2017

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As MASH moves into the new year of 2017, it is with great affection that we announce the end of our collaboration with Cinelli and the exciting start of our own independently produced designs.
Our respect for Cinelli began long before the first MASH video appeared in 2005, and it quickly evolved into a friendship. Over the years, we learned the culture and creative force of this historic bicycle brand in depth, especially as MASH began to design frames from our home in San Francisco with our new Cinelli family in Milan. This collaboration lasted for an incredible 7 years, and we are grateful to have had this solid foundation as we move on to our next adventure.
We are excited to continue to produce in the cycling community independently as MASH. This freedom will bring new flexibilities, and our goal is to make the best designs we can dream. MASH has always been about collaborating with our friends here in San Francisco, and it’s time that we continue to feed this ethos. These new pieces will be available later in the year. We’ll be sure to keep all of you updated as we have news to share.
Additionally, with this change, Cinelli will no longer produce any MASH collabration products, but shops will still be able to purchase remaining stock from the distributors through 2017.
So, with a full heart for our Cinelli family, we’re psyched to take this leap into 2017 with all of you!

MATT REYES

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As we launch into 2017, let’s do it with the energy and control of Matt Reyes. Matt is a Bay Area icon. As a local, you will see him lane split you in the car while manualing down Oak, or some other risky/fun line while commuting through San Francisco. Matt has released endless edits over the years, and Martin and I knew we could make something special together. This part was shot over 2 sessions. Albatross bars day, and rack bars day. I had just gotten back from Berlin, where Mo at Keirin traded me a circus bike. This was an early trick bike, and the first style of bikes to ever use pegs. Matt wanted to ride it. We put air in the rotten tubulars, and he was out the door. Within a couple minutes, he was bombing Sanchez Street from the top, on a tiny peg, of a shaking artistic cycling bike, that had never seen the top speed it was engulfed in. The last this we shot was the burning man decompression party. This city is always in a state of flux, and Matt is always down to see it in the moment, and create with the city we love. Enjoy!

SSCXWCPDX 2016

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The Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships returned home to Portland, OR for 2016. Last weekend, racers with a sense of humor met at Sauvie Island farm to see what these diabolical organizers had in store for this year’s event. This is a bike race with variables you cannot predict. A traditional racer could easily get frustrated at many steps along the way, and that is the entire point. Fun is the focus and with the season winding down, this group gets it. We drove some San Franciscans up to get in on the action. Enclosed are some photographic details and notes from the 2016 SSCXWC PDX edition.

Portland is a natural fit for cross to thrive. An active, creative community who live in a wet, coldish climate during the traditional race calender. Oh, and they love food, beer, and good times. This all cooks up to create a super-host for this format of “racing”.
The Cross Crusader is an iconic heckler at the local CX series of the same name.This set up looked strange at first, until you realize just how sticky the mud is up here. Fat clearance, with little tires. Slicks would have even held less mud.

Cantis and fat tires did not play well out here.
Saturday was the qualifier, with up to three formats to make it to the main race. Fastest lap, holeshot shootout, and a proper dual slalom corse. With Saturday’s qualifiers settled, Sunday was the main event. The morning hosted more traditional geared races, and the afternoon ran a last chance, men’s and women’s events.
Portland still has that creative/weird magic. SF is losing it due to the cost of living. Oakland inherited a portion of that family, but Portland is a bird of a different color, and for that we love you.
This is a shot of a section of the course where mud-covered yoga balls get kicked at your face at full speed. Mud-covered wood ramps lead you out to a continuous mud slide, with vendors offering up free drinks and snacks the entire length of the race course.
The handups are done on an elevated level.
Chelsea running one of the grades.
OBRA trying to wrap their heads around how to officiate a shit show.
The farm location was a beautiful property to race bikes at. Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and no shortage animal feces all mixed up.
Rain flooded a field, and the organizers knew how to make it work to their advantage.
One section routed through the pond where a jump ramp was installed, because. The muddy run-up guaranteed not many would have speed to correctly jump the shark.

Walton is from Portland, so it was nice to get to visit with him. He has been navigating some health concerns this season and is finding a path to healing. We love this guy, and cheer for him always.
Chelsea, Derek, and Rainier felt they had worn costumes all season, so it was only fitting to do the same at a costume race.

Heckling at the day’s race was preformed at the level you would expect from seasoned professionals.

