I’m a cyclist. I commute by bicycle. I ride them for fun. I ride them to the store. Hell, I sold my car when I moved across the country and don’t even personally own a car myself anymore. I do however own several bikes.
You know what sucks about the internet? Sometimes sites shut down and die. For the past six years, I’ve been using the social(ish) bicycle website Pedal Room as my personal archive of bikes. I linked to it in multiple places on my about page. And now, right as I’m launching my brand-new site, Pedal Room shut down and died, and my all links are broken. Welp, guess I have to post my bikes here instead!
Cinelli Mash Work
This is my daily commuter, a single-speed Cinelli MASH Work bike. It’s by far my most comfortable, easy-to-ride bike. I’ve put several thousand miles on this baby. It was built from the ground up with basically the best componentry I could source (full specs on all bikes at the bottom).
I broke a rib crashing this bike, mostly because I was trying to take a picture while riding. Very stupid. The bike was fine other than a slight bend to the front rack.
Cinelli Mash OG
This is my track bike—the original MASH frameset from 2009—a lightweight brakeless fixed-gear that is HARD AF to ride. Look at that saddle to bar drop; so intense! 😳 This bike was fine on the flat streets of Dallas, but to be honest, it’s too damn difficult for me to ride up and down (especially down) the hills in Richmond.
I broke my collarbone crashing this bike and had to have 2 surgeries, mostly because I was trying not to hit a car who slammed on the brakes in front of me. I was going super fast (because that’s what this bike does) and crashed super fast, landing on my shoulder. Very stupid. The bike was fine because it flew into the air and landed on top of me.
My new bike: Mash AC-1 Gamma
You might have noticed I kinda have a thing for MASH; this is the third frameset I’ve bought from them. I got into MASH through one of my favorite designers, Benny Gold (who designed the MASH logo and the paint scheme on my gray 2009 Cinelli MASH below). MASH merged my love for cycling with my love for design.
This is the first Aluminum-Carbon frameset MASH created themselves, without the involvement of Cinelli. It’s a first-batch bike and they say there’s only 120 of these in the world. Unlike my gray 2009 Cinelli MASH above, this one can run front and rear brakes, so that’s how I had it built. The idea came from seeing a similar build by Blue Lug in Japan. Now I can ride fixed and actually stop quickly, which will come in handy with the 6 to 12% grades I ride down on my traffic-filled commute.
This bike was just built up yesterday by Balance Bicycle here in Richmond. They did a spectacular job with it, really nailing all the little details. I am super stoked about this bike.
Ciocc
This 80’s era Italian beauty was my daily driver for many years. Legendary Italian builder, time-honored Campagnolo components, classic Italian Columbus tubing, traditional stage racing bike geometry—this bike has it all. Well, except for low weight. Without any carbon fiber or aluminum, this steel bike is pretty hefty by modern standards at 22.5lbs.
I broke both wrists on this bike, mostly because I was trying not to hit a child on a scooter who jumped right out in front of me. I swerved to avoid the kid, popped the curb, and flew into the bushes. Not stupid because I didn’t hit the kid. Kinda stupid because I put my arms out in front of me as I hit the ground. The bike was fine because it landed in the bushes.
Other Bicycles…
I no longer have this Peugeot, a single speed conversion of an old 80s “ten speed” bike. I let my friend Rob borrow it and left it with him when I moved across the country. It was heavy, but was surprisingly comfortable.
I built this Italian Dodici Gara MMXI brakeless fixed-gear bike to be a cheap “bar bike” that I wouldn’t mind locking up places. It was cheap relative to most of my other bikes but still ended up costing too much to comfortably leave it unattended. 😓 I put less than 10 miles on it before moving across the country, but just like the gray Cinelli MASH, it didn’t have brakes so I had it disassembled and used some of the parts on my new MASH AC-1.
This Carrera Podium Hercules RC was my first serious (read: expensive) bike. With a carbon fork and carbon rear triangle, it was the pinnacle of lightweight technology in the early 2000s. It was in this era that the UCI implemented their 6.8kg (14.99lbs) minimum weight requirement, primarily due to bikes like this. The legendary Marco Pantani (RIP) rode this same frameset in his last professional race, the 2003 Giro.
I disassembled this bike years ago to build my Ciocc. Unfortunately, these Carrera frames were built to be stiff and light for a season of pro racing—not to last a lifetime. I still have this frame, but it’s retired.
This Surly Cross Check was the first bike I got as an adult. It weighed a ton but could take all the abuse you could throw at it. The bar-end shifters sucked, but otherwise, it was a solid bike. I sold it to help pay for the Carrera.
