CORONA VIRUS UPDATE | APRIL 2021

Mason Cycles is operating strictly within the continuing Gov. Regulations enforced regarding the Corona Virus Pandemic. Our business model has allowed us to navigate the challenges of Brexit and the Pandemic well so far.

At the date of writing [April 1st 2021], there continue to be falling infection rates across the UK.

Test Rides: We are very happy to be restarting our test rides from March 29th. We will clean down all contact points between rides and will keep a 2m distance where possible and wear masks when it is not practical to maintain this distance.

If you have already contacted us regarding a test ride, we very much look forward to welcoming you to Mason Barn, we've missed you! 

Please enquire through our contact page HERE if you would like to demo a Mason after March 29th, we are quite booked up, but we'll have more availability from the end of April. It's certainly worth getting booked in so we can schedule your ride on our country lanes/riverside gravel test-loop!

Shipping and Mailout: We are experiencing some International shipping delays caused the Pandemic conditions. Extra checks and paperwork seem to be slowing cross-border frieght as various customs authorities get up to speed with new systems.

We will always do our very best to keep you informed of your delivery and any forseeable delays, but these can often be hard to predict and out of our control.

Please contact our team directly and we will assist where possible.

Brexit/VAT/Duties: We are very thankful for the trade agreement which allows us to export our largely European made bicycles to the EU with 0% duty rates, some countries are slow on the uptake with all regulations but we have had various 'test cases' that have allowed us to check our systems and so far all our European customers are enjoying 0% Mason bicycles. 

Please see here for our more detailed information about purchasing from the EU.

As things progress, we will continue to update on 'Rules of Origin' which will determine how duties are paid.

Response times & our online store:

We are extremely grateful for very healthy enquiries and sales from Europe and all over the world. We are in the process of reviewing our working practices for safe operation within Tier 5 regulations and are lucky to be able to operate fully 'safely-distanced', due to the layout of our buildings.

Our store is operating as normal and our customer service, social media and email channels all remain open and manned and our aim is to get back to you with advice and support as efficiently and fully as normal.

We are a small team and are responding as fast as possible to enquires and building bikes to full capacity! There will be some delay as we catch up with the Christmas period backlog and because of the imposed restrictions, so please contact us directly if you would like an update on your order.

Stock & Production: We continue to hold stock of frames and components, with many models/sizes/colours available. We are now being re-supplied from Italy in small batches, most months. Most of our frame production is running to schedule but in a sobering reminder that the pandemic is still extremely serious, just this month we sadly lost one of our Italian welding team to the virus.

We are able to build and deliver bicycles, prep and deliver framesets and send out small parts. Lead-times are slightly increased due to our working and delivery conditions. We can take pre-orders and will be dispatching orders at least one day per week and using the postal service for small parts where possible.

Component Supply: There is currently a high demand for components in the bicycle industry and supply chains are stretched. Many of our suppliers have recently updated us with very long lead times for delivery. We do hold stock of components, tyres, groupsets etc here in the UK but we may need to contact you to discuss alternative components if supply will significantly delay your build.

For an update on your order, please contact us.

Italy: All our frame makers are in Northern Italy, they worked extremely hard to get stock to us before lockdown was enforced and all of them have now been allowed to return to work. The Italian tubing makers and painters are also now operating. We are still experiencing delay due to the makers getting back up to speed and dealing with backlogs and increased demand + material delays, so please contact us for full details regarding your order or for advice on particular products and we will do our best to give you an accurate update.

Titanium frame production: New Orders: Our Ti frame makers are now operating fully and we are continuing to take new pre-orders, but we are experiencing extended production times. Lead times have increased because the makers are small and are experiencing a big increase in demand, at the same time tubing and materials are very often delayed in delivery to the maker. We will be in touch with all pre-order customers to explain the situation and give an expected delivery date but please contact us at any time if you require information on your pre-order. 

Thank You for your continued support during these challenging times. Keep Riding. Stay Safe.

 

Dom and all at Mason Cycles.