I took delivery of my new Seven Aerios earlier today and although I've only been on it about an hour so far, I'm very pleased. I'll report back again after I get some long miles into the bike.
When I spec'd the new rig, I was very clear that my main focus for this bike was for long rides with lots of climbing. Further, that I was willing to sacrifice a bit of quick handling and rigidity for stability, comfort and light weight. I also had them add the optional fender mounts so that I could use it for randonneuring if I wanted to in the future.
I did a short hill workout tonight and at 16.8lbs as shown in the pic below, it does climb very well. Handling is quite stable ,quicker than my Cross-Check and mellower than my LandShark. The positioning feels right on, my hands naturally fall right onto the hoods and the position in the drops feels much more accessible. The positioning is more upright than my LandShark, with a much smaller drop from stem to seat.
Details:
Seven Aerios
Seven XL fork
Seven Stem, Bar & Seatpost
Campy Record 10sp
King Headset
Selle SMP Pro Saddle
Speedplay X2 pedals
Mavic Open Pro, 32 hole w/ Vittoria Pave's
So far so good, now i just need some miles...
http://www.crowmountain.net/Temp/aerios2.jpg
The BikeForums Team
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Glad it rides well, because otherwise it would only be a stunningly beautiful sculpture.
You must be walking on air (when you aren't riding.)
bmike
nice ride. no fenders for the PacNW?
Old_Crow
nice ride. no fenders for the PacNW?
It has the mounts but I won't be putting them on this bike unless needed on 'ride day' or I decide to ride brevets. I have the Surly with fat tires and full fenders for anything wet/muddy.
bobbycorno
It has the mounts but I won't be putting them on this bike unless needed on 'ride day' or I decide to ride brevets. I have the Surly with fat tires and full fenders for anything wet/muddy.
C'mon now, wouldn't that bike look great with a set of Bruce Gordon carbon fenders? They're only $350...
Scott P
Bend, OR (where it doesn't rain, so we don' need no steenkin' fenders)
MTBMaven
Could you post your geometries, height, weight (if you don't mind), and inseam?
The description sounds exactly like what I am looking for. I am just starting to work with a builder on a steel frame. First phone call scheduled for tonight.
plodderslusk
Will you be seen on that beautiful bike in Paris in 2011 ?
Jawbone
Can you share what your gearing is?
thanks!
Old_Crow
Gearing is a 34/50 compact with a 13-26. It's my first experience with a compact (I have no experience with triples) and it's better than I expected. I'm in the big ring a lot more than normal but cross-chaining doesn't seem to be nearly the pain it is with my old Record 8sp setup. It's very easy to spin out the 13 on even moderate descents but I tend not to pedal past 30mph anyway. I got the medium cage rear derailleur in case I wanted to throw on the 13-29 if I get into the RAMROD lottery. I'm a wannabe climber in trapped in the body of a sprinter so I need all the help I can get.
RE: PBP in 2011, yes, that definitely on my mind. I'm focused on long but shorter than brevet rides this year(1day STP, Ramrod, HPC, etc) and I'm thinking about the fuill brevet schedule next year.
Here's what I posted to the roadie forum on process and geometry. LBS is Cascade Bicycle Studio (Zac Daab) who I highly recommend. Very knowledgable, straight talking, incredibly nice and no BS bikeshop attitude.
I went through the full process. My LBS is actually a 'studio', one guy who works with individuals by appointment only selling Seven, BMC, Time & Sycip. He was formally a senior fit tech at Seven so has experience for thousands of fits which was one of the big drivers for choosing a Seven. My bike came a week early as I was low-bling with no flashy paint, etc. Order to pick-up was about 5 weeks.
Process was measurements, watching me on my LandShark, talking about what I liked & disliked about the LandShark and what I wanted different in the new ride. Extensive discussions on the end-use and type of riding. These were then reitereated with a short interview with a fitter from Seven.
Seven then designed the frame specs and sent them to the LBS. He set up a demo as closely as possible and we did another fit session with the new position. Seven recommended a slightly higher and more forward postion. I set up my rain bike pre their recs and rode it while waiting on the new one. Seems to work so far.
I'm 5'9" with a 33ish inseam, 165-170 winter weight, closer to 160ish summer. The effective top tube is 55.8cm, seat tube c-c is 46cm. Head tube is 14.5cm. Probably looks a little stretched due to the wide angle lens. Head tube 73deg, seat 73.5deg. 10deg slope in the top tube. 41.9cm chainstays and only a 3cm saddle-stem drop so it's pretty plush, not racy at all.
powpow
Is there any functional purpose to the curvy chainstays or is that for looks only? I think that is a very cool frame and a very nice bike, BTW.
Six jours
Your saddle needs Viagra.
Old_Crow
Your saddle needs Viagra.
LOL, I think the shape is actually to prevent the need for Viagra. I can fit my hand down through the center channel.
The tag line on the manufacturer's slogan is "No more squashing..."
So far, so good. I also have a new B17/Ti. The SMP is much more comfortable. THe B17 has about about 12 hours of indoor trainer time, been treated with proofhide and lots of butt sweat but it still kills my sit bones and doesn't seem to work so well on the boys either.
nine
I just got an SMP as well after not finding the magical Brooks experience I have heard so much about. Maybe non-Brooks butts are SMP butts. so far, I like the SMP. i'm going to put 70 miles on it tomorrow for a real test. sorry to derail. great bike btw.
Six jours
I'm not a Brooks man myself, despite how hard I tried. The Selle An-Atomica has done the trick for me, though. I'm just not confident enough in my masculinity to ride around with the nose of my saddle all flacid and droopy. :p
Lost again
Gawd, that bike is beautiful!!!
I've been toying with the idea of a custom made bike. Seven really knows their stuff too. I might have to give up my dream of a Colnago C50 and switch it to a custom Seven. I guess I'll know more after my 1200 mile bike tour this summer.
Old_Crow
The weather hasn't been too cooperative lately so I've mostly been on the fendered Cross-Check but I've got about 350 miles on the Aerios. So far so good. I'm really enjoying the ride. I'm ambivalent about the compact crankset but I'm sure I'll be glad to have the gear when I start climbing in earnest next month.
I actually like it enough that I'm already thinking about the next one to replace the Cross-Check. Same geometry as the Aerios but in the less expense straight gauge Ti and able to fit 28-30 tires...
StanSeven
I didn't see this thread previously. I've got a similar bike. Mine is 3.5 years old and used to be called the Alta model (Seven ran into a tm problem and switched names). Mine is very quick with climbing - I had the fame spec'd light overall but had weight added by making the bb and rear stays a little stiffer to minimize flex climbing hard and sprinting.
I have Zipp 303 wheels, a Thompson seatpost, DA, Ouzo Pro fork, and a Deda stem and bars. I also went with the Kris King headset as you did.
I had the frame painted Candy Apple Red when the frame was made.
I'm not sure what the weight is now with the Zipp wheels but it's probably a little under 16 lbs.
But yours is very sharp looking in that black and plain Ti colors. Really nice!
Old_Crow
How do you like the Zipps?
A set of aero wheels will likely be my next purchase. I'm primarily focused on distance events where the aero advantage would be great but many of them have some serious climbing involved so 404's and such would probably be a no go.
My other concern would be for breakdowns on self or very limited support events. And of course comfort.
My first thought was a set of 303 clinchers but haven't really done much research yet. I love the ride of tubulars but seems like carrying a couple extras would negate the benefit...