We received this really cool photo and short note this morning in our email this morning from Masi owner Shane Farthing;
Here's my Masi CX fully loaded, on a ride from the Pittsburgh suburbs to DC on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Trail. The bike carried the load and road like a dream for all 385 miles of trail.
Shane, we're super happy you're as happy with your Speciale CX as we are about making them- it's a great bike and one that has built a great reputation out on the road (and trail).
Thanks for sharing with us- we love hearing from happy owners, so keep'em coming!
Well, been talking about it for months and months now, but the first production samples of the new Mini-Velo series of bikes is finally here. We're still not sure what kind of release date these bikes might see- if any- but we're certainly looking to see why these bikes are so "huge in Japan".
The Mini-Velo is a very popular category of bike in Asia, and not just because the population is often times less tall than in North America and some other regions. The Mini-Velo is a popular option to folding bikes in tight urban environments. The smaller wheels create a smaller bike, but without compromising ride quality. The bikes are easier to get on and off of trains and subways, or in and out of small apartments, offices, elevators or up and down stairwells. They aren't as compact as a folding bike, but the ride quality is more like a rigid framed bike.
Here in the US and other densely populated areas, the Mini-Velos are beginning to catch on in markets not previously used to them. Many parts of Europe are now seeing a growing interest in the bikes as well. Does this mean that your local Masi retailer will soon have a fleet of Masi Mini-Velo bikes? Well, not yet... but possibly in the near future. If you're desperate for one now, all you need to do is fly to Japan, Korea or Taiwan where the bikes are already being sold. It's a little expensive, sure, but then you can be ahead of all the other cool kids in class!
My own new test rig- it's gonna be far from "stock" soon enough! I'm gonna give it a shot as a polo bike- seems there is a growing interest in the Mini-Velo bikes for polo. The very quick handling, short turning radius and lower center of gravity appeal to many players. So I'm gonna give it a whack and see what happens.
Big wheels are good, but sometimes small wheels are just as good!
Winter can be a wet and ugly affair in many places around the country, but why should that keep you from riding year round? Most of us are not made of sugar and will not melt in the rain or sloppy snow. With that in mind, why give up riding simply because things get cold and/ or wet?
Many people have differing thoughts on what makes a great winter bike, but there are several things worth considering when looking at a new winter bike.
It's certainly nice to keep your rump a little dryer by using fenders. Looking for a bike either with fenders or with mounts that allow attaching fenders is highly recommended. At minimum, it's recommended to at least find something with enough clearance to use some of the slimmer snap/ strap on fenders.
With winter roads often strewn with debris or slippery from snow, ice or rain, a very stable footed bike is beneficial. Bikes with longer wheelbases tend to provide that extra bit of handling security when things are less than favorable.
Similar to fender mounts, rack mounts are a nice plus if you're commuting in the winter- being able to attach racks and panniers to the bike is a big plus for carrying dry clothes or extra bad weather gear. Let's face it, sometimes no matter how well prepared you are when you leave the house, the weather can turn ugly and potentially ruin your ride. Having that extra back up and dry storage for extra clothes or precious cargo can be a lifesaver.
Another key feature is either the existence of, or ability to add, wider tires- in bad weather, any tire narrower than 25mm is going to be at greater risk of puncturing or slipping in bad conditions. It's best to ride tires at least 25mm wide, but 28's and above are even better if the frame has enough clearance for the wider tire.
Those are just a few basics and some people will place greater importance on on some over others, but they serve as a good baseline as you begin your hunting.
And while you're hunting, why not consider one of the following bikes while you're at it;
Speciale Randonneur- fenders included and rack mounts for bringing along all the fixins'. The retro touring styling provides a nice long wheelbase for stability and balance when carrying the heavy loads.
Speciale Commuter- fixed or free, with a long wheelbase for a stable ride and all the braze-ons for racks and fenders. There are those who say that in the worst of conditions, a fixed gear is the ultimate choice since you are not as dependent on a brake pad for stopping. In extreme cold, especially, some folks feel that traditional rubber brake pads become virtually useless and leg braking with a fixed gear provides substantial "back up".
Speciale CX- with a longer wheelbase than a traditional road bike and tons of room for wide tires, the CX is a great all-weather bike. With the rack and fender mounts, it's a great do-anything bike too.
SoulVille 10- the 10spd drivetrain and elegant, simple fenders create an excellent look and feel for a bad weather bike. The more upright and relaxed riding position creates a very stable feel as well.
SoulVille 7- the internal gearing adds another level of convenience and efficiency for bad weather riding. With the same frame as the 10spd, you maintain the same fenders and rack mounts for all your inclement riding needs.
