WALTON’S CUSTOM CALIFORNIA STATE CYCLOCROSS CHAMPION CINELLI ZYDECO

2T1A2297In the Golden State–California–sunsets are seldom drab and uninspiring. The color-palette rendered as the sun slips below the edge of the Pacific is the concept behind Walton’s hand-painted, California State Cyclocross Champion race rig. Sandwiched between walls of ink-black night sky lies the last sliver of daylight: the bike’s gold leafed front-end fades through orange to vermillion, then into violet, and finally, fuchsia… You’d almost believe this photo was shot last July, instead of during the calm before the ‘Storm of the Decade / Century / Millennium’ now upon us. Thank you, Walton! Alongside our sunsets, you are most golden. 

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B.A.S.P.S. #6 2014

2T1A1648Coyote Point brings the Bay Area Super Prestige Series to a close for 2014, just as the Bay Area weather is starting to look like cyclocross season. This course is popular among the racers, with some climbing/descending in the woods, technical gravel and sand pits, and few long straights on the beach—all made faster by recent rains. 2T1A1688This group of images includes a few route marker details. I have always liked what these strips of plastic look like in a natural environment. In addition, the simplicity of what a CX course needs to make for a fun race is very spartan and resourceful. I feel like a roll of course tape simply reminds me of good times.

2T1A1621Chelsea locked-on in the Elite Women’s As.2T1A1625Some fans tried to dress up the mid-climb with some Braaap, but the fire was quickly extinguished by the organizers.2T1A1615Kathleen is a new mother and a really fast racer. She is back smashing and getting incredible results.2T1A1631Coyote Point Park is on the bay, so the earth has a high sand content. Even with plenty of rain, some sections reminded racers we’re on the coast.2T1A16582T1A1978Wood mulch made this straightforward-seeming climb a little slippy. With steady power it was an opportunity to make a last pass before turning toward the descent.2T1A1836Oxalis sprouts up everywhere after a good rain.2T1A1928Derek using his natural moto to transition from a descent, into a hard right.2T1A18822T1A2012Rainier put in a strong effort in the Elite Men’s As, holding a top 3 spot for half of the race before giving up a few places in the end.2T1A16942T1A2036Chas has had a shortened CX season, interrupted by several international adventures. When he is in town, he is racing, and he was happy with a top 10 finish on this day.2T1A1802The view from the top of the park looked over a washed-out bay, making for a nice level of contrast from the racers’ point of view.2T1A1950Concentration turns into shaved seconds. One lapse, and they’re given back.2T1A1790Tire options.2T1A2073Chas on the beach.2T1A16892T1A1669Jeff had a chance to jump on the sketchy pile of wood while warming up for the Men’s Bs. Send it!2T1A1781Eucalyptus trees were heavily planted in the Bay Area as the advent of trains created a need for timber to create the cross beams of tracks. The tree generated a twisted railroad tie, so in turn this non-native tree is now overgrown in many parks to this day.2T1A18222T1A19192T1A17572T1A2108Chelsea yelling at the guys to wrap it up. Fun day all around.2T1A2081Derek using the straightaway to get a last drink before the bell lap.2T1A1610Thanks again to the organizers of this series, as well as the promoters to the North and South for keeping Cyclocross fun in the Bay Area. Let’s hope we can bring a race back to the Presidio or Golden Gate Park for 2015. Sponsors: Please help return CX racing to the city of San Francisco in the new year!

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RED HOOK MILANO 2014

2T1A8220   With the 2014 Red Hook Criterium season behind us, we wanted to share some details from the Milano stop. As a shop and team, our goal has always been to help our friends race bikes and see how far they can take it. For 2015, three members out of our five-racer Crit team are signed with professional road teams. Walton, Kyle, and Evan will all race pro next year. We do not know what the future of MASH at Red Hook events will bring, but we are completely happy about seeing our friends go from riding on the street, to racing alleycats, to racing road, cyclocross, fixed crits, and ultimately taking it to the next level as professional athletes. SO STOKED FOR THESE GUYS!

