Selecting each individual tube rather than an 'off the shelf' tubeset is what gives the Resolution, Mason Cycles steel framed four season speed machine, its identity. Each tube has a specific role and delivers on that with complete precision, the real trick though is how they all unite to deliver what can only be described as a phenomenal ride. I like this bike A LOT. In fact 'like' is probably not a strong enough word.
We've got the second tier Shimano 105 Hydro model here for testing and priced at £2895 it delivers a lot of bang for your buck in terms of ride, handling build quality and sheer enjoyment.
Smiles for Miles
Whatever your passion is in life, when you find what you think is the pinnacle of whatever that is there is no better feeling in the world.
The Resolution delivers that buzz for me, it's addictive and the beautiful thing is that it's a feeling that hasn't diminished no matter how many times I've ridden it.
Mason have designed the bike from the ground up as a package, each tube, the Aperture fork, the components have all been designed or handpicked to work as a whole. The ride flows, an organic feeling to it if you like, whether in the hills or smashing down a straight bit of traffic strewn A-road.
You get that 'steel feel' from the frame, those velvety undertones which just take the edge off the road vibration but there are underlying hints of an aluminium frame, even carbon too at times. The feedback of the bike changing depending on how you are riding it at the time.
The 1010mm wheelbase gives the Resolution poise and stability, it's simple to ride. Perfect for those epic days in the saddle when fatigue is kicking in and it's easy to make mistakes followed by extreme over corrections.
This was summed up on the first ride of the Resolution, I'd ridden 200km the day before and was midway through the return journey. I'd blown, lack of glycogen was beginning to affect my eyesight and the arm muscles were starting to go. A long descent on a busy A-road topped off with a blustery crosswind stood between me and a carb load so the bars were pointed and off the Resolution shot. Every corner carved, bump and pothole absorbed with the minimal of hassle, you barely had to think about it.
This thing is built for speed though and it doesn't disappoint. The mild manners and stability remain but there's more urgency, the Mason wants to be ridden hard and the more you put in the more you get back.
The front end is tight thanks to the tapered head tube with a real directness to the steering keeping you pushing harder and harder into the bends. It never becomes twitchy or unsettled but it's still engaging and challenging too, if you are a demon descender you're not going to be left wanting. If you can get this thing out of shape in the corners you're a braver rider than I am and that's coming from someone who'll happily risk body parts for an adrenaline hit.
The Aperture fork comes into its own on the descents having the stiffness to maintain its line at high speed with the shock absorption to iron out those ripples in the tarmac. It's more than up to the job of handling those braking loads too. There is no chattering or diving even when hauling on the anchors from 50mph+ with the forward facing Securaxl dropouts keeping the wheel securely in position.
Acceleration isn't something you'd think a bike of this type would excel in but put the power down and it shifts, the bottom bracket area stiffness suddenly becomes noticeable as the bottom half off the frame tightens up without a single hint of flex regardless of how hard you are honking out of the saddle.
The low weight of the Hunt x Mason 4Season wheels means they don't lag under the effort and provide a feeling of sprightliness to the whole bike. This makes climbing fun, paired with the compact chainset and 11-28 cassette the bikes overall weight of 8.9kg is never an issue but feels even less so when you stand up to ascend, it just kicks forward.
Buyers Guide to Disc Braked Road Bikes
Where the Magic Happens
Dom Mason went to Columbus in Italy to handpick each tube individually which has allowed him to fine tune the feel and response of the frame. It's a blend of stiffness and comfort that is so subtle it's barely noticeable until you really require one or the other, a sort of 'Wow, where did that come from?' kind of thing.
Steel has come along way over the last few years with all sorts of exciting alloys being created. Columbus' 'Spirit' and 'Life' tubing are perfect examples of this with wall thicknesses of just 0.4mm in places resulting in low weight while maintaining strength.
Although the material has evolved, in my eyes the use of the tubing hasn't with builders holding on to that traditional skinny tubed look and external cable bosses. Mason has shunned that and brought the steel frame bang up to date with the likes of a tapered head tube and his MultiPort system.
The top of the head tube measures a standard 1 1/8' diameter with the bottom increasing to 1.5' which allows for a much larger weld area and compatibility with an oversized down tube bringing with it added strength and lateral stability.
