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to me mash is the closest thing to a skate brand cycling has, it genuinely has some good history/ cultural significance to it, and at one point, was somewhat countercultural in its aesthetic.
i just find it funny, like most skate brands, as they've grown they've not grown through being relevant to the culture that is now, they've grown by being a nostalgic reference to their userbase who now has a larger pool of disposable income, their pockets getting deeper etc, their style of riding changing.
the brand has the energy of the old guy at the premier, bops around, is chill, and everyone is whispering telling you what a big deal they once were. but alas all you can see is a 40 year old dude, wearing a brown baker tee and a long grey hoodie, crusty ass DCs taking half a filming day kickflipping a 5, meanwhile you have 30 up and comers dm'ing you on insta landing a tre down a 20 set to the sound of pop smoke
this is without touching on how they seem to have been absorbed into "bike marketing" at large and no longer hold a cool outsider perspective, again, like an aging skate-brand. them releasing/prototyping a gravel bike which looks straight out of 2015, dripped in SRAM product placement and chas looking like he's any random insta discover sponsored rider is strangely fitting for where they're at
Maj-
Interesting. I must be showing my age because I have no idea what most of your references are about.
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I know what you are going at for sure.
But don't forget they are still making track/fixed gear frames. If they want to expand much like skate brands with vintage shapes to capture that market then so be it. They kinda follow the same route no?
Like with skateboarding most brands they die off leaving the main ones and then new ones pop up to keep things fresh. Can't really do anything wrong as such if you want to keep people cycling/skateboarding.
Apart from making shit product/unethical product that is.
Cool is what you make it........I currently ride a Mash Bolt 2.0 so bought into the cool aspect for sure just to be clear.
I personally don't see myself bike-packing and that but when a brand's founders/riders/designers grow older the equipment/outlook change.
Personally I'd prefer if Mash was all about street riding and what not cause that was what I got hooked on.
But they changed a little bit, I didn't and thats all good in my perspective.
Keep things inclusive....that is my main thing...skating or cycling. -
I also don't understand the skate references, but I agree. I think they really lost their way after they broke up with Cinelli.
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i just find it funny, like most skate brands, as they've grown they've not grown through being relevant to the culture that is now, they've grown by being a nostalgic reference to their userbase who now has a larger pool of disposable income, their pockets getting deeper etc, their style of riding changing.
Good take on "mash in context of lfgss", less so of "mash in context of cycling & fixed gear". Internet is still brimming full of 20something fixie mash folk, just not...here.
hollow__legs
saibot
Fibreglass
yoshy
@PhilDAS Lol!
@maj Hmm, not really sure what you mean there? In terms of aesthetics or the bikes they offer?
I guess I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Mash; I’ve owned 2 different Mash track frames over the years and always thought they were fun if nothing else.
EDIT: Actually, I regret selling my Bolt so that was definitely more than just fun. Think I clocked near 7,000 miles on that thing.