UTRECHT CONNECTIONS

We love the conversational process of selling our bikes, but we don’t always get to see the emotion and the real fruits of the labour as usually, the last we see of our bikes is often in the hands of a courier.

We maintain a really personal connection with each and every customer who emails us, we hear about why they want a Mason, how they got in to bikes, how they are saving up for one etc. 

It’s quite stressful at times; this person is about to spend a considerable sum of money on a bicycle. While some know exactly what size, colour, and build they want, others are a little less sure and we try to help them come to the best decision. Sizing is without doubt the most crucial of these decision processes, as it is SO important to the final experience and enjoyment of the bike. Even with the bike fit data sent over from the customer, the massively variable bike-fit market means that we often come to different conclusions to their fitters. 

What makes this process even more of a challenge is if the customer decides to fly over from the Netherlands, with the brilliant idea of riding it back home from Brighton - talk about getting stuck in. 

Jan-Willem is training for the 2016 Transcontinental Race, he’s training super hard and seems to have the right mental attitude - arguably more important than fitness for this race. He's also a truly planted and mellow dude. 

I’d exchanged the usual number of emails with Jan, during which time we advised that he went for a 50cm rather than the 52cm that he was fitted to. At this time we were totally unaware that he intended to ride the bike back from Brighton to Utrecht! As soon as we learnt his intentions we knew frame fit and also initial bike set up and adjustment were crucial.

On Friday 19th Jan arrived at Mason HQ, kit in hand and raring to go. We got the obligatory photos of him with his beautiful Resolution, and seeing his first ride it was a huge relief to see that the fit was perfect. The shutter black Resolution looked even more purposeful when loaded up with his TCR gear, mudguards...and Jan. 

We love how personal our business is, and we will always strive to keep it this way. It was a particularly stressful week, but it was definitely lifted when seeing Jan and his new Mason ride away.

It’s fantastic that our customers have such faith in our product, service, and that they are confident to make the first ride a serious, border-crossing adventure!

Jan is one of a number of Mason riders competing in the TCR this year, we wish him the very best wishes with his training, his Resolution, and for the TCR. We will be following him closely.

Stay in touch Jan-Willem!