The head tube length on this 54cm is 155mm which is perfect for the style of comfortable yet fast riding the Resolution is designed for, couple this with the low stack integrated headset and you get the perfect position while being able to slam the stem for stiffness and just as importantly, aesthetics.
Stiffness is achieved from the ovalised top tube and large D-section down tube, both of these give the Resolution a closer look to the alloy Definition frame than a traditional steel and a more aggressive style too.
The down tube, due to its shape can have the wall thicknesses paired right down meaning lightness, stiffness and those all important weld areas at the bottom bracket and head tube junctions.
The rear end takes a considered approach to making the most of that steel quality with regards to comfort. The seat tube is a large diameter 31.8mm although Mason have stepped the seatpost size down to 27.2mm to promote some flex there between rider and bike. The use of Mason's own Penta carbon post allows a touch more comfort over an alloy option.
The seatstays have tapered wall thicknesses from top to bottom which along with the tried and tested hourglass shape for shock absorbance provides a very comfortable rear triangle. When you stand on the pedals the Resolution responds but the way the chain and seatstays deliver in both stiffness and flex the power goes straight to the rear wheel especially noticeable on rougher road surfaces.
The dropouts are shrouded to create a larger weld area and add stiffness and you also get replaceable inserts made from stainless steel, the drive side includes a gear hanger should you ever bend it in a crash.
Extra little details like a chain pip are a welcome sight (often forgotten) to keep the chain away from the stays when the wheels are out.
All of these tubes are welded together in a geometry that is sedate enough for long, comfortable miles but promotes a bit of out of the saddle action. You always find yourself giving the Resolution a little dig on short climbs or to beat the lights.
The front end has a 71.5° head angle which on its own sounds more relaxed tourer than performance machine but combining everything else together, the stack and reach numbers or details like the dropped bottom bracket height to compensate for the larger volume tyres creates the sweet handling machine I've mentioned above.
It's a very cleverly designed setup that manages to capture all riding styles with very, very little in the way of compromise. I reckon there might even be a little bit of pixie dust thrown in there.
The finish of the framesets is amongst the best I've seen especially on a small scale production model. The frames are shipped around to chosen companies for painting and decals all of which are protected by two layers of lacquer. This makes for a hardwearing finish which'll stand up to daily knocks and abuse.
The frames are treated internally and externally as well for corrosion resistance.
Bits and Pieces
The MultiPort system is used on either side of the down tube (along with one on the top tube) to run the cables/wires/hoses, whatever you are running internally and as far as Mason is aware it's the first time this has been done on a steel frame. The added option of being able to run the outer cables split or full is an added touch of customisation.
The various insert options for the cable guides give a really finished look to the frame with the snug fit keeping the elements out. The inserts are anodised aluminium too so they are going to last for plenty of years to come and they make cable replacement easier as by removing them it gives you a much larger hole to feed the outer cables internally.
All the cable routing has been designed to avoid any 'sumps' forming from riding in wet weather, these are four season bikes after all with the coolest bit I reckon is where the front mech cable comes out just before the bottom bracket shell before being run around the 3D printed SLS cable guide.
Being able to take guards and a rack is a huge bonus to this frame though if you wish to run it without you'll find all the mounting points are hidden from view to create a clean finish. Full marine grade stainless bolts should stop any rusty moments too.
The Aperture fork is designed in house and manufactured in Taiwan from Mason's own tooling. That's not a cheap way of doing things but it has allowed for a frame and fork that has been designed to work together with regards to crown height and ride quality. Internal cable/hose routing, hidden guard eyelets and the Securaxle dropouts mean it's a great looking fork as well as one that performs.
There are loads of details and pictures on www.masoncycles.cc in the Thinking section and it's well worth a read to really understand the level of detailing that has gone into the Resolution.
Working Together
Although the spec levels change with each model all the parts come from the same few component manufacturers.
All the groupsets come from Shimano with all but the 105 mechanical model coming with the Japanese company's hydraulic discs. Although the purist might prefer to run Campagnolo the Shimano stuff works really well and matches the feel of the frame.
Shimano 105 is a great groupset with shifting virtually identical to Ultegra and with the 11-28 tooth options of the 11 speed cassette it gives you all the gears you need for the style of riding intended for the Resolution.
There aren't any hydraulic levers specifically at 105 level with Shimano offering their carbon levered ST-RS685 models which cover mechanical shifting up as far as Dura Ace. This adds massively to the price with the levers and calipers alone costing more than an entire 105 groupset, it's a worthwhile upgrade though as the feel and control at the levers makes for very smooth descending.
