Help! I'm test-riding 2 Sevens

[CyclChyk]

...geez. You can tell I'm new to the world of biking.... my first thought was "DAMN! I wish I was skinny enough to fit in a pair of Seven Jeans (the designer jeans)....

[Trek420]

that's ok CyclChyk, she means these

www.sevencycles.com

[CyclChyk]

Oh geezz....... You had to go and show me the bikes! I'm drooling so badly rght now my dogs are CONVINCED that I have a bone and I'm not sharing. My hubby is wondering what I am up to and the word/number "7" has taken on a whole new meaning.................

Giant?? Giant who....?????

[Trek420]

sorry 'bout that.

[roguedog]

...geez. You can tell I'm new to the world of biking.... my first thought was "DAMN! I wish I was skinny enough to fit in a pair of Seven Jeans (the designer jeans)....

geez.. YOu can tell I'm new to the world of biking and a shopping geek... my first thought was "DAMN! She gets a Seven bike??" And then I read CyclChk's post, "What the hell are Seven jeans??"

[bikerz]

Sevens are lovely bikes. Oh, so lovely. That's why, my friends, the credit card stays at home tomorrow! No implulse buys. And I mean it!

I'll post my impressions after the rides, if I am at all coherent.

[CyclChyk]

Ok lets see if I get this right. A link to Seven jeans.......

http://www.active-sandals.com/seven-jeans.html

Much cheaper than the bike but VERY expensive for a pair of jeans.....

[7rider]

How did I miss this post???

I ride a Seven. I have a stock (not custom) 1999 Seven Axiom rebuilt in '05 with a compact crank and Dura Ace. I love it. Love it. LOVE it! It rides like silk on the road. It knows what I want to do before I do. It is super comfortable, stable, quick, climbs like a goat (when the old goat in the saddle is up to the task herself!) and descends like a demon!

It was major hard sell on the part of my LBS. My old bike was plainly not up to the task of hanging with the hammerheads on the shop ride (could the rack and the headlight that I forgot how to remove give it away??). He let me "borrow" this one (back in 2000) than accepted an offer when I got back to the shop and realized I HAD to have it. Talk about Eureka moments.

Incidently, the only bike I have ever ridden that comes CLOSE to the Seven was a steel Independent Fabrications Crown Jewel. If I didn't have the Seven already, I'd now be riding the IF. But how many wunder-bikes can a girl have?

So...
HOW did you your test rides go??? What do you think?? Will you be joining us in the Seven world???

P.S. When I rob a bank or otherwise have a bag o' money fall out of the sky into my lap, I'm going to get a custom ID8 or Elium. Yay!

[7rider]

Ok lets see if I get this right. A link to Seven jeans.......

http://www.active-sandals.com/seven-jeans.html

Much cheaper than the bike but VERY expensive for a pair of jeans.....

Do you have to always stick your hip jauntily outward like all their models when you're wearing them???? Oooo, my chiropractor would LOVE that!

[bikerz]

First, thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for my test rides! it was very helpful to go in there with some clear things to think about.

I rode the short route the LBS suggeted, which had rollers, flats, rough and smooth pavement, and a nice little hill to climb and descend. First I did it on my bike, then on the steel Seven, and then on the Ti. The Sevens were configured very similarly, and had identical wheels, so we just left the wheels alone. Both bikes had handlebars that were too narrow for me by about 4 cm, so that took a little to get used to, and then try to ignore.

The steel bike was so smooth and soft - it actually felt a little too smooth to me. There was a kind of delay when starting up from a stop or standing and sprinting. It was very comfortable. I liked it, and it made me realize how on my bike I really do feel every little bump. But I didn't feel much "zoom" on it.

Then I tried the Ti bike, and I liked it much more than the steel. It still felt smooth, but was more responsive somehow. Starting up and sprinting it felt much quicker to get going. My loop on the Ti bike was much faster (going by my watch only - so not super-accurate) - some of the feeling of being faster might have been being more warmed up and more enthusiastic.

I tried climbing standing up on both bikes and the steel felt really wobbly when I stood - I thought this must be the narrow handlebars, but the Ti had the same too-narrow bars yet felt much more stable.

Chris (LBS guy) suggested I compare the Seven Ti to another Ti bike he has (Habanero) just to see how the same frame material differs on two different brands. I'd like to ride the Seven Ti bike again with my wheels on front and back, and it would be great to have handlebars that are a better fit so I don't feel so cramped, but I'm not sure they go that far for a test ride.

Then I think I'll try a few other bikes at other places - just to see how all of them feel. Aesthetically, I really really like the look of Sevens - I like the tubular instead of flatter bar styles, but I think I should try a broader range of brands before deciding. It's a lot of airline miles to earn , so I want to be very informed about my decision. And I'm not in any hurry. Plus, riding other bikes is fun, I found!

Thanks again for all your help!

[DebW]

The steel bike was so smooth and soft - it actually felt a little too smooth to me. There was a kind of delay when starting up from a stop or standing and sprinting. It was very comfortable. I liked it, and it made me realize how on my bike I really do feel every little bump. But I didn't feel much "zoom" on it.

Whippy is a word often used for a bike like this. Soaks up shocks, but soaks up your pedal energy too. Not stiff enough in the drivetrain. You can't accelerate quickly.

Then I tried the Ti bike, and I liked it much more than the steel. It still felt smooth, but was more responsive somehow. Starting up and sprinting it felt much quicker to get going. My loop on the Ti bike was much faster (going by my watch only - so not super-accurate) - some of the feeling of being faster might have been being more warmed up and more enthusiastic.

Snappy, responsive, but still smooth. Sounds very nice.

I tried climbing standing up on both bikes and the steel felt really wobbly when I stood - I thought this must be the narrow handlebars, but the Ti had the same too-narrow bars yet felt much more stable.

That Ti Seven sure sounds sweet. If you like steel, you could certainly find a steel bike that is much stiffer and more responsive. But it would weigh more and probably not absorb road shocks as well. BTW, you were comparing straight-gage Ti and double-butted steel.