【BIKE of the WEEK】SEVEN CYCLES Evergreen – Progress, not evolution, is what makes it beautiful

2022/10/31 横山誠

Just as people progress as they continue to walk, bicycles progress as you keep turning the pedals.

Take a look at the bicycle in the photo.

If you are a fan of bicycles, love handmade bikes, and have been dreaming of "one day" owning a Seven Cycles bike—which has now celebrated its 25th anniversary—I think you will notice it immediately.

"Aren't those tires a bit skinny for a modern-day Evergreen?"

The first Seven to arrive at Circles

Our contact with Seven started with a single email.
Boston was where we headed to visit their factory.
That night, we didn't even go to the Red Sox stadium where so many Japanese players were active; instead, we chowed down on their famous lobster.
It was after nights like that that our relationship with Seven began.

While I was wondering what I would order from Seven for myself, a man appeared in the shop saying he wanted a new bike.
When he heard my proposal, he said, "This is the only choice," and agreed on the spot without hesitation.
This is the bike that crossed the ocean for that man.

That was six years ago.

Right after delivery 6 years ago, still sparkling new

SEVEN CYCLES Evergreen – The Early Days of Gravel Riding

This was long before the word "gravel bike" became mainstream.
To head off-road with drop bars, your only choice was a CX bike, which maxed out at 32c.
In fact, anyone who dared to do such a thing was labeled an eccentric.

That was when Seven introduced a drop-bar bike that could accommodate 40c tires, a bike ahead of its time.
That was the Evergreen.

And back to the first photo

For such a groundbreaking bike, aren't these tires too thin?

Yes, they are thin.

But as the scratches on the frame show, this is a form reached by pedaling, and pedaling, and pedaling some more.
I find beauty in a bike that has been well-used and adapted to fit the way it was ridden at the time.

Just as every person has their own individuality and way of feeling, every bicycle is unique.

Whatever form it takes, if it wears an aura, it becomes beautiful.
You might call that freedom, though things can often get weird if they are too free.
Even so, this bike is beautiful.

Perhaps this appearance fits the current era better.
This, too, is beautiful.