The 140mm rotors front and rear are the IceTech models and are more than man enough for the job even under prolonged heavy braking. The fork will take a 160mm with adaptors should you feel the need to go bigger.
Fabric provide the saddle with their Scoop model, a saddle that seems to suit more bums than most with its flowing shape and firm yet supportive padding. On this Resolution you get the Shallow, Elite Alloy version. They provide the tape too which is wipe clean, ideal on this white option and provides a decent amount of comfort from its rubbery feel absorbing quite a lot of road buzz for its narrow thickness.
Keeping the Italian theme going the Resolution uses a Deda cockpit with the Zero 1 stem and RHM1 handlebars. Deda's kit always provides plenty of stiffness plus the shallow drop of these bars gives loads of hand positions even for riders that don't usually move from the hoods.
The collaboration with Hunt wheels for the Mason x Hunt 4Season wheels has created a set of hoops that is exactly to Mason's specification while using the experience of Hunt to define the ride and durability.
We've seen the range of Hunt wheels here http://tinyurl.com/ka8kmux and by speccing the likes of EZO bearings and Pillar Spoke Re-enforcement (PSR) triple butted spokes you get a massively durable wheelset at a sensible weight. A quoted weight of 1585g is decent for a disc wheel that is designed to be ridden though all sorts of conditions. Things like brass nipples and stainless hardware on the quick release makes them pretty much winter proof.
This is the same pair that were used on the Definition test bike so they've covered well over a thousand miles without missing a beat.
Stiffness is high, you can really notice that when sprinting or climbing out of the saddle yet they don't feel harsh in any conditions. The wide rim allowing the running of the 28mm specced Continental tyres means you can tweak the pressure for comfort but even pumped up to 120psi the spoke layup seems to absorb any bumps.
The Complete Package
The Resolution is a beautiful package and that's the real trick here. While price is always a big concern for both manufacturer and customer just looking at the parts list doesn't tell the full story. Mason have added a lot of design detail to create a no compromise bike when it comes to the finishing. Ignore the specs, the angles, the weight, they are only part of the equation. The Mason is a complete entity, everything has a task to perform and it all works together as part of a team. Maybe you'll need to ride one to understand fully what I'm on about but pure and simply the Resolution makes you smile, uncontrollably at times.
Owning a bike like this is a real experience rather than just something materialistic, the Resolution has a soul, it's more than just a form of transport or a tool for fitness it's something special.
Verdict
Phenomenal steel ride from a bike that is fabulously put together and which brings the material bang up to date
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Mason Resolution 105 Hydro
Size tested: n/a
About the bike
State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.
*Frame: Resolution Columbus Spirit/Life performance steel frame.
*Fork: Mason Aperture full carbon fork.
*Headset: DEDA Low profile, carbon top cover, integrated headset.
*Colours: Lens Blue. Shutter Black.
*Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60.
*Shifting: Shimano 105 Mechanical. 11spd.
*Chainset: 105 5800 50-34.
*Chain: HG600 11spd.
*Cassette: 105 5800 11spd 11-28.
*Wheels: MASON x HUNT 4Season disc wheels.
*Tyres: Continental, Grand Sport Extra 28mm.
*Braking: Shimano STRS685 Hydraulic with IceTech 140mm rotors.
*Handlebar: DEDA RHM 01 black polished. 304g.
*Stem: DEDA ZER01 black on black. 145g.
*Bar Tape: Fabric GRIP tape.
*Saddle: Fabric Scoop, Shallow, Elite Alloy. 260g.
*Seatpost: MASON Penta carbon, microadjust.
*Clamp: MASON Macro alloy ultralight.
Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?
The Resolution is classed as a four season bike meaning it's intended for year round use thanks to the ability to run guards and disc brakes. It's not a winter trainer though, the Resolution is a performance machine with plenty of adaptability.
Frame and fork
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?
A truly amazing piece of engineering from the initial frame building right the way through to the overall finish.
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?
The frame uses a hand picked selection of Columbus Spirit & Life tubes. Each was selected to provide the exact ride feedback that Mason required.
The fork is created from Mason's own mold in Taiwan from carbon fibre.
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?
Geometry details for each frame size is here:
How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?