SoulVille 3- need fewer gears than the 7spd or 10spd? Live in a mostly flat area where you need fewer gears? Then the 3spd is your answer. With all the bells and whistles seen on its big brothers and sisters, the 3spd is also an able icky condition rider.
Caffe Racer Doppio (10spd)- the Caffe Racer series is designed as a quick handling flat bar road/ fitness bike. The longer wheelbase is built into an agile geometry for quick handling. Even with the rack and fender mounts in full use, the bikes remain lively and nimble.
Caffe Racer Solo (9spd)
CXR- designed as a competitive cross race bike, the CXR can easily pull double duty as a rainy/ snowy all-purpose bike. Without rack and fender mounts, there is still plenty of room for streamlined fenders and lots of room for wide tires. The racing geometry makes the CXR super quick and an excellent winter road training bike, as well as a great bike for getting into the mud.
***
We may be based in rainless southern California, but we know a little bit about how to design bikes for less than perfect weather. So don't let the winter months put an end to your riding bliss- when done right, even riding in less than perfect weather can be a lot of fun.
The Masi Coltello is an amazing machine- a pure bred track frameset with a need for going really, really fast. The geometry is designed for steep tracks and immediate responses to rider input- the high bottom bracket is perfect for steep banked tracks so that you don't smack a pedal when deep in the turns or while maneuvering through the field.
The aluminum tubing used on the frame is plenty aero and even more importantly incredibly stiff. The rectangular chainstays provide massive stiffness for sprinting power with zero flex. The aero, teardropped shape of the seat stays provides stiffness and is aero enough to not slow you down when off the front in clean air. With the large aero shaped downtube and seat tube, the entire frame is slippery enough to be efficient in the wind when the smallest of margins can be the difference between first and second.
Another frame feature that aids the Coltello's dominance of the velodrome is the shaped top tube with the groove that runs the entire length of the tube top and bottom. This shaping helps the top tube resist the massive forces riders place on a frame when sprinting out of the saddle- especially when using steel or oversized carbon sprint bars. We also use an aluminum steer tube on the carbon leg fork to further minimize flex in the front of the frame- let's face it, flex means power loss and power loss is a bad thing in track racing.
What do all these design features mean? It means that the frames are incredibly stiff and aero enough to be ridden at the highest levels of the sport... all with a price that actually leaves you with enough money to actually afford some great race wheels and a few entry fees. And for all the riders looking for an urban fixed gear frame with more stiffness for aggressive riding, the Coltello will deliver more than just a little style with all that stiffness.
So if you're looking for a quality aluminum track frameset that can beat the super expensive carbon framesets to the finish line, or an urban frameset that will stand up to all the abuse you can possibly apply to the pedals... the Coltello is the answer to your search.
At long last, the Masi Retro jersey is now in stock and ready to ship as I type! Visit your local retailer to order now before this first round batch is all gone (second round order will be going in fairly soon).
Pertinent details; Made for us by the fine folks at Canari Cyclewear Made with DryCore material and a full zipper Sizing runs SM, MD, LG, XL and XXL Fit is the "relaxed" fit- slightly looser, but not baggy *MSRP* - $65.00
(front)
(back)
The first round is likely to sell out quickly, so grab one now... or be patient for the second batch!
MSRP may vary from retailer to retailer and does not take into consideration any shipping/ handling fees that may be associated. Check with your retailer for details.
Got a great email from a member of the Masi Owners Family- Joe Marinelli;
Hey Tim,
I did a ride today where I got to go to some area's of the Kennedy Space Center that aren't open to the public and snapped this photo with my camera. Thought you might enjoy it. That launch pad in the background actually has a shuttle and boosters mated up to it that are going to launch this week.
- Joe
I love this kind of email and I thank Joe for sending the note and the pic.
We always love a little kindness from our friends at the various cycling publications around the globe... who wouldn't, right?
Well, this is a pretty sweet little snapshot of that love...
Bicycling came by the booth during Interbike this year and checked out the new Bellissima series of women's road bikes we're so proud of. We're very proud of our bikes, of course, but it's great to see that Bicycling "gets" what our bikes are about- we don't sacrifice the geometry that we have spent years developing just to fit a smaller rider. We hold fast to the firm belief that fitting a woman or other smaller rider to a bike shouldn't mean compromising what you believe works for a "men's bike". Our bikes are still built around geometries that we believe produce a balanced and enjoyable riding experience, but we make them suitable to smaller riders by using shorter stems, shorter crank arms, narrower bars, zero offset seatposts and brake levers with shorter reach. The net result is a bike that fits smaller riders without having to use geometries that don't fit with our philosophy of "it's all about the ride".
