Pre warning: I’m about to spend a lot of words getting all soppy, nostaligic and excited about this bike. Feel free to skip straight to the pictures of how damn radical it is.

This was one of the first batch of Cinelli Mash Parallax frames to arrive in the UK way back in 2014. Despite hating the paint job I loved the shape and angles of this frame and knew I had to get my hands on one.  I was working Saturdays in Bristol Dropouts at the time, and got a trade price deal on the frame as payment for quite a few days work. The day the frame arrived I took it home, bought a few cans of paint, and Gave Gabe a beer and a frozen pizza in exchange for spraying a wicked sunset fade over it. I later drew the logos back on with a sharpie. At the time I’d not have expected to be riding it 9 years later. or for the paint to be holding up so well.

It’s been my shreddy partner though some seriously good times, and riding it I’ve won hill climbs, alleycats, and a brakeless Hacksaws Challenge which sends shivers up my spine just thinking about it. It’s raced a Red Hook Crit, been bikepacking, ridden centries, most of a Festive 500, and gotten me home from the pub alive more times than I care to remember. Once upon a time not long after building it I bailed on a Tinder date because I didn’t want to leave the bike locked up when she invited me in. I’ve clocked 43mph on it, using a 66″ gear. Thats 220rpm. I’m lucky to have knees.  

The build has changed a bit over the years, and I actually built it a new set of wheels last year after getting some hubs from Harmony Composites in Ukraine. The Sugino 75’s and Hatta NJS bottom bracket I have been using for 10 years.

These pictures I took recently, scroll down a little further for a selection of radness from the archives.

Frame: Cinelli Mash Parallax 54cm 2016

Cranks: Sugino 75 165mm NJS / Salsa 48t Chainring

Sprocket: Euro Asia Imports 19t

Bottom Bracket: Hatta NJS – Totally unsealed, 10 years old, serviced 4 times, still feels SMOOTH.

Chain: KMC 510 HX – The only chain i’ll run brakeless.

Pedals: MKS Track / MKS double toe clips / Exustar Dual Ply Leather straps

Wheels: Harmony Composites Hubs 24/28h / DT Swiss D-Light spokes / DT Swiss RR481 Disc rims

Tyres: Whatever I’ve got laying around to skid to death. Currently some sexy tan walls.

Stem: PRO Puzzle clamp, only two bolts to switch from risers to drop bars.

Bars: ENVE DH chopped down and sprayed black / Some random Specialized 38cm drops

Seatpost: Ritchey WCS

Saddle: Selle Italia SLR XP