Our 54cm had reach and stack figures of 565.5mm and 383.0mm respectively. It gives an excellent mix of a relaxed position that's still stretched out and a bit racy.
Riding the bike
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.
Truly sublime, really firm and stable but with the steel tubing taking the harsh edge off.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?
The Resolution is a very stiff bike and really responds to rider inputs. The ability to run large tyres means you can tweak the pressures to further dial the ride.
How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?
The bottom bracket and surrounding area really responds to powerful efforts being rock solid.
Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?
No
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? predominately neutral but becomes more enging if you start to push it.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?
The handling is the Resolution's master stroke, it's so planted, stable and easy to control yet has this performance side to it once you start to increase thee speed and tighten the line.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?
The Fabric saddle and bar tape is very comfortable.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?
The Deda cockpit provides a feeling of stiffness at the front end
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?
The Mason x Hunt wheels are quick of the mark and hold their speed very well indeed.
The drivetrain
Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?
Shimnao 105 is brilliant and coupled with the hydraulic version gear levers the shifting is even tighter and crisper than normal.
Wheels and tyres
Tell us some more about the wheels and tyres.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels or tyres? If so, what for?
The Mason x Hunt wheels have proven to be very reliable as well offering a light weight and great performance.
Controls
Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?
A good all round choice of components that compliment the frame. The shallow drop Deda bars offer plenty of hand options for virtually any rider.
Your summary
Did you enjoy riding the bike? yes
Would you consider buying the bike? yes
Would you recommend the bike to a friend? yes
Anything further to say about the bike in conclusion?
The Resolution is an amazing bike right through from the build quality, details and above all the way it rides. Riding it was fun, really fun igniting those feelings I got when my parents gave me a shiny new bike for Christmas, that hasn't happened for a while.
About the tester
Age: 36 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: Kinesis T2 My best bike is: Mason Definition
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
72 thoughts on “Mason Resolution 105 Hydro”
Amazing looking all year
Amazing looking all year bike.
Leodis wrote:Amazing looking
Thanks!
When is the Road.cc giveaway?
When is the Road.cc giveaway?
Got a Kinesis ATR turning up
Got a Kinesis ATR turning up soon, please tell me this isn’t twice as good!
At least you can be in the
At least you can be in the knowledge that the same guy designed both. I’m holding on to the Ti benefits (I have a Moots Psychlo) to keep me from feeling a bit rough, although these current Mason bikes aren’t going off road, so arguably not built for the same purpose as my bike or yours.
I’d imagine that Dom Mason will be heading down the gravel-road route soon enough
only1redders wrote:At least
Could be! ; ]
Dom wrote:only1redders
Could be! ; ]— only1redders
Excellent! Wider tyre capability is welcomed.
only1redders wrote:At least
Yeah, he will, I am sure of it. Happy to be possession of two ‘Masons’, a trusty 4t and the ATR. Other than that I have a carbon race bike and a fixie and a couple of old town hacks AND a 26″FS MTB, so I guess I shouldn’t be too greedy B-)
I would happily fill the stable with Kinesis/Mason bikes though, top bikes.
alotronic wrote:only1redders
Yeah, he will, I am sure of it. Happy to be possession of two ‘Masons’, a trusty 4t and the ATR. Other than that I have a carbon race bike and a fixie and a couple of old town hacks AND a 26″FS MTB, so I guess I shouldn’t be too greedy B-)
I would happily fill the stable with Kinesis/Mason bikes though, top bikes.— only1redders
Wow.
Thanks alotronic. 🙂
“My best bike is: Mason
“My best bike is: Mason Definition”……….have you bought one?
only1redders wrote:”My best
Yes I have indeed, once the test bikes went back I treated myself to a Definition frameset. A blog of the full build spec will be up in the site soon
only1redders wrote:”My best
Yes I have indeed, once the test bikes went back I treated myself to a Definition frameset. A blog of the full build spec will be up on the site soon
stuke wrote:only1redders
What made to you choose aluminium over steel? What direct comparison would you make between the two ride qualities if you like this bike so much?
nigel997@gmail.com
What made to you choose aluminium over steel? What direct comparison would you make between the two ride qualities if you like this bike so much?— only1redders
The slightly stiffer, punchier ride of the Definition suits my riding style a little better. It was a tough decision mind and even though I’m an impulsive kind of bloke it took me weeks to decide.
