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

March 2012
Press Archive

Bike Lust: Dream Bikes

Chipps: Seven Sola Monster 'Cross

Singletrack Magazine

In the early 1990's, fresh from being a bike messenger in London, I worked for NTi, an importer and distributor of fancy bike components. We brought in everything that the early mountain biker lusted after: Bontrager, Salsa, Merlin, onZa, Grafton, Rockshox…

I packed boxes at the warehouse and saved my wages for buying trick bits for my bike. While I was there, I figured that, before I left the bike industry, I'd order myself a custom titanium bike. Trouble is, I never left. There was always that thought though, and, when Seven Cycles emerged from ex-Merlin employees, my allegiance went with them.

When it came to picking up a dream bike, Seven Cycles was the natural choice. What started as a tentative enquiry for a loaner bike for a photo, soon cascaded into full-blown custom frame interview: "How would you rate your flexibility from 1-11? Are you a gear masher or a spinner?". Before I knew it, I's measured my limbs, rated my flexibility (not very…) and was on my way to becoming a customer.

But what frame? I knew Seven could build any hardtail I could think of. I went through the spectrum of '26in hardtail race bike' to 'all-mountain 29er' and finally settled on a frame based on Seven Sola 29er, but built as a 'cross adventure bike, similar to my very faithful Salsa Fargo. It would be a rigid fork, drop bar hardtail that had rubber room for 2.1 tyres, yet was nimble enough to do on/off road tour duties, and still fun enough for daily use.

Filling out the custom form was an education in itself, but once I hit the 'confirm' button on the order, I knew right then, there were tubes being cut to length and beautifully welded. In a very short time, my frame appeared and a top-flight set of components put on ready for that first ride.

Now it's here and built, I can't help but smile. This is a bike that's truly going to take anything that's thrown at it. The fit already feels great and the frame has garnered many admiring comments. Best of all, though, I know that it's an inspirational enough bike that I'm going to have no problems trying to ride my arse off at all hours to make it all worthwhile. It's 20 years since my last true custom-fit bike and I'm happily reminded that nothing feels, fits or inspires like a custom.