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at Local Model Year: 2006 Favorite Ride: Anything along the ocean Bike Setup: 58cm Seven Elium Race (unpainted) with full Dura Ace 10 speed. Look pedals, Deda stem and bars, Stella Italia Pro-link saddle with Seven seatpost. Mavic Ksyrium SL with Continental 4000s. Summary: I was a collector of both road and MTB bikes and recently retired so I was slowly reducing my stable. I had a Litespeed Palmares and a 50th anniversary Colnago that I wanted to sell to keep one road bike. The Colnago was a great ride but I did not want to use it for everyday riding. The Litespeed was my primary ride for a 2 year assignment in Switzerland. As fate would have it I happened to ride a Seven Elium Race (slightly smaller than my bikes) and really enjoyed the ride. So I waited and eventually one showed up. The ride was exactly the same height although lighter (I weigh 240 and 6'2"). I tried the bike out and it fit like a glove. The Litespeed had excellent stiffness as did this bike. The Colnago had great road feel as did this bike. I switched out the wheels and put on new rubber and have never looked back. I realize the SG is less stiff and probably a better long distance bike but the Race has instant acceleration and quickness in handling. This will be the last Road bike I buy.... I have kept my Litespeed Tanasi and S-Works Epic MTBs becuase I do live in the mountains in California and use them a lot. But the Seven is my favorite ride. I can stare at it and appreciate all the care that the folks at Seven must have taken to produce such a perfect product. Strengths: Road feel, acceleration, lack of fatigue after 6 hours in the saddle. A work of art. The perfect marriage of Carbon and titanium. Attention to detail. Weaknesses: From a product standpoint omly the decals. While they have not peeled, they are somewhat boring. Both the Colnago and Litespeed were Campy Record 10 speed. The Seven is Dura Ace. I am still a Campy bigot but the 10 speed Dura Ace is sweet. Just not rebuildable. Similar Products Used: Litespeed Palmares, Colnago 50th anniversary, Colnago C-50 and Merlin Extralight.
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