If I had the budget I would honestly have one of each, one blue, one black 8>
stuke
What made to you choose aluminium over steel? What direct comparison would you make between the two ride qualities if you like this bike so much?— stuke
The slightly stiffer, punchier ride of the Definition suits my riding style a little better. It was a tough decision mind and even though I’m an impulsive kind of bloke it took me weeks to decide.
If I had the budget I would honestly have one of each, one blue, one black 8>— only1redders
Very very proud to have you on board a Mason Stu, and thanks so much for taking the time to really understand the design, engineering, spirit and soul of these bikes.
You have the Definition as
You have the Definition as glowing write up, obviously followed by a purchase. This review of the Resolution seems even more glowing, would you agree. And I understand that for a lot of us price will always be a factor. But do you rate the Resolution higher if cost was not an issue?
bikeandy61 wrote:You have the
Now that’s a tough one. I was in the position that I could of afforded either but after putting hundreds of miles into both the Resolution and Definition the latter just felt right for me. It’s ever so slightly sharper at the extremes but you are obviously sacrificing a bit of comfort, not something that is a huge concern for me I must admit. We are talking tiny amounts here mind so aesthetics probably played just as big a part, I don’t know to be honest, maybe the Definition picked me!!
As far as the two reviews go if the Resolution sounds more glowing it’s not intentional, I don’t take notes or anything when riding the bikes so just write from the heart kind of thing and they both just flowed. Maybe I bought the wrong bike!! Oh my God, what if the Definition is just lust and I love the Resolution!! Nooooooooo!!
stuke wrote:Maybe I bought
You’ll have to get both then for ultimate happiness.
Just don’t tell the Definition. Keep them a room apart so they’ll never find out about each other.
Looks like a really nice
Looks like a really nice bike, what is the actual difference between this and the alloy one? Are the geometries the same?
Looks like the trick with this bike might be the clever geometry. It always intrigues me how much development goes into a bike. A chap in a shed seems to be able to pick a few tubes and weld together a “bespoke” bike and I’ve never read a review of a bad one, which suggests to me that if you weld the right 3 triangles together then it will work and maybe all the “flexes this way, bent here…” is irrelevant.
Regardless the most appealing bit for me is that you can run mudguards and still have an exciting bike.
P3t3 wrote:Looks like a
Hi P3t3,
Geom is the same, so it comes down to the way you intend to use the bike and budget really. It’s worth reading the Definition review on road.cc to get a clear idea of the differences between the bikes.
I spent a lot of time choosing the right tubes to make the frame perform how I wanted it to and then used the best italian builders I could find to weld it for me. It really is very important to me to use the correct tubes in the right way and often unconventionally to achieve the final ride quality.
I know exactly what you mean though, and thanks for your comments : ]
Steel bike, made in a Taiwan
Steel bike, made in a Taiwan mega factory with Shimano 105? For nearly three grand?
No thanks..
Prosper0 wrote:Steel bike,
Hi Prosper0,
It’s made in an Italian micro-factory.
Not really a factory actually, more of a frame building workshop.
But if it’s not your thing, that’s fine : ]
I don’t think it’s overpriced
I don’t think it’s overpriced tbh. If I was in the market for a do-it-all bike it would be first on my list.
The 105 Definition is £2095. I don’t think you can expect it to be priced like a Canyon.
Prosper0 wrote:Steel bike,
They aren’t. They’re made by small frame builders near Venice. Don’t let that stop you casting aspersions though…..
Prosper0 wrote:Steel bike,
Thank god you’ve reduced it to the same equation applied by Marketing men to arrive at the true value of a bike. And haven’t fallen into the same trap as other lesser mortals, like, I dunno, riding the damn thing.
Lovely bike, but 120PSI in
Lovely bike, but 120PSI in 28mm tyres for a 76kg rider? Let some air out! Go faster in more comfort.
Malaconotus wrote:Lovely
I ride every test bike at the same tyre pressure, that way I can feel the difference between frames and components. Not hugely scientific but gives me a good base marker
stuke wrote:Malaconotus
That would only make sense if all test bikes came fitted with the same size tyre.
Bikes with soul… The Alfa
Bikes with soul… The Alfa Romeo of the bike world but without the rust and bits falling off. (1980’s Alfa’s BTW) 🙂
mp31 wrote:Bikes with soul…
I’ve had five Alfa’s. I got a good price for my 1980’s Alfa Sud after putting my whole arm through the floor and pushing up the carpet! It gradually turned to brown dust but I loved it.
