You can never have too many.

When the snow flies and the temperature yo-yos, you have to change your game plan.  At Seven, we try to stay on the bike, outside, as much as we possibly can.  There’s no shame in retreating to the rollers or a trainer, but “stationary bike” is a contradiction in terms, right?

Trail riding is an even bigger challenge.  On top of the snow/ice/snow mix, the sun sets early, so you need a good light.  The upside to snow riding after dark is that the white ground cover amplifies your light.  And you need all that light, because traction becomes a random event.  Choosing the right line can mean the difference between staying on the bike and sliding down the trail on your butt.

Best also to bring a sense of humor.

To be really successful on the snow ride, you have to change your basic expectations.  That feeling of flow you get from riding dirt in summertime is not available.  You have to replace it with the simple joy of being there, of being out in the woods when no one else is there, when the trees rock gently in the wind and the squirrels stay home to feast on winter stores.

It’s so nice to slip and slide and grind your way into the winter woods at night, and then stop there, turn off your lights and let the darkness close in on you.  If it happens to be snowing lightly at the time, the sound of the flakes flitting against the already fallen snow is absolute magic.

Back on the bike, staying upright is the biggest challenge, that and keeping your feet dry.  The reward is in the adventure, in going someplace that’s hard to get to, and in staying on your bike and moving forward when most “sensible” folks are at home, on the couch.

We’re really lucky that people are riding our bikes all year-round in all sorts of weather on every continent – except Antarctica…as far as we know.  We don’t, strictly speaking, have to be out on the trail in the middle of winter, but in addition to loving the outdoors and the challenge of riding through the winter, we feel we owe it to our riders to experience what they experience.  It helps us build better bikes, and of course, it makes a hot cup of coffee taste that much better.

Mo Bruno Roy pushing through it at the UCI World Cup race #5 in Namur, Belgium.

Enter: Seven Cycles

A Seven Cycles Photo Essay by Jeremy Jo, Embrocation Cycling Journal

Embrocation Cycling Journal‘s Jeremy Jo recently published a behind-the-scenes photo editorial of Seven.  With a friendly demeanor and disarming grin Jeremy captured images of many aspects of our factory: he dug into every corner of Seven and took photos of things we didn’t even know we had.  It was great to talk with him about Seven and what we’re up to.  His photos and prose provide a wonderful illustration of what we do and how we do it.

“The idea of American manufacturing often conjures up images of assembly line production, where parts by the thousands pass from worker to worker as they are transformed into uninspired, mass-produced goods.  This type of manufacturing once defined American industry, and it’s hard to imagine that there are still companies out there who define themselves by giving individual attention to everything they make.  Enter: Seven Cycles.”

“Starting out as raw tubing, the pieces of each bicycle go through the bending, machining, welding and paint process entirely within the confines of Seven’s 9,000 square foot manufacturing floor.  Each frame is often in the hands of the same person through the entire process, bringing an unparalleled sense of ownership and pride to the final product.  This type of work flow is only fitting for a company whose motto is, ‘One bike. Yours.’”

The Berliner Bike

We’d like to thank Jeremy for visiting our shop and documenting what we do.  You’re welcome anytime!

Stage 14 of the Tour:  Laurens ten Dam.

Hanging tough.  Focused on the finish.

- Thank you Koen van Weel.

The finish of the first Tour de France in 1903, with winner Maurice Garin on the right.  Leon Georget is on the left.  Paris, July 1903.

via thanks!