I've now ridden long events on both my titanium Masons (thank you redundancy payment), the BokehTi and the Aspect, so it's probably time for a bit of a review. Much of what follows would apply equally to the aluminium Bokeh and the Definition.
Both bikes share the usual impeccable Mason build quality, with remarkably smooth welds and a subtle brushed finish. Both have the neat MultiPort inserts to adapt the frame to Di2, cabled gearing, or wireless. Both have rack eyes, mudguard eyes, and a chain peg. The Bokeh has a third set of bottle bosses under the down tube; these work well for carrying a tool keg or small bottle. Both bikes have Rivet Pearl saddles.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4fnjh65pwtsvziz/Bokeh.jpg?dl=0My BokehTiMy Bokeh is set up for touring and mixed-surface riding, running 700cx40 Schwalbe G-One Allround tubeless tyres with mudguards (the frame will also accept 650b wheels with even fatter tyres). I usually run the tyres at about 45 psi, which gives a plush ride but decent speed on road. The combination of fat tyres and low pressures worked brilliantly on rough Irish roads during the Celtic Knot 1000. The only drawback of this setup is that there is a small degree of toe overlap; this wouldn't be an issue without mudguards, with smaller tyres, or with 650b wheels, I think. I'm using a Hunt Superdura dynamo wheelset, which has worked well; tubeless setup was very straightforward.
The bike has a SRAM Force single-ring transmission with a 36-tooth AbsoluteBlack oval chainring and 11-speed 11-42 block and SRAM hydraulic discs. The block doesn't feel gappy since SRAM keep the gears relatively closely spaced at the top and middle of the range. Both transmission and brakes have been rock solid, and I've found the durability of chain, cassette, and pads to be pretty decent.
I usually use either a Barley saddlebag on a Carradice classic rack or an Arkel Rollpacker bikepacking bag, which has its own quick-release rack that fits to the saddle rails. Neither has any adverse effect on the way the bike handles. There's relatively little clearance for frame bags and big bottles given the chunky tubes and smallish size (54cm) of my frame.
The bike handles very sweetly both on road and on unsurfaced tracks, making for a very relaxed rider. You feel it will take whatever you care to throw at it. Despite this easy-going nature, it's capable of a decent turn of speed. A brilliant all-rounder.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ggmy86fbu9lvwpj/Aspect.jpg?dl=0My AspectMy Aspect has a somewhat racier setup: Hunt carbon wheels with 700cx30 G-One Speed tyres at 60-70 psi; SRAM Force eTAP AXS gears and hydraulic discs. As you'd expect, it's a quicker bike but shares with the Bokeh (and other Masons) viceless and confidence-inspiring handling. Basically, I feel happy to plummet rather than descend aboard either bike, even on unfamiliar roads. The Aspect feels noticeably more responsive than the Bokeh when you stomp on the pedals, but still rides smoothly and comfortably. It's a sexy-looking bike, with curvaceous forks and less chunky tubing than the Bokeh (which also creates more space for a frame bag, if that's your thing).
The Aspect has a 46-33 chainset and closely spaced 10-33 cassette. All gears are available for use except 33/10, which the software blocks. This means that you can spend most of your time in the big ring, even if your name isn't Mel Kirkland. Gear changes, front or back, are quick and accurate (though I did drop the chain on PBP once when a rider swerved in front of me, causing me to stop pedalling in mid-shift). The drivetrain is pretty quiet, though not quite as silent as a single-ring setup. Battery life seems excellent. Batteries are interchangeable between front and rear mech and, like the charger, very light and compact. I carried a spare battery on PBP and swapped the battery on the rear mech at 750km, just in case, though the original was still going strong. I recharged the spare from a power bank in my saddlebag. One point to note: The SRAM eTAP system turns itself on when it senses motion, so it's best to remove the batteries (a 10-second job) when the bike is on a train, in a car, or on a ferry.
The bike is a bit overgeared for my twiddly tastes, so in the medium term I'll look for a smaller chainset, ideally something like 40-28.
Like the Bokeh, the Aspect is untroubled by the kind of relatively lightweight touring loads I go in for. It's fitted with Widget mudguards, which have particularly neat stays, a round profile, and a semi-matt black finish. The bottom 20cm of each guard is reflective.