Portland is excellent at mud

The weather has changed in the Bay Area, with years of low rainfall, so a chance to race in these conditions was exciting for the out-of-towners.

Nature would surface from the mud in hopes of escaping and rescuers would then help re-route.
Money handups could later be used to pay to take short cuts on course.




The men’s field being lead into the corn maze to leave bikes for a Le Mans-style start. Bikes were then rearranged and tampered with before the race gun.

Contributors
A short foot race led to a bike search and start.
Chas, being versed in alleycat starts, found his bike quick and was on course early.
Eddy and a clown.
Sven Nys is a cyclocross legend and cult figure in the sport. He wanted to come and not FOMO another year of SSCXWC. Spectators loved it and he clearly took his share from the hecklers. He looked like a 250 2-stroke, spinning at a comedic cadence, and just RIPPING.
Two racers coming out of the dual slalom section.
Rainier running the beaver dam, consisting of half-round plastic tubes.

This punk martching band brought powerful energy to the race, hammering out a series of driving rhythms.
#notmypresident

Sven rode every obstacle, including the pond. He was off the front early but eased up mid-race.
The vibe was a mix of this and bike racing.
No shortage of crashes for the day, making it exciting for spectators, and nearly unbearable for racers.






The yoga ball mosh pit was very raw.



Some people won, all won spiritually. Some lost, and most lost dignity, while making it up in smiles.







We brought a ton of mud home. I’m sure most of us did. Thanks again for the good times Portland. You always know how to share the stoke.

MM

BASP #5 2016

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Bay Area racers headed to Vallejo California for the fifth and final installment of the Bay Area Super Prestige series. With rain on the radar, local racers looked forward to ending the season in a different weather pattern then the season started in, a dry hot, dustbowl. Derek and I jumped out of the van, and grabbed a few warm-up laps before the elite Men’s A’s got on corse. The following photo essay was shot on November 19th 2016, and celebrate the details from the day.

Menlo Velo bringing the mud and blood bright and early. Giro sent the team some custom Synthe helmets for the race season. This lean helmet has felt the best, of everything we have raced in over the years. Lean cut, not bulky. Minimal pads to wash, tons of airflow, while still feeling covered when the rain comes down.
This Belgian family knew how to interact with the racers.Eddy in a chicken wingStoker detailsLast race of the series means packing the race numbers and timing chips away till next season. Let’s make this one special.I like making these mask portraits. Some things never change, including changing.Eddy built up this Work frame prototype, and raced it for the first time. It has a makeshift nylon front brake, and the rear is mounted under the seat stays.
Murphy Mack must be ready for a break after promoting eight races this cyclocross season.

Peanut butter mud lined the course, a rare condition in the Bay Area.

In the Bay Area, there is always a stars and stripes jersey somewhere in the lineup.


Derek, Rainier, and Ryan fighting for the holeshot.
Ritchey Megabite tires digging into the dry duff on an off camber turn. Light and dry dirt under trees was sticking to wet mud on other parts of the course, essentially gluing the mud to the bikes.

Brandon at the top of the course, after a tough climb on his Mash SS.

Sean making himself comfortable.

Slippery grass made the tough climbs all the more difficult and decisive.

The uphill and muddy barriers were no match for Derek.
Neutral SupportHeckler
Eddy racing in his first Elite SS race, and learned what that extra 15 minutes felt like.

Derek chased the podium all day, never outside of eyesight.

Cubby making it look easy, while trying to bounce mud off the bike at each barrier.

Rainier not making it look easy.

Spokesman definitely making it look very difficult.

Stigmata frames with Enve/Chris King/Ritchey/Sella Italia can be built up to be under 17 lbs.

A light rain began to fall mid-way through the race, making the course all the more precipitous.

Ritchey Megabite tires digging into what little traction there was on this climb.

Rainier and Derek chasing Andy Jacques-Maynes and Murray Swanson down the finishing straight.

SSCX crusher, the Vallejo course is a good one for Kell McKenzie.
Selle Italia is supporting the team, and loving the new shapes.Brandon has given his all this season, and this smile shows me what the Bay Area CX season is truly made of. Ear to ear.

Photos: Mike Martin

Words: Rainier Schaefer

GIRO CX TEAM SYNTHE

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While in Santa Rosa, Derek shot some photos of the new Giro Synthe Team helmet on Rainier. This design will not make it to production, but look for them at the races!

