I picked up my new 7Point7 on Thursday night from The Path Bike Shop in Tustin, CA. I was able to get 3 rides in over the weekend. I'm impressed and very pleased with it. I'm using it as a heavy duty trail bike. Plenty of steep descents here in SoCal.
The bike is a large, weighs 38.5 lbs and is pretty much stock. I'm just under 5'11" and weight 187. (My Camelbak tends to be heavy though.) The stock 375 lbs spring (34% sag) was too soft for me. My LBS got me a 400 lbs spring instead. (26% sag.) I swapped the grips for Ouri lock ons, the 2.7 High Roller UST for a 2.5 High Roller UST and installed my Time Z Control pedals. The jury is still out on the saddle for me. If it wasn't integrated with the seatpost I would have opted for a WTB Power V. Other than that I was impressed with the parts spec. (No El Caminos.)
Be sure to follow the Iron Horse Tech Bulletin when setting up the 5th Element.
The bike climbs very well. I tend to stay seated when climbing. (The bike feels good out of the saddle too.) Right now it actually has a better climbing feel than my Ellsworth (Cali) ID. (The ID needs a slightly stiffer spring and is biased towards descending right now.) If you have the legs and lungs this bike can handle steep climbs very well. The weight is the only things that slows me down on the climbs, not the pedaling efficiency. (7 lbs heavier than my ID.)
Now for the fun part, point the bike downhill. Right off the bat the bike feels very stable and plush. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, this is what I have been waiting for from a bike!" It sticks to ground, turns well and is easy to get behind the saddle for those steep sections. Big air? I can't comment, not my style.
On flat ground, it can be a chore to keep up with my XC counterparts at times. I imagine the big tires create a little drag. The gearing itself is nice.
The one problem I have encountered so far is the routing of the rear derailleur cable. The front chainrings/chain have chewed it up pretty good. (I know, blurry picture.)
I noticed this after my second ride. My LBS is replacing the housing and working on fixing the routing to ensure it doesn't happen again. The bike does shift great. No ghost shifting.
The Sherman Breakout Plus fealt nice. (I ended up sticking with the stock spring.) I was a bit worried about the Sherman. A friend of mine had a terrible experience with a 2005 Sherman Firefly Plus.
Don't forget to put on a chainstay protector. I can't say I notice chain slap when I'm riding, but it does happen.
I'm still getting used to the saddle. It's a little hard.
Ride Videos:
I'm the one about to go over the drop.
Here are three videos I shot Sunday aboard the 7Point7. The park is Santiago Oaks, in Orange, CA:
(Please right click the links below and select Save Target As...)
The first video of the day follows Joel down Bobcat. Look for Frank to fall over in the bushes around the 2:12 mark.
Bobcat (Right click the link and select Save Target As...) Play time is 2:49. File size is 21.2 MB.
The second video follows Joel, Tani and several other riders around the play area and upper sections of Santiago Oaks. Two group rides joining forces. The first 1:05 is of the drop where Mark got hurt. The music is for you Mark. Oh, and why is Joel wiping the lens in the beginning? Watch the entire video and see.
Upper Oaks (Right click the link and select Save Target As...) Play time is 2:52. File size is 21.7 MB.
The third and final video follows Joel down Goat.
Goat (Right click the link and select Save Target As...) Play time is 2:47. File size is 21.0 MB.
The bike is a large, weighs 38.5 lbs and is pretty much stock. I'm just under 5'11" and weight 187. (My Camelbak tends to be heavy though.) The stock 375 lbs spring (34% sag) was too soft for me. My LBS got me a 400 lbs spring instead. (26% sag.) I swapped the grips for Ouri lock ons, the 2.7 High Roller UST for a 2.5 High Roller UST and installed my Time Z Control pedals. The jury is still out on the saddle for me. If it wasn't integrated with the seatpost I would have opted for a WTB Power V. Other than that I was impressed with the parts spec. (No El Caminos.)
Be sure to follow the Iron Horse Tech Bulletin when setting up the 5th Element.
The bike climbs very well. I tend to stay seated when climbing. (The bike feels good out of the saddle too.) Right now it actually has a better climbing feel than my Ellsworth (Cali) ID. (The ID needs a slightly stiffer spring and is biased towards descending right now.) If you have the legs and lungs this bike can handle steep climbs very well. The weight is the only things that slows me down on the climbs, not the pedaling efficiency. (7 lbs heavier than my ID.)
Now for the fun part, point the bike downhill. Right off the bat the bike feels very stable and plush. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, this is what I have been waiting for from a bike!" It sticks to ground, turns well and is easy to get behind the saddle for those steep sections. Big air? I can't comment, not my style.
On flat ground, it can be a chore to keep up with my XC counterparts at times. I imagine the big tires create a little drag. The gearing itself is nice.
The one problem I have encountered so far is the routing of the rear derailleur cable. The front chainrings/chain have chewed it up pretty good. (I know, blurry picture.)
I noticed this after my second ride. My LBS is replacing the housing and working on fixing the routing to ensure it doesn't happen again. The bike does shift great. No ghost shifting.
The Sherman Breakout Plus fealt nice. (I ended up sticking with the stock spring.) I was a bit worried about the Sherman. A friend of mine had a terrible experience with a 2005 Sherman Firefly Plus.
Don't forget to put on a chainstay protector. I can't say I notice chain slap when I'm riding, but it does happen.
I'm still getting used to the saddle. It's a little hard.
Ride Videos:
I'm the one about to go over the drop.
Here are three videos I shot Sunday aboard the 7Point7. The park is Santiago Oaks, in Orange, CA:
(Please right click the links below and select Save Target As...)
The first video of the day follows Joel down Bobcat. Look for Frank to fall over in the bushes around the 2:12 mark.
Bobcat (Right click the link and select Save Target As...) Play time is 2:49. File size is 21.2 MB.
The second video follows Joel, Tani and several other riders around the play area and upper sections of Santiago Oaks. Two group rides joining forces. The first 1:05 is of the drop where Mark got hurt. The music is for you Mark. Oh, and why is Joel wiping the lens in the beginning? Watch the entire video and see.
Upper Oaks (Right click the link and select Save Target As...) Play time is 2:52. File size is 21.7 MB.
The third and final video follows Joel down Goat.
Goat (Right click the link and select Save Target As...) Play time is 2:47. File size is 21.0 MB.