NEW IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK Aug 29, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment We came home from Spain to find a group of new deliveries here at the shop. We are happy to get a few of these Barry McGee for his recent show at the Boston Museum of Modern Art. We love affordable tools, so a box cutter is something we cheer for. Classic metal design, with a saftey slogan. Our friend Matt Shapiro drew us a roller coaster of our favorite roads, just across the Golden Gate Bridge. Headlands Theme Park! Any local will relate to our take on the San Francisco historic 49 mile drive route. The route is designed to show visitors a nice lap around our city, featuring many of the cities iconic landmarks. We received 4 unique bags from ILE this week. All with custom embroidery. We have Race Day Bags, and one Default bag available! We are happy to have Purist bottles in 26oz size for this delivery. Stay thirsty my friend. We have a fresh run of true black on black shop shirts. CHECK IN!
RED HOOK CRITERIUM: BARCELONA 2013 Aug 27, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames, Redhook Crit 0 Comment We are home from a exciting trip to Barcelona Spain for the third installment of the Red Hook Criterium, for the 2013 season. We traveled with the same team of four racers that had attended the first two races of the series, bringing Chas, Kyle, Rainier, and Walton. Landing five days early, gave the racers time to shake the plane legs, enjoy the warm weather, warm water, and to see the sites, with friends who had all re-grouped in this inspirational city. MASH was born out of my love for sharing photographs and video of cyclists I looked up to. In the beginning Gabe Morford and I documented an era of street cycling that was happening around us. This effort lead to many other opportunities, ultimately allowing me to better support a street racing team, and a cyclocross team. Wearing many hats in this small project means I have learned to set priorities within all of these moving parts. My first priority is to care for the athletes. Making sure they have the tools they need to reach their personal goals. I am always ready to put down my bag of lenses, and care for any one of these guys before, during, and after the race. At this point, I think I am the only photographer with a race team in these events. With that said, I love shooting short duration events, working to tell a story of the event, and our friend’s experiences on and off the bike. Crit and Cyclocross races are such a blast to document because the athletes keep lapping back to you, giving multiple opportunities to show a well rounded photographic account of the event. Enclosed are moments I recorded on August 24th 2013, at the Red Hook Criterium, Barcelona. No problem This was a white on white sample tape that was not produced. As it wore in, the contrast was amplified. With a crash the previous weekend at Floyd, Kyle had his share of road rash to mange on this trip. I hope the salty sea water helped dry him out a bit. It is always fun to see the range bikes brought to race in these events. Inspiration comes from many places. Kyle blew off steam before the qualifier with some classic tricks. We loved getting to race with Larz at this event. We have so many friends around the world, you quickly miss them once you get back on the plane. With close to 200 racers registered to qualify in three heats, the pack would quickly be broken down to 85 for the main event. This was the first time the guys really had a team esthetic on the bike. It injected a strong sense of Team, to have new product support from the sponsors. No more spray painted frames, and heavy dented clinchers. It was the first time they raced tubulars at these events, and the difference in performance was unmatched. Pit / Podium David runs these events like clockwork. You can always count on a near pro level system to be in place. Walton is really strong right now. With a win in LA, he really wants to put together a flawless Red Hook race. From the start of our qualifying group, the whole team was marked. It was impossible to put in a good qualifying time, with massive packs of wheel suckers trying to jump on our train and benefit from our effort. In the end, the guys had to break up, and put in individual times, which was not as effective as working in a group. Evan put in his all, and clocked the fastest qualifying time with road teammate Neil Bezdek. Ferran was an incredible support for the entire week. Linking riders up with the opportunity to ride the D’Horta Velodrome, and enriching the main event with boundless efforts. We are all grateful for your help Ferran! Kyle getting aclimated to the idea he would be chased by a large section of the qualifying group.Larz put in a fast lap time, and moved on to the main race. After the qualifier, these come out. Some of the racers stare at a stack of cogs and rings, knowing your damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. With several crashes, at Brooklyn, including a devastating one involving Joshua Hartman, dave was in overtime making sure all the details were sorted out. Last minute preparations After the qualifier, legs go up, and minds go elsewhere to keep nerves calm. These drones have been falling on people around the globe, so we are wondering if the window to use these additional camera techniques will change in the future. It is always fun to see these videos of the events, and this pilot was a champ, even with major wind challenges that all the racers battled throughout the night. All bikes were out to watch the race. This gentleman entertained the crowd with his natural abilities. It was an honor to have SHEONE hanging out with us on race day. During the event he made a pencil sketch for my son, which was by far the best souvenir brought home from this trip. JT had quite a fruit still-life arranged within his Sidi’s. Chas is a true ambassador for the sport. The nicest guy on and off the bike, and for this, he has some fans. He was unfazed to have 50 spectators watch him warm up. These types of details are reminders of why we love these events. Non-pro cyclists from mixed disciplines, all with the opportunity to compete in these organized events. By the end of the night, you know where you stand with this group. Clean slate for the main event The medic tent stayed