Seven Cycles Alaris

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Sabino cycles

Favorite Ride:
Anything Flat

Summary:
At first, I was a bit worried about the fit, since I didn't actually see it in person. But Seven came through and the bike fits like a glove. I actually find myself cycling 1-2 mph faster than on my old bike because I am more comfortable and I dont have lower back pain. If I had to redo the process, the only thing I would change is the stiffness. The default is 7. I increased the stiffness to an 8, and still found it a little flexy for my 170lb body.

Strengths:
Fits amazing; I can ride faster and little to no pain.

Weaknesses:
A little flexy, but you can change that when you order your bike by changing the stiffness factor... Anxiously waiting for your bike! It took about 6 weeks from the actual day I put in the order to receive it.

Price Paid:  $1800.00

Favorite Ride:
Sierra

Bike Setup:
Seven Alaris
Tune Mig/Mag, Stem, Seatpost, Headset, Seatclamp, Skewers
KMC X10SL Gold Ti
Deda compact cranks
Speedplay pedals
EC90 handlebar and fork
Mavic Open Pro on DT Swiss Revolution
Conti 4 Seasons 700cx25
Full Ultegra SL except for the cranks
Nokon cables

Summary:
It's a keeper

Strengths:
Stiff
Speed & Control on out of the saddle dances

Weaknesses:
Price

Similar Products Used:
Peugot....yep, years ago

Price Paid:  $2295.00 at Wheat Ridge Cyclery,

Favorite Ride:
Deer Creek Canyon - Evergreen Challenge, CO

Bike Setup:
Alaris Frame
Reynolds Ouzo Pro Fork
Chris King NoThreadSet
Salsa Poco O/S Handlebar
Thomson X2 Stem and Elite Seatpost
Dura Ace Triple Drivetrain 12X25
Ultegra brakes, and 6620 pedals
Mavic Ksyrium SSC Wheelset
Continental 4000 Grand Prix Tires
Serfas Terazzo Select Seat

Summary:
After 20 years of riding a Trek steel-chromoly frame and experiencing ongoing back problems, I took the plunge, went through the extensive bike-fitting process and ordered the Alaris. Six weeks later, I was on my new Alaris and I have not looked back. Nearly 3,000 miles later, including Colorado's Triple By-Pass, Copper Triangle, CO MS150 and Ft. Morgan Century rides, I am more than just a little pleased with my Seven Alaris. It is a dream bike to ride every day whether it is for speed, hills or long aerobic training. Though I am a smaller rider, in my mid-50s and enjoy pedal-mashing, I have had no hint of any back problems this year! This has truly been a dream bike for me in every way possible. Ask me, I feel spoiled, even after being on this bike all day-long whether on the flats or in the mountains. From my perspective and experience, you can't go wrong with a Seven bike. I found the people at Seven to be very professional and insightful in their questions to me, even after the fitting process in the store but before they began to build my frame. Their communication with the store from where I purchased the frame was also thorough and timely to ensure that the frame was exactly as specked.

Strengths:
An extremely smooth and stable feel on the bike. Very quick response from pedal to wheel. Easy acceleration. Very stiff bottom bracket area handles the hills and mountains well. No vibration on the downhill above 40 mph. Several all-day rides and never once felt that the road had beaten up on me. Titanium gives a very cool appearance, especially with contrasting colors on the tires and handlebar wraps. Seven is known for producing top-end bikes and I get compliments about my Alaris all the time, whether I am occasionally passing someone or they are passing me.

Weaknesses:
This is very difficult to identify. The decals could be upgraded to last a little longer, I suppose. I really can't find anything that I would consider a weakness of this frame.

Similar Products Used:
TREK Steel-chromoly frame

Price Paid:  $6300.00 at Spokes, Etc. Vienna,

Favorite Ride:
The current one

Bike Setup:
Seven Alaris with titanium S&S couplers, full Ultegra, Seven carbon fork and seat post, Cris King headset, Shimano compact crank. Mavic Ksyrium SL. Fizik Aliante saddle.

Summary:
Fits like it was made for me. Wait! It WAS made for me! Ride all day and feel great. The fit is perfect. I travel a lot, and I had my Alaris built with S&S couplers. I was told by Seven that the couplers would not impact the handling, and they were right. I can highly recommend the S&S couplers.

Strengths:
The folks at Seven nailed the fit. They also tweaked the build to correct complaints I had from my previous bike (a Trek 5200).

Weaknesses:
Just the price. The couplers add almost $1000 to the price, but the Alaris is worth the money.

Similar Products Used:
Nothing similar to the Seven. Previous bikes were Cannondale R600, Trek 5200. I still have the Trek, and ride it in the winter.

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at Outdoors Inc.

Favorite Ride:
Anything on my Seven

Bike Setup:
Frame - Seven Alaris Straight Gauge Ti
Gruppo - Shimano 105 10 Speed (2007)
Crank - Shimano 105 Double
Fork - Easton EC 90
Headset - Chris King Threadless Black
Stem - Easton EA 70
Handlebars - Easton EA 70
Seatpost - Easton EA 70
Saddle - Specialized Alais
Wheels - Shimano 105 Wheelset (new for'07)
Cages - Elite Carbon

Love the frame and will be upgrading my components when I am employed and have some money. I am still a poor college kid.

Summary:
I never believed that comfort and a stiff, responsive ride could exist within a road bike. My Seven Alaris proved me wrong. It was my college graduation gift and is new to me, but feels like it is the bike I always have (or should have) been riding. Not only is the frame a piece of art, but it is also built for speed. It has the most fantastic resonating hum as well. It has everything I could want out of a custom Ti bicycle. Seven and my outfitter did a fantastic job fitting and producing my bike.

Strengths:
Speed - Stiffness - Comfort - Classic, but Modern Beauty - Durability - No Charge for Customization

Weaknesses:
Toe Overlap (but that my fault because of my riding posture) - PRICE (still it is worth every penny) - Not the lightest of frames for you weight watchers out there

Similar Products Used:
My first bike was a Specialized Allez Sport (I destroyed it in two years by riding at least 30 miles everyday)

Comparable Bikes would be Litespeed, Independent Fabrication, etc.