Westside Invite 2016

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Westside invite is the west coast’s flavor of messenger summer camp. Originating in Portland over 10 years ago this years event made its way down the coast to San Diego where Courier Collective hosted messengers from Vancouver to Mexico and everything in between for 4 days of events, hot and sunny beaches, and hills…way more hills than I think any of us expected. As always It was nice to have an excuse to lay on the beach all day and sleep in way too late, but Joven and the dudes over at CC really killed it. Both the main Alleycat, coffee cat, and Out of towner race were ripping! There was a day committed solely to a group ride which ended at the beach complete with all the track bike shenanigans loved by all. I took first in the skid comp. NBD. The main race was a work simulation – which tested everyone’s wits and speed In the San Diego’s hot downtown streets, not to mention, during a Pirates game. Chas took home 1st place with the one and only fully completed manifest with just 2 min before the cut-off . Oakland won the bid for Westside Invite 2017  – so you already know where you’ll be next summer. Thanks again San Diego for the good times and sunburn. – Sean

Fred Marshall

Courier Collective HQ

Joven

“don’t touch the money”

yard sale

Looking out for each other

right before we got kicked out

Group Ride

Coffee Cat winner

YOT

Lifes a Beach

sometimes ya’ just gotta wazz

Tree’s Bag

Chas turning in the winning manifest

Steady Coolin

KOOK

Winners Circle

Sean Geivett

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While shooting an video to celebrate TCB, we shot with Sean. Chas was helping produce the schedule for us to meet riders when/where, in thier work day as messengers. The plan was to meet Sean on the top of Franklin Street, and drop it toward the Marina. We met up, had camera issues, left, and regrouped before getting the last shot in his chapter. Once we knew we wanted to create a bigger part for Sean, we looked to Yerba Buena Island to start him out. With killer views, and steep roads under construction, it fit the part. Look for the bonus features in a week or two. Finishing up now.

Commuters

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When we are out shooting on the streets, Martin and I would run into all types of people, often with the same purpose. Getting from A to B. Over the years, we saved up all of our favorites, and rewarded them with thier own chapter. Enjoy

The Northcoast GP of Cleveland

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Racing some UCI weekends in Ohio has been on my Cyclocross calendar for quite awhile. I am originally from Ohio so when I heard that this year there was going to be a UCI weekend in Cleveland with CincyCX the following weekend it seemed like a perfect match for visiting family and racing some UCI Cyclocross.  I purchased flights months ago. Plans were made, family was ready to carpool, I had a pit mechanic lined up and for the first time I had a pit bike. The perfect UCI weekend was ready to roll. My entire family and I would arrive in Cleveland Saturday morning where they would for the first time witness my pre race rituals and madness.

The Northcoast GP of Cleveland was located in Kirtland park which was almost a stones throw away from Lake Erie. The winds were mighty and the temps were hovering in the high 40s. I would spend my time not on my bike inside of the truck seeking shelter from the wind. My pit mechanic Paul drove up from Columbus to help out for the weekend. Everything was in order. I felt good about my pre ride, my bikes were in check, the course was hard but nothing I didn’t think I couldn’t handle. Thirty minutes until start. I changed out of my kit and pre ride shoes and into my skinsuit and clean shoes with toe spikes freshly put in the night before. I was ready.

I did a few practice starts and made my way over for call ups. I was bib number 9. Having UCI points I was slightly disappointed with not being on the front row with such a small field but I got over that quickly.  I made the decision to line up in the middle right behind Amanda Nauman. 1 minute until start. I took my jacket off and threw it to my mom. Thirty seconds. GO.

Everyone’s fitness level at the start and eagerness to be in the front of the race was equal. We all surged forward with everything we had and within seconds I realized I was stuck in the middle of a group that was incredibly close and where no one seemed to be letting off the gas anytime soon. I knew this was bad and within seconds a shove came from my left knocking me into the girl on my right. I hit the ground with my head facing north and my legs facing south. I would end up the complete opposite with my head facing south, my legs facing north and my bike somewhere off to the east. A million different things ran through my mind. If you follow me on social media at all then you know one of those things was that I was pretty sure I shit my pants from the impact of the racer behind me running me over. I would later realize it was just because I was on my period and the impact was so hard that it forced out an obscene amount of uterine lining. Sorry boys. As I was laying there not being able to move my lower half I was freaked out. I touched my lower back by my tailbone and it was numb. I couldn’t get up and all I could think about was how disappointing it had to be for my family who has never seen me race to witness my first ever DNF of my entire cyclocross career. I never even made it over the start/finish line and clearly my weekend of racing was over. Potentially even the rest of my 2016 season was over.

