Seven Cycles Odonata

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at Flying Ball

Favorite Ride:
Shek O

Bike Setup:
- Campy Chorus Group
- Thomson Set back seat post
- SLR Selle Italia Saddle, very light(comfortable)
- Look CX7 Carbon pedals
- Mavis SSC SL Wheelset

Summary:
Purchased the Odonata frame recently, here are some highlights. Since I've received my bike 2 weeks ago it's been raced in a Duathlon and on training rides a few times. My "old" bike, Colnago Dream Plus has been resigned to a bicycle shipping box still at the bike shop. Two things that I notice most about my new Seven is it's "easy" and stiffer on the climbs, very rock solid. On the descents it does not turn in as quickly as the Colnago requiring me to turn and lean in harder which is fine with me, it's not as touchy. As for fast downhill descents it's much more reassuring and solid without having to keep too much attention to the steering. As mentioned I have raced it in a recent Duathlon and would point out that the light stiff frame really helped me on the ascents, 10 out of 10 on in this area. I love climbing hills so this is very important for me. I'm not as strong on the flats but here again the Odonata felt very precise and was easy to maintain a relatively quick level of speed tracking straight and true.

I'll post another review in a years time!

Strengths:
- Excellent fit and finish
- Fantastic craftsmanship
- Reasonable price relative to the competition
- Very light, Complete bike is 1.5lbs less than my 2001 Colnago Dream Plus using same Campy Chorus grouppo, overall 17.5lbs for a 55cm C to C frame size, with 3 degree sloping top tube, not a lot but enough for aesthtics
- Custom frame was finished in an very fast 2 weeks including shipment to Hong Kong from USA !!!
- 2 words... Eye Candy

Weaknesses:
- Seven says they do not correspond over the phone or interview International customers as they do for US customers. I find it kinda strange however i did coax them into an interview session for my bike. Basically it's gives Seven an idea of my riding style and it assists them in setting up a custom frame. During my session I asked all the questions and it seemed that the Seven Staff member didn't really care.
- Well at the end of the day I still love my bike

Similar Products Used:
- Colnago Dream Plus 2001, not really similiar however it is a high end road bike

Price Paid:  $5500.00 at Beans Bikes, Paoli P

Bike Setup:
Mavic Ksyrium SL SSC, Seven Seatpost, Stem and Fork

Summary:
After much umming and ahhing about the Odonata and Axiom, I eventually plumped for the Odonata. If there are any of you out there in a similar position, I would advise you do the same if your budget permits. My initial concerns about the frailty/durability of the carbon seat tube and stays have more than been managed - via conversation with Seven themselves and by my own experience. The ride quality is quite phenomenal and far removed from my previous aluminium bike. Those century rides are now a pleasure to complete, rather than a torture.

Strengths:
Buttery smooth ride, fully absorbs vibration caused by chip'n'seal repairs and the like. Great fit and quality of workmanship is unbeatable.

Weaknesses:
None

Price Paid:  $0.00 at blue sky bicycles

Favorite Ride:
to work

Bike Setup:
record campy triple 10 spd
chris king headset
mavic ksyrium elites
michelin pro
seven fork and seatpost
fizik aliante saddle

Summary:
got tired of wondering "what would a better bike feel like?" decided to buy the best ride I could find. demo'd high end Cannondale, Trek, Litespeed, Merlin, Serotta. the Odonata made me say "oh my God!" the answer to "is it worth it?" is YES. Climbing is a cog or two easier, descents are easily faster but more confident. makes me want to ride all day.

Strengths:
makes me go farther and faster than I expect to. fit is perfection. incredibly responsive. long rides are painless, literally. looks phenomenal too.

Weaknesses:
I don't want to go to work

Similar Products Used:
nothing like it.
demo'd Cdale, Trek, Serotta, Merlin, Litespeed

Price Paid:  $5100.00 at Bicycle John's, Burb

Favorite Ride:
Granada Hills to Camarillo

Bike Setup:
Campy Record 10 Triple
Chris king headset
Stella Azzurra Profi bars
7 stem
7 seatpost
7 carbon forks
Selle san Marco Aspide saddle
Campagnolo Neutron wheels
Vredestein Fortezza tires

Summary:
I've been riding for 12 years off and on, both road and MTB. My other bikes have been Cannondale and Ibis, so Ti/carbon was a radical departure for me. My Cannondale road bike is like a Ferrari with all the roughness of Al, transferring every imperfection in the road. The Odonata has almost the stiffness of Al, so handling and climbing are not compromised, but the carbon fiber comfort and flex of the Ti has far extended my rides with less fatigue. My average mph has gone from 14mph to 17mph on this bike, my home ride from 25 miles to 57. To compare the Odonata to any other really is comparing apples to oranges. There is nothing like this it. It is expensive, but being custom fitted and the quality of workmanship is worth every penny if you plan to ride for years to come. The SEVEN will hopefully be making it's appearance at charity rides and coffee houses a long time.

Strengths:
handling, comfort, speed, weight, precision craftsmanship, service, looks, feel

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
There is nothing like this bike

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Custon Seven ti stem, TTT morphe bars, slightly up angled top tube, Campy Record carbon 10 speed throughout incl carbon seatpost, except for Chris King threadless headset, Speedplay pedals, Record hubs laced to Mavic Open pro hard anodized wheels, Selle Itallia flite saddle

Summary:
I've ridden and raced my Odonata for a full 2 seasons, from local crits to the (last) Killington Stage Race, and it has performed beautifully in all circumstances. It is so comfortable, and you have so much control, any other bike feels awkward. I do still ride my steel Serotta Colorado II in bad weather sometimes, and the fixed gear for some training , but the vast majority of my riding and all racing is on the Seven. Three virtues revealed themselves to me, in this order: First, the perfect fit and resulting comfort in the cockpit. Next, the lightness and climbing ability (2 teeth less in the cogs on the same hills). And finally, the exquisite handling. Although this was the most subtle, in the long run I've decided it is the most important virtue. The bike goes exactly where I think it to go. I have had several tight situations in races and have not crashed it and after emerging unscathed am each time impressed anew with how the bike was able to get through it. Very impressive. I've seen other racers strugling in certain portions of a crit for example while I'm able to glide through

Strengths:
Handling. Fit. Comfort. Climbing.

Weaknesses:
The raw ti look is unimpressive. I had a custom paint job by hot Tubes ($350). the paint is nice but chips very easily. Also I've had one scarry moment of front end shimmy at about 45 MPH down a Vermont mountain, i was able to bring it under control without a crash and think I caused the "harmonic" to start by ill advised front braking on a tight fast turn. When I explained it to Seven they checked the frame alignment (perfect) and replaced the fork (all free). And of course the bike was very expensive, that's why I've given it a "4" value rating.

Similar Products Used:
nothing is similar to an Odonata.