During a search for urban trails. A narrow way to the next patch of dirt.
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“And the word we have chosen at Cyclefit is ‘reflective’.”
Cyclefit is one of Seven’s most important retailers. Based in London, Cyclefit may be the most important bike fit company on the planet. Additionally, working with them is fantastic.
Cyclefit just posted a note about Seven’s new Evergreen bikes. Very nice words from some of the smartest people in the industry. Some quotes from them:
“The Evergreen is a bash road racer” – what a great expression! That’s what I want to do – bash.
“The new for 2014 Evergreen range speaks from Seven’s heart. Rob Vandermark (Seven founder) adores functional bikes that are built for purpose over time.”
“Nothing is ever for nothing with Seven”
“They are the most intelligent and organised of all the custom bike builders”
Awww. Way too nice. Thanks Cyclefit!
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Initial sketch for Project Forty-Eight
Project Forty-Eight is a bike design project for Seven Cycles. It’s one of three design explorations I’ve put together for the 2014 season. This bike is closest to my personal cycling interest – for better or worse.
This is a next generation project: iterating a design that Seven Cycles already offers. The list of altered details is long and complex.
Project Timeline in Reverse:
January 9: Started working on a navigation system along with a gear harness setup. First draft on both.
January 4: Did a bit of weld testing for one of the accessory parts.
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Really?
I just noticed this type of alert for the first time; new Apple software update? Not entirely sure how this message is helping me.
Yes. Yes, it does. Thanks for the reminder.
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I’m super excited that my brother is going to be playing in the Boston area. It’s pretty rare that he comes to town.
I’m also excited that he’s going to be playing at Seven Cycles. What? Dang straight – right on the factory floor. I’m going to try and get him to do some frame building, too.
He’s touring with a duo for this show: Nate Wooley and him. Ken’s also doing a one time quartet set the same evening that includes Jacob William, Laurence Cook, Nate, and Ken.
It’s going to be an awesome evening. I recommend the event to anyone that has any interest in music of any kind.
Ken’s music is extremely diverse so it’s difficult to define in simple terms or in one or two genres. He describes it as:
“The exploration of contemporary music that deals directly with advanced methods of improvisation.”
Here’s a cool solo piece that Ken improvised back in May, “for Miles Davis, whatever corner he’s on now.”
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We just received Seven Cycles’ latest 2013-2014 catalog. It looks good; feedback has been really positive. Not to be confused with Seven’s brochure that shares some of what Seven is about. The Catalog is precisely that: a catalog of all the bikes, components, and accessories that Seven offers. Twenty-four pages of cool bike stuff!
We have two versions: Domestic and international. Subtle and important differences between them.
We mail this out with every brochure request.
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Most planning work I do entails five year plans. I got to spend some time today working on the R&D plan for Seven Cycles. It’s ambitious. And each plan is intertwined with all the others – sales, marketing, G&A, OB, etc. – so there’s never anything simple. I often go to R&D as an anchor because, for me, it sets the foundation for most other planning at Seven.
Here’s one of the boards I worked on today. I do like my post-its.
As is typical, the challenge isn’t in deciding what to do, it’s deciding what not to do. The list always gets longer; it never seems to get shorter.
We’ve already got most of the 2014 product line completed or well underway. We’re looking at making a few adjustments based on some of the craziness that’s going on in the industry right now. But, our last two five year plans have proved to be fairly well on track for what we thought would happen.
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Here’s a bit of what happened last week:
- Hiring: Roger K. started at the Ride Studio Cafe on Thursday!
- Recruiting: New welder probably hired for Seven Cycles. Not a moment too soon.
- Graphic Design: Rouleur Magazine: Fear Rothar ad just dropped. One of my favorite Seven ads so far.
- Ride Project: Made good progress on the Honey One Hundred ride.
- Ride: Route nearly complete.
- Design: Visual cue sheets in process.
- Clothing Design: Honey Navigator jersey design begun.
- Clothing Design: T-shirt design done.
- Graphic Design: Poster and Pocket Card
- Product Development: Got the 2014 Honey All Roads completed – on time.
- Ride – that I finished – with Chip and Roger: D2R2 115k.
- Clothing Design: Honey Team jersey 2013. Limited run.
- Graphic Design: The Ride Studio Cafe’s autumn t-shirt arrived this week.
- Press Interview: Met with Boston Magazine for a piece about Seven Cycles. I’m sure it’ll be very short but it’ll be fun to see Seven in Boston.
- Product Development: Finalized the embrocation I’ve been working on for Honey Bikes.
- Press Interview: Seven Cycles interview in Switchback Magazine. Ding. Dang.
- Press: Ride Studio Cafe in Wall Street Journal.
- Words: Chip Baker’s Pug Life – writing about Honey Bikes’ adventures at D2R2.
- Marketing: Talked with John about getting the 2014 Seven book into high gear.
- Drink Work: Iced caffeinated portable drink project making good progress.
- Food Work: Patria and Ariela met with the Ride Studio Cafe’s food supplier today; we’re so close to offering our new food menu. Can’t wait!
- Leaving: Jeff H.’s last day at Ride Studio Cafe was last Thursday.
- Time Marker: Getting back to daily posting on this site.
- History: The original Merlin Metalworks Newsboy t-shirt.
- Updated: the Ti-Foon bike post I wrote a few years ago.
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A rare look into the front face of a brake lever.
Partial proof of an accident. I’ve not seen a brake lever this shaved before. An impressive mix of momentum, balance, and force.
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