Oh Bollocks! Just when I
Oh Bollocks! Just when I think I’ve decided on a sensible, great-value-but-pig-ugly, option for my next ride this thing pops up again. By far the prettiest disc braked road bike I’ve seen. Something tells me I’ll be popping down to Brighton for a test ride next spring.
Jonny_Trousers wrote:Oh
You are very welcome Jonny_Trousers : ]
Hmmm. Yeah. 3 grand for a
Hmmm. Yeah. 3 grand for a mass built, very heavy bike with 105?? No.
davecochrane wrote:Hmmm.
Don’t worry, you wouldn’t have had to buy one anyway, I think there might be some minimum reading level and comprehension ability required before you can (or is that the Navy ?)
Oooooooh! Get you, anonymous!
Oooooooh! Get you, anonymous! =D>
davecochrane wrote:Hmmm.
It’s not ‘mass built’ Dave, far from it in fact. Batches of 10 or 15 usually.
If weight is your main concern then there are plenty of lighter bikes out there, actually for steel with this build level and disc-brakes, this bike doesn’t qualify as ‘very heavy’. The tubing is about as light as you can go with this material.
But, we all have different reasons for buying bikes and of course if this one doesn’t suit you, that’s fine.
Thanks for saying it looks nice though : ]
It’s lovely to look at though
It’s lovely to look at though 😀
Looks lovely. I also note
Looks lovely. I also note that while everyone’s arguing about the cost/value and whether you can justify the cost for a steel frame with 105, remember that many bikes at this price range will have distinctly average wheels, not the Mason Hunt hoops on this which ought to remove the inclination to upgrade.
Stu – very much looking
Stu – very much looking forward to the self-build blog as it’s what I’m considering doing (Dom’s fault – he *forced* me to self-build my Crosslight Pro 6 and I’m now addicted 😉 )
Regarding the price – I had a quick google for prices to building the bike they tested using the same components – it came to £2892!
The expensive bits:
Frame – £1500
Wheels – £350
Groupset – £290
RS685 Hydro shifters, brakes, Ice Tech rotors – £470
Take £80-100 off that for flogging on the 105 brakes and shifters that come with the groupset that you don’t need, maybe another £100 or so off for finding good deals on stuff.
It turns it into a question of whether you think £1500 for a steel frame designed and built like this is good value.
Also on cost – the Ultegra Hydro version is £500 cheaper than a similarly specced Cannondale Synapse
Thank goodness bikes like
Thank goodness bikes like this exist, or we would all end up riding around on each others replicas of ground up dinasour bone and ancient trees sold to us by mass corporate companies who decide what colour we should prefer this year.
I ride a steel bike as my best bike and I don’t mind it getting wet. Yes mine was built by a small company owned by a large conglomerate and made in Taiwan but it stands out and does exactly what I intended which was long rides in the country and a pace I’m comfortable riding at. I don’t care it weighs almost a shocking 9kg. It’s built for what I wanted it do and if more people actually thought long and hard exactly what they need from a bike rather than marketing guff I suspect the Mason and various other similar bikes with an individual twist will enter their radar sooner rather than focusing on apparently ‘old’ material and weight.
I think the Mason is stunning and properly built and spec’d. Shame I’m not in the market for one as unfortunately my current bike is going to last years.
Thanks trekker12 !
Thanks trekker12 !
trekker12 wrote:Thank
Absolutely agree with you. Same can be said for most things in life, Nike or Kappa, Ford or Alpha, PG tips or Revolution Tea. Each market has it’s mass products and it’s niche markets. Loyalty to their chosen Market force is why folk tend to mock the rest..
This is an absolutely lovely looking bike, It has jumped onto my wishlist right near the top. I may be in touch in a year (or two 8> )
Are these available to test
Are these available to test ride before buying?
Kadinkski wrote:Are these
Hi Kadinkski,
We have a small demo fleet which we are constantly juggling between test rides and reviewers!
If we have a bike in your size range, you are very welcome to visit for a test ride.
Dom wrote:Kadinkski wrote:Are
Great, thanks. I’ll be in touch.
Beautiful bike.
Nice
Beautiful bike.
