New baby Seven...

[MM_QFC!]

finalized the frame specs and components...now it's over to Seven to build my dream bike replacement, then for my Seven dealer here in Seattle (Zac Daab of http://cascadebicyclestudio.com/) to build it up for me...can hardly wait - but I'll have to!

On another note, Sunday afternoon, I rode (on my trusty steel Rodriguez) to the scene of the crash - which happened almost 1 year ago - just a flat, short ride on the trail, as I'm nowhere near the fitness nor mileage that I had before I was so painfully knocked off my bike. I didn't plan to ride to that spot, but, as it happened, it was a helpful experience. I wasn't sure how I'd feel to be in that place again, where I had such a painful, life-changing experience, but I was open to it and it actually felt fine. I leaned my bike against the trail marker and the crosswalk where the car nailed me can be seen in the background too.
Part of me kind of wanted to include a rude hand gesture (tell us your real feelings, Mary!) in the photo, but instantly thought better of it and chose to be my mature self .
It was enough to stand there, look at it all (police markings are still visible as is the scuffed up curb at the median where I landed ), remember it all and most powerfully: to get back on my bike and ride away from it! Now THAT felt good! Here's to my body's restorative powers and looking forward to great rides ahead again!
Tailwinds to all!
Mary

[OakLeaf]

Wow. Congratulations on going back to the scene. I can only imagine how tough that must've been. I've never had a crash remotely as severe as yours (touch wood!), but I was afraid for YEARS of a turn where I crashed my motorcycle.

Hope they get the new bike built for you quick! Never quick enough though is it.

[MM_QFC!]

Wow. Congratulations on going back to the scene. I can only imagine how tough that must've been. I've never had a crash remotely as severe as yours (touch wood!), but I was afraid for YEARS of a turn where I crashed my motorcycle.

Hope they get the new bike built for you quick! Never quick enough though is it.

yes, it was tough and I knew that the day I'd be standing there again would come, so I'm grateful that I could do that; am still pretty freakin' skittish in crosswalks though - even while walking! Family and friends are understanding and we can all laugh and kid about it; how great is that?!!

The artists at Seven are building me a custom bike again; I do not want them to rush any part of it!
I am lucky to have a back-up bike and will enjoy each part of the whole process, as I'm mindful how lucky I am to be here!
(will end this pollyanna-ish post before I gag or worse!)

[NbyNW]

Mary, Congratulations on another milestone in the healing!

I can understand the crosswalk trigger . . . while I will probably never have the chance to return to the scene of my accident, there are plenty of places/situations that bring back that moment in slo-mo . . . and it took me a while to feel confident crossing the street, too. Finding a way to laugh about it can certainly help.

Hope you are feeling good and strong when the new baby Seven comes!

[Blueberry]

Mary-

I'm so glad to hear you're progressing - both mentally and physically. That must have been tough - I can't imagine

That's a pretty sweet back up bike

CA

[MM_QFC!]

That's a pretty sweet back up bike

CA

It sure is, isn't it? I had it "commuter-ized" , with fenders and a rack, when I got my Seven in 2004, but that sweet ride has taken me thousands of miles in all of my previous AIDS fundraising rides...

[jobob]

... will enjoy each part of the whole process, as I'm mindful how lucky I am to be here!
(will end this pollyanna-ish post before I gag or worse!)

LOL! Cheers.

[MM_QFC!]

Seven has a "where's my frame?" link, so that I can monitor the progress of my wildly anticipated soon-to-be-new-Seven...my frame is in machining!


"Machining
After cutting and butting your frame's tubes, we carefully cut (cope) the ends of the tubes so that they'll fit together properly. We also create the sinuous bends in your frame's seat and chain stays at this stage, using a custom designed hydraulic press and tooling.

We're now ready to take the first step toward making your tube set look like a bicycle frame. But before we do, we carefully clean the tube set to eliminate any contaminants such as grease, dust, cutting oils, and fingerprints. From this point on, your tubes are handled only by craftspeople wearing cotton gloves. love it! (friends kiddingly asked me if I had a silk robe for my Seven)
Next, we stamp the inside of your frame's dropout on the drive train side, or right side, with a serial number for identification. We suggest that you record this serial number in your files when you receive your frame. Also be sure to include this serial number on the warranty registration card that we send to you with your frame.

Back in manufacturing, using your CAD drawing as the guide, we set up the fixtures on our custom-made jig to accept your tube set. The jig holds your frame's tubes together in the proper orientation and with the correct angles as we tack the frame. Tacking can be thought of as spot welding; each of your frame's joints is held in place by a very small weld bead. Once tacked, your frame is removed from the jig and its alignment checked.

Super-clean, tacked, and aligned, your frame is now on its way to welding. "

I've asked forSeven's master welder to personally weld my bike, as he did my first one, and I met him last year when I visited the 'Seven shrine'...

So, it's moving along...(probably moving easier and more smoothly than I am - still - at this point! ).
Thanks for putting up with me and my updates!
Mary

[Blueberry]

Thanks for putting up with me and my updates!
Mary

Mary-

Thank you for sharing them with us! You are truly an inspiration!!

CA

And how cool - cotton gloves?!

[MM_QFC!]

Should be soon!! My Seven dealer is building up my frame right now so I may be faced with a hard decision: cancel my follow-up appt. with my doctor re: my injuries from the crash ( ) that's been scheduled for Friday afternoon, to go get my new baby Seven.................or
be a responsible adult and see my doctor, while postponing the new bike pick-up....sigh, what to do, what to do??

[Biciclista]

wow, you're brave! I don't know if i could do that.

Cute birth announcement too. Lucky you, getting to be a grandmother!

[MM_QFC!]

thanks, Mimi and yep, but the baby Seven arrives before the first grandbaby

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Congratulations on all counts!