck (from a car accident) may no longer - or may SOON no longer - be up to the task of the riding I do on the bike. That is...big gear mashing down in the drops.

Oh....I read about all the wonderful bikes you ladies are getting, and I can rationalize ANYTHING!!! :p

Must.

Log.

Off!!!!