Cronometro

"I have visited Cronometro Bike Shop twice, and each time the experience was amazing beyond my wildest expectations. My first visit was because I thought I might be interested in purchasing a Seven Cycles titanium bike, and Cronometro is the only bike shop in Madison where you can actually see, touch, and feel a Seven bike. I expected to take a look at the display bike and be on my way back home within about 10 minutes. But Colin O'Brien spent at least 45 minutes with me, as if I were the most important part of his day, answering all my questions, telling me why he recommends Seven bikes, explaining the fitting and ordering process for these high-end custom made bikes, and earning my business. My second visit, yesterday, was for an initial bike fitting. Colin had told me it might take 2 hours. He focused his entire attention on me for for 3 hours and 45 minutes. The process was amazing. Starting with my current bike, a 1983 Trek, Colin made modification after modification to the geometry by changing the crank length, handlebar width, seat height, seat fore-aft placement, handlebar height, cleat placement, and some things I'm no doubt forgetting. In the process, he figured out how to remove the quill stem that was frozen in place on my bike, removed and reinstalled my cleats that were also frozen in place, went to the shop's basement and found a set of crank arms identical to mine but shorter, and put me on four different saddles, some of which he pulled off the sales rack, trying to find something that might be more comfortable for me. After we mutually agreed that we had the geometry the I probably want for my new bike, Colin sent me home with my bike set up to that geometry so that I can ride it for a couple weeks to be sure. Finally, after he removed my bike from the trainer he uses for fittings and was putting the rear wheel back on my bike, he noticed that it had some "wiggle" in it and told me the bearings were a bit out of line. When I asked if that really mattered on an old bike I only ever intended to ride on a trainer, his response was, "I'll just make a quick adjustment". So he spent an additional 15 minutes adjusting and lubing the cup and cone bearings so that the wheel on my 40-year old bike wouldn't wobble. I could go on and on, but I think I've made my point. If you want the very best advice you can get about buying a new bike, go see Colin O'Brien at Cronometro, 338 W Lakeside St, Madison, WI 53715. Went to Cronometro today, 1/31/24, for the unboxing of my Seven Cycles frame, fork, and wheels. Colin and Andrew treated me as if I were the very most important customer they have ever seen. Oh, and the bike looks wonderful. I can't wait till they put all the components on it."

"Great experience with a bike fit. The level of expertise and professionalism is exceptional."

"Got my bike fit earlier this week, and I have never felt so comfortable and powerful on my bike, great experience!"

"Got a bike fitting last weekend and it was an all around fantastic experience. The team was very patient and knowledgeable, and I walked away with a much more comfortable bike. All of the recommendations and adjustments have made cycling a smoother experience all around. I used to struggle with lower back pain, shoulder pain, and toe numbness. After ~2 hours for the fitting, and ~45 min for tuning, all of my gripes are nearly nonexistent. Usually the discomfort sets in at about the 10 - 15 mile mark, but I rode 32 miles the next day and it was a breeze. Cannot recommend this shop enough."

"Back in 2009 I purchased my first Seven (road bike Axiom SG) through a good bike shop in Northeastern Wisconsin. Still love it. My needs and riding interests have changed since then - wanted a gravel bike - but my shop had changed hands and is no longer a Seven dealer. I called Seven's office and they recommended Cronometro in Madison. I know Seven's dealer standards are very high yet Cronometro was a 3.5 hour drive. After a discussion with Seven and realizing I was making another significant investment, this time in a Ti Gravel Bike (Evergreen SL) I decided to go with Cronometro. and I'm very very happy I did. Right from the start Colin and I really connected in terms of what I had in mind as a 65 yr old guy shifting gears a bit to trails and gravel and a little less road. Still very passionate about cycling this bike needed to carry me for the next 10+ years. The process started with a thorough conversation about what was important to me and the design elements and components that would serve me best. Colin helped me get more clear on what I really wanted. The next step was checking the fit with my existing road bike - that revealed a few seemingly small but very meaningful adjustments that made a huge difference in my posture on the bike. Based on our discussions and that "refit" Colin set the specs for my new gravel bike. I was thrilled when I picked up the new bike and it too fit like a hand in glove. Colin and his team set it up and then dialed it right in. They also provided a ton of guidance in response to a number of general riding questions and concerns that I had. After a few months they went through the bike and checked everything over. I realized a terrific result - a bike that performs exactly the way I hoped and my riding technique has improved. I can spend all day on either of these bikes and not feel strained. Truly wonderful. Seven makes a great product that when combined with a solid fit, planning process and superior service provided by a shop like Cronometro you end up with a high quality and predictable result. This was a sizeable time and financial investment for me and it was totally worth it. My hats off to the Cronometro team!"