Nice cabling… except for that long rear derailleur cable casing on back.
rix wrote:Beautiful
Thanks rix,
The long outer for the rear mech is there because I learned from CX bikes that a full outer cable or interrupted outer from the TT is way more durable in the dirt and wet.
These bikes are for all season use, so that’s why the cable routing is designed in that way. You can run full-outer or split it at the TT.
Running the cable down the seat stay also means there is less chance of moisture buildup as there can be when running up from the CS.
It’s really great to see
It’s really great to see steel offering an alternative to carbon and being so contemporary with it. Well done for such a well thought out bike. I would never have considered steel before but I would now. Tried carbon but it’s too abundant and for me, too stiff. My Litespeed Sienna is a bike for life but I’d love to own a steel bike like this.
Would love to know how this bike fares against my current favourite, the Donhou DSS1. Either way, a lovely bike.
Looks and sounds like an
Looks and sounds like an amazing bike. Going to have to get my hands on one to try it (and the definition) out at some point. Really exciting to have british designed bikes that are so much more than just a Taiwanese mass produced frame with some branding chucked on.
Great to see that it has the mounts for guards – makes it a proper four seasons bike. What mudguards would you recommend for this?
paulrattew wrote:Looks and
Thanks Paul,
I like the SKS Longboard ‘guards and also the excellent Portland Design Works ones that the equally excellent Shand have on their site here > http://shop.shandcycles.com/product/portland-design-works-mudguards-wide
Dom wrote:
I like the SKS
Will the bike actually accommodate full-size SKS mudguards? My reason for asking is that on other bikes, even cyclocross bikes with generous frame clearances, the the cable pinch of the 105 5800 front mech lies very close to the rear tyre, leaving only a few mm clearance which is insufficient for fitting full-size ‘guards unless you fit very skinny tyres and ‘guards.
giskard wrote:Dom wrote:
I
Hi giskard,
Yes, the bikes are designed for full ‘guards and 28’s. The chain stays are 425mm so there’s room behind the seat tube for the mudguard.
You can see the SKS ‘guards fitted here > https://masoncycles.cc/products/sks-longboard-mudguards
Stu – I’ve read the glowing
Stu – I’ve read the glowing reviews of both Masons and they are now biting the heels of the Tripster ATR as my current lusted after +1. I don’t want to question your professional integrity, but in the interest of full disclosure and transparency would you mind making clear the level of discount, if any, that Dom gave you on the bike you purchased? Many review blogs state this kind of thing up front to show any possible bias to the readers.
Of course, you are not going to review a crap bike and then choose to buy one yourself, so if we have this information your own purchase can be seen as a the most genuine recommendation.
Tim1.9 wrote:Stu – I’ve read
It’s a fair question Tim and fair play for asking it. I paid full whack, going on the pre-order list via the website the same as everyone else.
I’m an engineer myself but more importantly a bike lover and the few times I’ve met Dom I can understand the lengths he’s gone to to create these bikes. On the flip side though I’m a family man with a day job and like most, limited disposable income so it was a big decision to lay that kind of money down on a frameset, for me though it’s one of those ‘bikes for life’ and I’m bloody glad I did 😀
Great, the best possible
Great, the best possible recommendation then! =D>
Road.cc keep reviewing some
Road.cc keep reviewing some lovely bikes. Great review and good on Dom for and Stu for engaging with informative responses to those commenting.
richcc wrote:Road.cc keep
Thanks richcc : ]
Hi Dom, like others on here
Hi Dom, like others on here I’ve been eyeing off an ATR, with the Resolution also a definite (no pun intended) contender.
Can you tell me what its max tyre width is WITHOUT guards? Do you have any other colours in the pipeline? I vaguely recall seeing an awesome orange prototype floating around on Instagram.
Thanks!
I have a black one, bought
I have a black one, bought frame only, and it is gorgeous. It felt like a bit of a punt buying sight unseen from a new company on the basis of a couple of reviews, and I did question my sanity a few times, but now that it’s arrived I don’t regret it for a second. Yes it’s a bit heavier than my plastic bikes, especially the ones with rim brakes, but it’s only a kilo or so and it’s worth it for the character of the thing.
If you’re a weight weenie, or the sort of person who just looks at the groupset and the price tag, then maybe this isn’t for you. If go to shows like Bespoked Bristol and spend all day drooling over what’s on offer, then maybe it is.
