Friday location: Seven | Studio || 8:40 am – 10:35 pm
- Note: Short posts today. Too many work hours in a row already this week.
- Ride: I raced the final stage of the Fall Five this morning at 6:30 am. Glad it’s over. Glad to have done it.
- Design: Trophies finished for the Fall Five event this evening. Happy with them. I posted a bunch of fabrication photos.
Not a way through the clouds for the moon tonight.
Here’s my accounting of my “race” results on Stage Five of the Ride Studio Cafe’s Fall Five.
Stage Five Race Summary Haiku:
distracted by life
heart rate slower and slower
onward to finish
Stage Five Race Summary Stats:
- Race Time: Friday, November 2 at 6:30 am
- Stage Type: Criterium – the final stage
- Weather: Temperature 42f. No wind. Dark.
- Time bonus: for photos on this stage: Five seconds for five photos.
- Comment: I hate whoever came up with this Fall Five idea. And, I can’t believe it’s over. Now I gotta get ready for the party this evening.
Stage Five Photos:
Slow, Sharp, Curve. At least I got one out of three checked off the list.
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Thursday location: Seven || 8:05 am – 7:45 pm – [FF Ride] – 10:15 pm – 11:40 pm
- Industry Alteration: Just heard this morning that Gary Smith is now CEO of Polartec. Curious to see what this means for Independent Fabrication. It’s another recent example of big shifts in ownership and leadership at companies of similar size to Seven Cycles.
- Management: I was talking with someone today about leadership and Seven Cycles. Seven has been very fortunate, lucky, and focused in order avoid much of the downward trajectory of a lot of the high-end bike industry. It seems that many companies focus on the “CEO” or “leader” or an individual. But I don’t think it’s about one person. I think it’s about the team of people. No single person is strong in all realms. A leader benefits from some strengths that are serous liabilities for running a profitable, growing, sustainable company. A well matched team offsets, or at least balances, liabilities with strengths. I think the cult of CEO Hero is garbage. There are only a handful of examples where the CEO Hero can be defended.
Here’s my accounting of my “race” results on Stage Four of the Ride Studio Cafe’s Fall Five.
Stage Four Race Summary Haiku:
attentive to course
haiku thinking distraction
not attentive now
Stage Four Race Summary Stats:
- Race Time: Thursday, November 1 at 9:15 pm
- Stage Type: Circuit Race
- Weather: Temperature 50f. No wind.
- Time bonus: for photos on this stage: Five seconds for five photos.
- Comment: Erik Husby said it best – like a zen state. Hoping for Stage Five.
Stage Four Photos:
Comfortable leaf, uncomfortable saddle. Feels like I’m ‘racing’ this bike.
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Looking back: the custom painted Campagnolo hubs for the Ride Studio Cafe Giro Bike made by Seven Cycles. May, 2010.
Wednesday location: Seven | Studio || 7:40 am – 6:20 pm – [FF Ride] – 8:30 pm – 12:10 am
- Quote of the day: John L. said: “When you need something, you make something.” Summarizing the Seven Cycles ethos. I think that’s a pretty decent statement.
- Engineering: Working with Skip on a new fixture system for Seven Cycles 622 fixture 2.0 project. Concept agreed upon – that’s the hard part. now onto making the test fixture. I’m thinking 66% success odds.
- Design: Finally making progress on the Fall Five trophies. Design complete. Fabrication beginning. Looking for parts – there’s a reason it’s called, “found art.”
- Product Design – Retro: Ride Studio Cafe is working on a project that includes the Giro Bike Seven Cycles made in 2010. It reminded me of how much fun that project was. Check it.
A brief sign language description of my performance in Stage 3 of the Ride Studio Cafe’s Fall Five. “I barfed in my car watching Rob ride this stage; it was like taking an arrow through the throat. Stop, just stop. He should quit while he’s behind. Take up juggling, or fight club, instead.”
Apologies to Lydia Callis.
Here’s my accounting of my “race” results on Stage Three of the Ride Studio Cafe’s Fall Five.
Stage Three Race Summary Haiku:
ascending three hills
finish line observes my lope
no breath to argue
Stage Three Race Summary Stats:
- Race Time: Wenesday, October 31 at 7:30 pm
- Stage Type: Mountain
- Weather: Temperature 50 f; no wind
- Time bonus: For photos on this stage: Five seconds for five photos.
- Comment: Out of breath. And I can’t wait for Stage Four. To be over?
Fall Five dope doping tip #34: Stand on your feet for 14+ hours prior to racing. You’ll be surprised at the results.
Stage Three Photos:
Taking a moment to reflect on the wall.
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October 31, 2012
in Press
Seven Cycles was fortunate to be included in the new book, 100 Best Bikes by Zahid Sardar. In fact we are included twice! Once for the Kameha SLX and once for the Parcour S.
They’ve included a wide variety of bikes of all kinds. We’re honored to be considered part of this global short list. Pick up your copy of the book today.
Thanks for including us Zahid!
Tuesday location: Seven | 7:40 am – 7:15 pm
- Framebuilding Note: From my Facebook post for Seven Cycles: So many cutters, so little material. Here are a few of the tool-holders we use for tubeset cutoff. Nestled on one of Seven’s lathes and ready for the next job. Why so many in line? Partially because the next frame could be titanium, steel, or carbon. Each material has very different requirements for tube cutting. Titanium likes to be machined at “high feed, low speed,” while carbon prefers “high speed, high feed.” Feed your speed appropriately.
- Ride: “Raced” my second stage of the Fall Five for Ride Studio Cafe.
- Production Management: Matt O. and Seven’s production team are knocking it out of the park. We’re trying to make up for Monday’s off day. Two days to go before month end.
A large drop of rain
Here’s my accounting of my “race” results on Stage Two of the Ride Studio Cafe’s Fall Five.
Stage Two Race Summary Haiku:
lightning, thunder, wind
rain, darkness, downed trees, flood, leaves
a good night to ride
Stage Two Race Summary Stats:
- Race Time: Tuesday, October 30 at 8:45 pm
- Stage Type: Point-To-Point
- Weather: Temperature 55, strong rain, lightning, thunder, wind ~10-15 mph
- Time bonus: For photos on this stage: Five seconds for five photos.
- Comment: I didn’t think I’d hate this more than the first stage, but I did. I’m sure Stage Three will be a piece of pie. Can’t wait!
Stage Two Photos:
How I’m feeling at the end of this Fall Five stage – slapdashed, with twine.
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I’m supposed to be riding stage two of the Fall Five right now. Hmmm.
Monday location: Seven || 7:40 am – 7:50 pm
- Time Marker: Hurricane Sandy is altering time a bit. Ride Studio Cafe was open from 7 am until about 3 pm. Seven was technically closed today although about a dozen people came in. Last to leave was around 3 pm. It was very quiet at Seven today. Got a lot done.
- Fall Five Activity:
Friday location: Seven | Studio || 8:40 am – 10:35 pm
Thursday location: Seven || 8:05 am – 7:45 pm – [FF Ride] – 10:15 pm – 11:40 pm
Here’s my accounting of my “race” results on Stage Four of the Ride Studio Cafe’s Fall Five.
Tuesday location: Seven | 7:40 am – 7:15 pm