As we look back at the Milano photos, they mean a little more to me now. This group of friends would be riding together, on or off a team, so to put them on a plane and go to the other side of the planet for a few days is all the more special. Chas has inspired these guys on the street for years. Rainier was the first of the group to make it as a Category 1 road racer. This is the fuel that pushes each other to take risks and make progress toward personal goals. Enclosed are some details from the Red Hook Milano earlier this month and some behind the scenes notes from the trip. 2T1A8251 2T1A8389 2T1A8305Rainier warming up before qualifiers. Traveling internationally for these events makes it impossible to have many of the amenities that help a racer prepare. We are thankful to San Marco for the use of their tent and Cinelli for a few sets of rollers. We always scrap something together, so thanks for this support.2T1A8229This was the first race that we could celebrate Kyle and Evan racing on the same team at a Red Hook event. The Cinelli family was excited about this bond as well.2T1A8374 2T1A8296Evan and Kyle work with Tom Sachs. Get your wheel, or seat stolen once and you create a system that helps you in future situations. Serial numbering everything.2T1A8260Pinning2T1A8418Chas qualifying in the team CX skin suit. Was awesome to see this suit on the road.2T1A8589As a testament to these races getting faster each year, the course lap time was three seconds faster than the same course raced in 2013.2T1A8424Chas did not race in Barcelona, so was required to qualify with group 2. This ended up working in his favor, setting a strong start for the main men’s race.2T1A8834Garrett understands MASH completely and for this reason he helps the team feel pro on the bike. The 2015 Cinelli Parallax with the theme throughout the Castelli Skinsuit and Giro Synthe helmets. Feel fast=go fast.2T1A85682T1A83822T1A87882T1A85912T1A88072T1A86432T1A88132T1A88162T1A89942T1A88992T1A8971Dave leading the neutral lap.2T1A8964The crowd at this race was one of the largest so far. It made it difficult to get to vantage points for shooting, but that was made up by the excitement of the masses.2T1A90022T1A90262T1A93322T1A89592T1A93572T1A93912T1A94362T1A94602T1A95542T1A9515

RHC BCN BY VOLATA

Volata Magazine was out at the Red Hook Criterium Barcelona earlier this year, and posted a video from their POV.

I see Kyle on the podium at the end of this edit.

TOP CAP ART

heart1There are only a few small items we live with on the bike. Top Caps hold our attention due to their central location to a riders line of site. For this reason, we like making what we think are some small motivating art pieces. We just added three new ones to the shop, including the donuts that made so many riders happy the first time around. They all include a star-nut, and bolt, for six dollars. Get one for a friend!2T1A5847_grandepenta1

 

NEW IN THE SHOP

CCC ProofSan Francisco summer is September and October. if you come visit, we recommend these months to plan your trip. As we are ramping into our fall season, we wanted to bring in some new shirts, and sweatshirts into the shop. Today we added six new styles pictured here, including a new collaboration with Cinelli. You can pick up these items in the shop early next week, or on our site today. CHECK HERE for more information.

MASH1Cinelli produced our shared head badge shirt to celebrate our 2015 Parallax and Histogram frames in dark colors. Benny Gold took a modern take on this classic Cinelli Heraldry.

Sharpie ProofMatt Shapiro is OK at drawing. He sharpie’d us this shield for us, and we liked it enough to re-print it on a clean white shirt.

Wordmark Crew ProofThis crew neck is printed with dark reflective ink on the front and back.

Mash Giants ProofToday’s game against St. Louis could bring the San Francisco Giants back to the World Series (I think they mean US Series) To celebrate our home town, we like this take on our classic shield.

Ferris ProofOur friend Ferris Plock took our winged logo, and dressed it up for halloween. We like things evil, and sometimes we like things funny. We made a really small run of this one, so hurry.