This Raleigh Macaframa frame was actually a client gift. I designed a Raleigh website and they offered to give me a bicycle; I chose this fixed-gear frameset because it was a collab with a San Francisco video crew (similar to MASH, in fact) with graphics by San Francisco artist Mike Giant. I’ve never built it, and don’t plan it. It’s just wall art in my office that reminds me of a past client project. 😊
Appendix: Specifications on all bicycles
Cinelli Mash Work:
Frame:
2017 Cinelli MASH Work Frame – Columbus Acciaio tubing
Fork/Headset:
Chris King
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Sugino Grand Mighty
Pedals:
Snafu
Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
White Industries Freewheel / Sugino Zen 46t Chainring / Izumi Super Toughness chain
Handlebars/Stem:
Nitto B267AA risers / Vans grips / Paul Boxcar stem / Cetma Cargo rack
Saddle/Seatpost:
Brooks Cambium C15 / Nitto S65
Brakes:
Paul minimoto brakes / Paul Cross Levers
Wheels/Hubs/Tires:
H plus Son TB14 / MASH x Phil Wood grey low flange hubs / Donnelly X’PLOR USH 35×700
Weight:
24.3lbs fully kitted out with pedals, lights, and cargo rack
Cinelli Mash OG
Frame:
2009 Cinelli MASH – Columbus Airplane tubing
Fork/Headset:
Cinelli Carbon Fork / Colombus Headset / MASH top cap
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Campagnolo Record Pista / Campagnolo Veloce BB
Pedals:
Time ROC ATAC
Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
Campagnolo 49t Chainring / EAI 19t Cog / Izumi Black Chain
Handlebars/Stem:
Easton Carbon drop bars / Cinelli MASH tape / Cinelli Mash 75º 110mm stem
Saddle/Seatpost:
Selle Italia Turbomatic / Campagnolo Chorus carbon seatpost
Brakes:
none
Wheels/Hubs/Tires:
H+Son Archetype hard-ano rims / Campagnolo Record Pista Hubs / Michelin Pro 4 Endurance 700x25c
Weight:
15.6lbs without pedals
Mash AC-1 Gamma
Frame:
2018 MASH AC-1 – Columbus Airplane tubing
Fork/Headset:
MASH Monocoque Carbon Fork / MASH Headset & top cap
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
SRAM Omnimum / SRAM GXP
Pedals:
Time ROC ATAC
Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
SRAM 48t Chainring / EAI 19t Cog / KMC Chain
Handlebars/Stem:
Easton Carbon drop bars / Whisky alloy stem
Saddle/Seatpost:
Brooks C13 Carbon saddle / Whisky carbon seatpost
Brakes:
SRAM S900 Carbon shifters / SRAM Force brakeset
Wheels/Hubs/Tires:
Mavic Ellipse / Hutchinson 28c
Weight:
18.5lbs fully kitted out with pedals and brakes
Ciocc
Frame:
1980s Ciocc frame – Columbus Aelle tubing with Campagnolo dropouts
Fork/Headset:
Ciocc pantographed steel fork / Campagnolo Record 1″ threaded headset
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed 172.5 crankset / Campagnolo Chorus bottom bracket
Pedals:
Campagnolo Chorus Pro-Fit Plus pedals
Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed cassette / Campagnolo Chorus chain
Derailleurs/Shifters:
Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed front & rear derailleurs / Campagnolo Chorus Alloy Carbon BB Ergopower 10 speed Levers
Handlebars/Stem:
Cinelli Giro D’Italia 64-42 26.0 / Cinelli 1A Classic 26.0 quill stem
Saddle/Seatpost:
Selle Italia Flite 1990 / Campagnolo Xenon 26.8 early 90’s seatpost / Campagnolo seatpost binder bolt
Brakes:
Campagnolo Chorus brakeset
Wheels/Hubs/Tires:
H Plus Son TB14 hard-ano rims / Campagnolo Chorus hubs 32h / Michelin PRO4 Service Course 25c tires
Weight:
22.5lbs fully kitted out with pedals
Peugeot
Frame:
Peugeot (unknown model or year)
Fork/Headset:
stock
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
stock (extra chainrings removed)
Handlebars/Stem:
Origin8 bullhorns
Saddle/Seatpost:
Origin8 saddle
Brakes:
Tektro
Front Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Origin8 hub on Weinmann DP18
Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Origin8 fixed/free hub and Shimano freewheel on Weinmann DP18
Weight:
Unknown, but quite heavy. Definitely over 20lbs
Dodici Gara
Frame:
2012 Dodici Gara MMXI – Dedacciai Fire tubing
Fork/Headset:
Dodici fork / Chris King headset
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Sugino RD Messenger
Pedals:
Odyssey BMX floral pedals / Fyxation straps
Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
Sugino Messenger 48t Chainring / EAI 19t cog / Izumi chain
Handlebars/Stem:
Salsa bars / Dimension stem
Saddle/Seatpost:
Charge Spoon saddle / unbranded seatpost
Wheels/Hubs/Tires:
Mavic Ellipse / Hutchinson 28c
Weight:
18.5lbs fully kitted out with pedals
Carrera Podium Hercules RC
Frame:
Carrera – Dedacciai U2 aluminum with rear carbon triangle
Fork/Headset:
Carrera carbon
Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Campagnolo Chorus 10-speed alloy 172.5 / Campagnolo Chorus bottom bracket
Pedals:
Campagnolo Chorus Pro-Fit Plus
Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
Campagnolo Chorus
Derailleurs/Shifters:
Campagnolo Chorus 10-speed alloy front & rear derailleurs / Campagnolo Chorus 10-speed alloy Ergo shifters
Handlebars/Stem:
Deda Magic aluminum bars & stem
Saddle/Seatpost:
Selle Italia Gel Prolink saddle / Carrera seatpost
Brakes:
Campagnolo Chorus alloy
Front Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Campagnolo Chorus alloy hub / Mavic CXP33 rim
Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Campagnolo Chorus alloy hub / Mavic CXP33 rim
Weight:
Unknown, but it was very light. Probably around 17lbs
Surly Cross Check
Stock build with Shimano Sora/Tiagra mix. I don’t remember the details, and didn’t have them stored on Pedal Room, but it was a stock build from the early 2000s. I never weighed it, but it was ridiculously heavy.
Raleigh Macaframa
2013 frameset; unbuilt. Used as wall art.