Dom is a total enthusiast and a great bloke to deal with, he is very helpful and answers emails quickly and fully, as you can see from his responses on here.
This is a difficult question to answer definitively, as it depends on a lot of factors – different brands/models of tyre sold as the same width can be very different sizes, rim width comes into it, etc.
I’ve tried:
Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 28mm (which come up big) on a Pacenti SL25 – loads of room.
Schwalbe Marathon Winter 35mm studded on a random Cannondale rim (22mm ish at a guess) – they just about fit with about 1mm of clearance at the edge of the tread to the fork, plenty of radial clearance and plenty of clearance at the back.
Schwalbe Racing Ralph 33mm CX tyre on a Pacenti TL28 – sidewalls just fouled the insides of the forks, might well work on a narrower rim.
In terms of normal road tyres I reckon you’d get 32s in quite easily, especially on a rim in the 23-25mm range, but I take no responsibility if the ones you try don’t fit 😉
RW wrote:Hi Dom, like others
Hi RW,
I have calculated that a 32 with road tread will fit, but have still not managed to test a bike with 32’s fitted.
Geraint in a post below has done sterling work in this direction though and I will endeavour to do the same next week, so he doesn’t have to carry the responsibility on his shoulders!
I did make a ptype ‘Flare Orange’ 48cm Definition to test both size and colour [it now belongs to my 12yr old son], the colour does look really nice, but I think I may save it for future models.
Dom wrote:
I did make a ptype
If you EVER do a puke green version I will hunt you down 😉
VeloPeo wrote:Dom wrote:
I
I’m leaving ‘SickGreen’ to my old brand ; ]
But, I’m quite tempted by a nice ‘metallic grass green’…if I can think of a photographic based name for it…
When I’ve been getting all
When I’ve been getting all dreamy about owning one of these I immediately think about upgrading the groupset, but I guess there would be no point. Ultegra would surely only make a microscopic difference in weight and I can’t imagine the shifting would be noticeably better. It also makes more sense as a four seasons bike, because replacing bits would be relatively cheap.
Having said that, what I’d really like is for Campagnolo to get an affordable hydro disc set on the market, then I could use my current Chorus bits, but when they do inevitably get round to it I have a feeling it’ll be pricey.
Jonny_Trousers wrote:When
Hi Jonny_Trousers,
We do offer various build levels on the site, 105 is such an excellent groupset and shifting is great, I think the better materials used in Ultegra will benefit those doing big miles and the increased durability will avoid having to replace parts as regularly.
Moved this to the correct
Moved this to the correct review (Mason Definition):
http://road.cc/content/review/149005-mason-definition-road-bike?page=1#comment-361899
You could always use your
You could always use your Chorus bits with decent mechanical discs like TRP Spyre SLCs. I’m kind of leaning this way as I reckon they’ll be good enough and somewhat cheaper and lighter than hydros.
rmacneil wrote:You could
We use the Spyre on our 105 Mechanical build > https://masoncycles.cc/products/resolution-105 and I really rate them for power, adjustability and durability. The dual retractable pad design also means they never suffer from brake rub.
Dom and Geraint – thanks for
Dom and Geraint – thanks for the responses! Dom, is “photogenic green” too much of a cop-out?
“Orthochrome”
“Orthochrome”
rjfrussell
Nice! It’s on the list.
Went down to Brighton today
Went down to Brighton today for a hot date with two of Dom’s finest (well, three if you count the one Mrs Velo Peo rode).
Glad to report that they’re as good in the flesh as they appear to be from this review.
Had a quick blast around Hove – only doing about 10 miles in total on 52cm Resolution (steel) frame and around the block on a 54cm Definition (alloy) – but enough to realise that these things REALLY shift when you want them to.
The weight becomes irrelevant when you’re riding a bike as responsive as this. At one stage I thought the Di2 had stopped working as I’d come downhill at speed straight onto a 4% uphill section and as I was still accelerating, it stopped shifting. Turns out I was already in 53×11 and I’d run out of gears 🙂
Road buzz is absorbed by the frame, it loved the hills (even though the rather porky rider usually doesn’t!) and you ride with a big grin on your face ‘cos the ride is so much fun.
Many thanks to Dom for the test ride, some of my hard-earned will be coming your way very shortly.
Dom I asked you in on your
Dom I asked you in on your site about if the steel frame The Resolution Lugged? Or is it just TIG welding.
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