As another year of gloom draws to a close for the British bike Industry, we catch up with Si Paton of the Malverns Classic and Dom Mason of Mason Cycles to hear their stories and takes on the “state of the nation” in terms of the bike industry. From racing mountain bikes fast downhill to organising some of Britain’s biggest and best MTB races, meet Si Paton, Race Director of the Malverns Classic.Geometry is synergy but few angles can be as misleading as effective and actual seat tube angles.
Let's fix that.The great British and indeed the entire global bike industry, has been splashing its way through seven muddy pools of hell in the past few years – and while many see a dry patch on the horizon, others see nothing but a twisty and gloomy ride through yet more muddy hell on their short-term horizons, which is understandable given what we’ve all lived through in the past few years horizons. Some have weathered and adapted to the rough ride better than others. The Malverns Classic recently announced an impressive and encouraging upscaling of what must be Britain’s oldest and boldest mountain bike event and festival. Is this glimmer of success on the current dreary and long ride of strife a beacon of sunny day hopes ahead? The bike industry is a multifaceted entity that stretches beyond the local bike shops and the huge corporate bike-making dominators. From the ball bearing polishers and rubber tappers to the various manufacturers and their employees to the retailers, the cycling media, the events, race teams, sponsored riders, and so on, it’s hit many with a brutally hard series of below-the-belt blows of late. We spoke to the man behind the thriving Malverns Classic, Si Paton, and the human behind the Mason Cycles badge – Dom Mason about their journeys through the past few years, to find out how they have remained relatively steadfast and clipped i