22: Cinelli MASH

 

Bicycle Type: Track/Street

Owner: Liam Griffin

Primary use for this bike: Riding fast, bombing hills, passing spandex roadies

Frame: Cinelli Mash

Fork: Columbus Straight Carbon

Headset :  integrated threadless

Crankset: Campagnolo Record

Cog: 17t Phil Wood

Gearing & Gear Inches: 47/17  - 73 gi

Chain: KMC

 

Rims: Campagnolo Atlanta 96

Spoke Style/Lacing Style: 3x rear, radial front

Hubs: Phil Wood                 

Tires :  Vittoria… Randonneur in the rear, Zaffiro Pro in the front

 

Stem: Thompson

Bars: Nitto B201

Grips: Oury

Saddle: San Marco Concor, limited Bicycle Film Festival colorway

Seat Post: Cinelli Vai

 

How long did it take to get this bike rolling on the pavement…from the time you found it, ordered it and located the parts? This bike took a while. I first saw the frame in coverage of the Interbike tradeshow in Vegas last winter. I preordered the frame back in April, and finally got it delivered in July. It took about a month after that to get it all rolling with all the right parts.

 

Is this your best build to date? For sure. Other bikes I have always compromised a bit here or there for whatever reason. I pulled out some stuff like the Atlantas that I have been sitting on for a while, waiting for the right build. Overall I am really stoked on the look and feel of this ride. It is mostly Italian with the exception of the hubs and some random bits, but since Phils come from SF where MASH is based, I felt like they fit.

 

Modifications: Since I built the bike from scratch, I have not had to change much.

 

Extras: MKS Custom Nuevo Pedals, with All City Quad gate cages and SAG straps. Good pedals and straps are like good bindings. You should never skimp on your connection to the bike when you don’t have brakes.

 

Do you see changing parts or modifying this bike in the future? I might try out some other bar/stem combos.  Just saw one of these frames built up with some dope carbon bullhorn bars, and I’ve always wanted to try those. The Nitto risers are comfy, but they don’t really fit the build. There is a Cinelli pista stem I’ve been trying to track down as well so I can get rid of the Thompson stem (more Italian, less American!)

 

Are we going to see this bike in Cog Magazine used to it’s exact purpose? I guess to answer that question I’d need to know what this bike’s purpose was meant to be.  According to the MASH site, this bike is “tuned and attuned to free movement in the most challenging urban landscapes.”  I’ll need to spend some more miles on this ride before I get into anything crazy on it, but for sure will be down for another COG shoot this fall!

 

Would you recommend this bike to another enthusiast? If you like stiff, light, fast bikes… this might be something you’re into. The oversized Columbus tubing is no joke. This is not a comfy lugged steel ride.

 

Notes: Keep your shit tight. Always check your bolts before you ride. Don’t skimp on your tire pressure either. Flats suck.

 

Shout Outs: Old Spokes Home for the wheel build. My wife Ara for putting up with my bike habit. The Burlington scene for motivating me to ride. Kumi in Tokyo for showing me all Hiroshi’s bikes and getting me stoked on these things in the first place. MASH for making the video that changed it all.

 

All photos by Dean Blotto Gray 2009

Original publish date on Feature Bike No. 22 – August 21, 2009