busy through qualifiers, and ramped up during the main event. It is still an honor for these non-pro athletes to be recognized in their field. There is always time for a photo, and introduction. Walton and Evan share some pre-race hype. Minutes before the main race, it began to drizzle. This was the first rain Barcelona had seen in months, creating a very slippery corse in spots. Metal grates, and food truck grease would begin to become more evident throughout the night. Chas really wanted the first lap prime, then to be a team player, chasing down attacks for his team, and helping set the pace. The location for this race was a solar field, which created a dramatic background for the racers, and spectators. Our group worked the front of the race early on, helping drive the pace with a select few. This corner quickly became popular for spectators. You would hear the entire crowd collectively gasp as a racer would go down, and shortly after blast with cheers as the racer, or racers would re-mount, jumping back into the race. Collar Bone Neil was victim to the greasy corner under the solar covering. There must have been twenty racers go down in this corner within the forty minute race. Kyle and Evan Murphy Stefan at the line Victory Lap Rainier finished third, behind Stefan and Evan. He worked hard to organize the team, and we are proud of his finish. This is his second top three finish out of four Red Hook events he has attended. The nights winner was Stefan Vis. I hope his life story is well documented. He is a fighter, who has seen success, and hardship. A legandary messenger, and track racer. Many of the racers in the field did not like his agressive race tactics, but on this night, it put him in the number one spot. Team Dosnoventa are a good group of guys. We enjoyed hanging out all week, and racing beside them on this night. Thanks for taking great care of the guys while we were in town. Kyle broke from the lead group, and looked good. He was reeled back with a few to go, finishing 5th on this night. Walton got caught behind Neil’s crash in the lead group, separating his from the group. He fought to bridge up, but crashed on the last lap. All the planning does not always lead to the result these guys want. It is hard to see these guys frustrated, but it does stoke the fire for the next one. This means a great deal to me. Rainier and Kyle sharing the podium for this one. We feel lucky to have a small team of four, all capable to get on the podium. Their ability to work well together has put them in the number one team position for the series at this time, with Kyle in second for the individual athletes. This is the first time the Murphy brothers have shared the podium. Kyle has been living in New York, working with Evan and Tom Sachs, racing on the same road team, and his efforts are shaping him as an artist, and athlete. These moments are always special, no matter how many times it happens. My goal is to help our friends meet or exceed their personal goals, so to see them on the podium at every one of these races, as the races get more and more difficult, is a testament to what MASH has always been. Friends riding bikes. Congratulations Stefan! Cooper focused on routing the after-party. Good night Barcelona. Thank you for an incredible trip. It felt like vacation, with warm beaches, and warm people. Thanks to the all the volunteers, and organizers for making these special events happen. We are happy to be part of the excitement. Thank you to Chas Christiansen, Kyle Murphy, Rainier Schaefer, and Walton Brush for selflessly putting it all on the line every time, and racing a great race. We are lucky to have you as friends, and teammates. Thank you Garrett Chow, for continuing to see the inspiration in MASH, and help shape our path. Thanks to our sponsors for keeping the guys fresh. CINELLI, CLIF, BOREAS, ENDO CUSTOMS, GIRO, OALKEY, CONTINENTAL TIRES, HED CYCLING, and SAN MARCO. We want to try to get a few racers to Milano for the last race, but as a small bike shop, this international travel does not come easy. We hope to see you there!
Velodrom d’Horta Practice Session Aug 23, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment Enclosed are moments shot during a morning session at the D’Horta Velodrome here in Barcelona. As you will see, this was an incredible opportunity, and it was not lost on all the riders that were able to put in training laps here at the track. 250 Meters The location, just like the city itself, is scenic beyond words. #19 Chas about to drop in Like many Velodromes, the infield doubles as a multi-use space. Josh taking it all in. Groups were allowed on in 8 minute sections, so there was plenty of time to study as you re-hydrate. JT was able to borrow a bike from the team at Dosnoventa. They have been incredible hosts. The track is 21 years old, so it has it’s own battle scars. Evan was putting in some of the fastest laps of our group. He will be a major contender tomorrow. The guys were ecstatic about this opportunity. Rainier was all smiles on and off the track. Kyle is looking really strong. He just got his upgrade to Category 1. With his second place finish at the last Red Hook event, he has his sights set on helping the team to a strong finish. Dropping into the straights on this track is no joke. With 45 degree banks, there is a lot on the line. Obligatory photograph Marc spends a good amount of time racing at Hellyer Velodrome back home, so looked very comfortable on the boards. Dave is everywhere! We have been having a blast running around with him on this trip. Tomorrow is the Red Hook Crit, so i’m guessing he will be awake for the next 48 hours until it is all in the books. The velodrome has loaner bikes used for teaching new riders the track. Rainier was graciously loaned one so he could put in laps on this incredible track. Kyle broke his seat binder bolt early on, so was sidelined for some of the track time. Walton, and a few of the guys passed around a Garmin, and wanted to see what their top speed was. I think 40mph was met with crit gearing. Cool down lap Josh wondering if he will ever want to return to New York. Rainier’s bike arrived late and damaged from the airline, so he was able to take some laps on Walton’s bike. Amazing Durney Cooper shooting the track High 5 Handouts Great group! Crihs needed a self portrait for this coming Sunday.