Eventually I would get up and painfully walk it off.  The next 24 hrs I would go through a wide range of emotions. I was angry and frustrated that my weekend of racing was taken away from me. The moment of pride from my family and the understanding of what I spend day in and day out training for was ripped away. At the end of a race is where the sportsmanship comes in. You congratulate your fellow racers for the hard work and you all share that moment where you are happy that the suffering for the day is over. I didn’t get to take part in that. I left without talking to anyone I was to compete with that day and I didn’t know any of them to begin with. I left the race Saturday feeling pretty dismal about the midwest cx racing scene.

The next day my mom would drive me the 60 miles to Cleveland to spectate the women’s UCI race that I wasn’t going to be participating in.  I had a friend competing from Portland I was excited to meet and didn’t want to miss out on that. In the process I would chat with Sydney, the woman who ran me over and a couple other women I lined up with day before. We wished each other good luck on our upcoming races and laughed about the previous day’s results and injuries. I finally got my post race chatter. I left Cleveland on Sunday feeling good about my experience and the people I met along the way. Shit happens in races but never underestimate that post race chatter. Those are your people out there on that course with you and if you can’t put your shit aside and congratulate each other and say good job, share a laugh, a smile and shake hands then mentally this game will be much harder than it needs to be.

Next weekend I will take on Devou Park for the Pan American Championships and Kingswood Park for KingsCX. I am eager to pass that start/finish line.

The most entertaining spectator in Cleveland.

Dropping in to a steep off camber sketchy descent. The only way to take it was SLOW.

A steep run up. One of many.

One of the pro only sections of the race

Words and photos by Chelsea Weidinger and family.

NACCC 2016 – NEW YORK CITY

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The dust has finally settled. Sleep somewhat caught up on and work life resuming its normal flow. Realization sinks in of how truly rad and well organized the New York City NACCC really was. The week had everything you could have wished for in a championship. I’m talking everything – bandit cx, track day, warehouse partys, bagels, bands, sprints, footdown, killer qualifier, weather, 4am bars, cheap coffee and an incredibly challenging main race. New York, being a reasonable place to venture to, attracted couriers from all over the North Americas and many contingencies from over seas. NACCC brings together people from all the stems of messenger work. Its truly something special to have all your favorite people from all over the world in one spot…all on vacation (mostly).  Though there were Alley Cats and side events daily, the main race took place on 10/9 (Messenger Appreciation Day) and 60 or so qualifiers tricked themselves into delivering fake packages for 3 hours in less than ideal conditions for no money at all in hopes of being deemed the fastest, quickest witted, most professional courier in North America. Work simulation races are like no other, It takes more than just bike handling and speed, it takes concentration and focus..well legs don’t hurt either. This year Christina Peck (SF), who has displayed these traits countless times in multiple cycling disciplines, took home all the gravy- spanking the competition placing First Woman and First overall. Nico (chi) presented next level “Perpetual Professionalism™” raced in a collard shirt completely buttoned, took home the Men’s championship title. Standing in line at checkpoints with these two- you would have never known how badly they were beating you. The industry is only growing and the individuals in the industry are only getting faster. Events like these are extremely important and well just a damn good time. See y’all in MKE! – Sean

The start of the main race – it had just stopped raining. it was go time.

A rider from NYC’s own Samurai Messenger – Being professional probably- at the pbma/redbull checkpoint

OG

Fuego, a messenger from Paris, properly using a v rare halfskie mail bin.

The manifest was double sided, and the jobs had no value printed. Racers had to use a rate sheet to determine if the job was worth their precious time.

“this is a funny looking cheesesteak” – me

Racer getting after it in the Cargo Race

Chas took home another top 10 and king of track this time around!

Unloading all the packages for the main race. Volunteers and participants alike helped restock packages from checkpoint to checkpoint to keep the jobs flowing.

THE CHAMPION

Words: Sean

Photos : John Daniel Reiss