Thank you to Bicycling.com for coming by the booth in Vegas and checking out the bikes- we hope that all of you will be as impressed with the bikes as Bicycling was (and we'll get working on that review they hint at too).
Alright, all you bike loving- especially Masi loving- New Englanders. This week is Outdoor Demo East in Providence, Rhode Island at Roger Williams Park. We- Masi and Haro- will be there with a full fleet of demo bikes to test ride. The first two days of the event are open to the bike trade only, but Saturday and Sunday are open to the public. So come on out and test ride a Masi, or Haro, and say howdy. While you're there, grab a catalog to take home and mark your favorite/s bike/s down for Santa to bring you for Christmas... you have been good, right?
Fresh off of a very successful Interbike, we are very pleased to announce that the website here has been updated with all of the new products shown there at the show in Vegas.
Feel free to stroll through the bikes here and feast your eyes on the amazing beauty of the very best line-up of bikes we've ever put together. We are confident you will be impressed with the collection of bikes you see here.
A downloadable pdf of the new catalog will be available very soon as well- so stay tuned. Also, the much awaited web store will be coming online and functioning in the coming days. AND... the Masi Retro jerseys will be IN STOCK in the next few days, so get ready to ride with pride!
This past weekend was the USPro National Championships in Greenville, South Carolina. The racing over the two days was amazing and hard fought with very worthy winners receiving stars and stripes jerseys in the time trial and road race events.
Dave Zabriskie of Garmin-Slipstream was the jersey winner- for the 4th time- in the time trial on Saturday, but Kenda's very own Matt Winstead (of Huntsville, AL) rode to a very impressive 11th place against a field of very motivated TT specialists. I met Matt during the team's training camp in Greenville last January and I can honestly say he's a great guy and tough rider who really earned that 11th place. Also in the TT for the Kenda boys, was newcomer Chris Monteleone who had previously been riding for the US National Team and finished a very respectable 20th.
(Matt Winstead heading for 11th... with a smile, no less.)
(Chris Monteleone about to launch himself down the start ramp.)
Sunday saw an emotional win in the road race by George Hincapie of Columbia-HTC as the early heat and later the rain added to the rapid attrition of the field. The multiple climbs up Paris Mountain continually cut the field apart and only the tough and determined made it to the finish. One of those riders making it to the finish was Kenda tough man Jake Rytlewski in 19th. Jake fought hard and stayed with an elite group of chasers in the closing laps of the race, proving his hard-as-nails reputation.
(Jake Rytlewski doing what he does best- riding hard in tough conditions.)
We're very proud of our boys in pinstripes and we're looking forward to seeing more strong results as the season comes to a close and in the future.
I just returned from a sales meeting in Melbourne Australia with our distributor there- Pacific Brands- and their retailers. It was a great visit, albeit short, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
Being in Australia really helped to solidify the recognition of the fact that Masi is a global brand and that we have customers and fans around the world. The following emails and pictures push that fact home even further;
(From Bas in the Netherlands...)
Hey Tim,
A while ago you replied to my question about the size of a Speciale Sprint. I ended up ordering a 60cm and it took a few weeks to build it up, but I still owed you a few shots from it. Guess that for now it's still one of the very few Masi's in the European Union... :-)
For my work I travel around Europe and the bike happened to be finished just before a week long trip to southern Italy, so I decided to bring it along. When I took it out of it's travel bag on the sidewalk out front of the hotel the maitre d' of the hotel restaurant exclaimed "Spettacolare!", which is probably the best way to summarize how I feel about the bike.
There are still some minor cosmetical changes that I'd like to make to the bike (shortening the steerer tube, front wheel laced radially, etc.), but in general it's running as smooth as butter.
(From Mark Williamson, in Fremantle Australia)
Hi Tim
Just a quick message to say a big thanks for coming all the way over to the Pacific Brands 2010 trade show in Melbourne, it is not often that we get the chance to speak to the guys behind the product we sell. Not sure if you would remember me as you would have spoken to allot of store owners that day. I was the guy that suggested putting Campy Chorus or record on the Black steel _____ bike.
Any way the new range looks fantastic and my staff and I are looking forward the new models coming in store.
I have attached a picture of my pride and joy. I hope you like it ?
Many thanks again.
Regards Mark Williamson
Bike force Fremantle
Thanks to both Bas and Mark for helping to remind us of our (growing) international following. It's nice to step out of our little fishbowl once in awhile.