Velodrom d’Horta Details Aug 23, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment While in Barcelona, a large group of friends were invited to Ride the historic Velodrome d’Horta. It was constructed for the 1992 Olympic Games, and has been maintained to this day, to help athletes from all disciplines train and compete. Ferran from Pista BCN arranged for us to spend time on the track, and it has been one of the many highlights of the trip so far. Enclosed are some spacial details. I will work on a post from the practice session next.
CINELLI MASH PARALLAX, LIVE FROM BARCELONA Aug 19, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment We are happy to introduce our 2014 offering with Cinelli. The Parallax frame set was developed and field-tested over the past 18 months, with Chas and Walton deciding and tuning the bike’s geos. Like with any MASH project, every detail is fleshed by our group of friends. Garrett designed the graphics and colors of the bike and matching skin-suit, drawing inspiration from charts used to check the sharpness of camera optics. Enclosed are some details from this collaboration. Look for more updates as the racers prepare for the third installment of the Red Hook Crit series here, in Barcelona. Although these builds are new for each rider, there will always be parts that carry over from previous builds. Walton’s well-loved pedals find thier way onto each of his bikes, from prototype to production. Watch for updates on the run-up to race-day, 24 August…
NEW THIS WEEK Aug 15, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment First, Next week we are traveling to Barcelona for the Red Hook Crit, so while Walton and I are away, Dylan will run the shop. This will be a great week for Custom builds. We also added, and restocked several items this week. First is a shirt we produced with friends in Japan. Blue Lug is known for keeping a well curated shop, stoked with many of their unique designs. We produced a classic logo shirt, with reflective hearts in it. You can pick it up in Japan, or HERE in the shop! We received a lage delivery of Kryptonite Mini Evolution pocket locks. This is the U-lock we stand behind, so we like to strip them raw, and include a classic cord bracelet. We have a new delivery of Black Campagnolo Pista Cranks available in 165 / 47-49 or 50T. This is a custom treatment only available through our shop. We also have black Campy Pista hubs. We love this outline rendering of the classic Cinelli Crest. Available on a river shirt from Cinelli Genuine Merchandise.Sharpies! Write on stuff!After Matt’s scare, we have been receiving requests for more information on the collaboration security bolt sets we offer from Atomic 22. We have sets for designed to work with modern road and track bikes, and include wheel options for Phil Wood, Mavic, and standard 9-10mm track hubs, also Quick release hubs for 100/130 road sets. This is our take on a Phys ED shirt. It is printed on a thin heather gray blank, and includes a sharpie if you you choose to write your name in the box. Don’t loose your things! We have Hirame pump heads back in stock from Japan. This is by far the best pump head design, and we feel lucky to be able to offer them well below US retail price.To celebrate Kryptonite’s 40th Anniversary, they offer a limited run of these smoked chrome mini evolution locks with red details. We thought these were long gone, but found a small batch of them. Cinelli MASH bullhorns are back in stock in Black or Silver, after a looong dry spell! We will be updating our web store in the coming months with new features. Please let us know you can find what your looking for. Thanks for the continued support!
ATOMIC 22 WORKS Aug 14, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment Last night Matt went out with friends in Oakland, and when he returned to the pack of bikes, many had been stripped of parts. Matt had the Atomic 22 security set installed, so when the thieves could not steel parts, they sprayed his bike. Lame no doubt, but better then walking home, and replacing parts.
RHC BCN 2013 Aug 13, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment Next week we will head to Spain for the 3rd installment of the 2013 Red Hook Criterium series. This is the first time the event will be hosted by the fine people of Barcelona, and we look forward to this next chapter. Visit the Red Hook site for more information on this event. Brian Vernor took the photo of Walton for this poster, designed by Jona Birns. Look for updates from the city, and the race all next week.
2013-2014 Bay Area Cyclocross Calendar Aug 7, 2013 Categories: MASH Frames 0 Comment This morning we began to compile all the local CX races into a central location. CHECK IN for updates, and hoping to see you out at 35 races this season?!