Bike Check: Keisuke’s Mash Work
Here is another bike check from the far east, and definitely not the last one you’ll see here. Today we’re taking a look at Keisuke’s Mash Work and how this man and I have very similar tastes in pretty much everything.
Keisuke and I have quite the history together because we owned back and forth the same Parallax in a five or six years time frame. When the bike you used to own comes back to you with more stickers, more paint chips and overall more history. It’s always a strange feeling.
If you want more details on that story, you can check my self bike check on my Cyanotype street missile.
And if you’ve been reading the blog for long enough, you now probably know that the Work is one of my all-time favorite frames, for all the good reasons. A good track geometry, good tire clearance, quite comfy, and super durable (at least for the V1).
I have to say that his example is way more well conserved than mine. These things tend to rust quite fast, and his example is very much in the early stages of “patina”. As for the build itself, it’s checking all the right boxes for me. Practical, stylish and not too overboard on the bling side, it’s also tastefully balanced. For example, a very rare custom, black anodized DuraAce cranks with a Sugino 75 silver chainring, everyone has already seen this combo… But the other way around!
A classic and trusty cockpit with a X4 Thomson stem, some Mash Carbon riser bars, lock on grips and TRP brake levers. The Rack is from Adepts Works, a Japanese brand that isn’t present at all in Europe or the US. Yet, It’s a shame because they do quality, durable and fairly priced products, and that rack has to be one of the lightest ones I ever had the chance to use.
Special mention to the USPS corrugated box, the absolute holly grail of rack ornament for anyone outside the US.
The TRP brake setup is clean and one of the best out there without breaking the bank. (I’m looking at you PAUL components) It’s also a reassuring measure for the quite hard Japanese cycling laws. Don’t need to always look out on how to avoid the next cop…
And with these 33c knobies, it’s in a truly “do it all” configuration: commute, messenger work, tracklocross… maybe not track… But a true daily for sure!
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Cinelli Mash Work V1
Chainring and Cog Sugino 75 47t, 17t Cog
Crank Black Duraace FC-7600 165mm
Seatpost and Saddle
Thomson Elite, Fizik Antares
Stem and Handlebar
Thomson X4 110mm Mash Carbon Risers
Wheels Hed Belgium Rims laced to White Industry hubs
Tires Maxxis All Terrane 33c
For the wheels, Keisuke went with a great combo of ED Belgium Rims laced to White industries hubs, like the rest of the build, it’s a sturdy and stylish choice that’s here to last. On a personal note, I’m a bit sad about the ending of the traditional HED Belgium (and the PLUS version), being replaced by the Belgium R, less attractive in my opinion, and way more expensive. I totally understand that the price of aluminum and manufacture went up in recent years, but having a high-end brand like HED, having some more affordable products, had always been a great commercial move in my opinion. I’m just disappointed to see it go.
I don’t need to say it more here, you already know my stance on the Mash Work. Amazing bike, great capabilities, and super strong thanks to its stupidly thick tubing, you can’t really screw up by building this bike. But I would be very curious about a home-brewed version based on the same geometry, with the same clearance and features, but using stiffer, and probably lighter tubes.
Again, as much as it’s a cool frame, finding one today in a decent condition is probably more a miracle than anything else. You can still get a Mash Steel with a bit more relaxed geometry, or a Jedan SS if you live in the US. But since Surly almost announced the end of the Steamroller, there might be something to do here… Who knows…
Where is the treasure map to the ideal geometry?
🎞: Kodak Gold 200
📷: Nikon F100
📍: Odaiba
