Mason Definition Ultegra Hydro

The Mason Definition2 is simply a superb machine, crafted with attention-to-detail to give a ride sensation that almost defies logic. It's lively yet relaxed, delicate yet you'd take it anywhere, and is just really fun to ride. I'd never get bored of it, and it puts any other alloy bike I've ridden firmly in the shade.

• Pros: Comfort, spec, acceleration, cornering, looks, clever design, versatility
• Cons: The (justifiable) price means it's probably out of reach for many

There's a bit of a story behind how I got hold of this test bike. It was collected by my road.cc colleague Stu Kerton from Mason's HQ in Brighton, and he subsequently rode it the 130 miles back home to Wiltshire.

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Stu's review of the first Definition was highly positive; he liked it so much he actually bought one. In fact, we decided that the Definition2 needed a different opinion this time around, to ensure Stu's Mason love affair wasn't just a personal thing.

I was keen not just to see what had changed, but to find out for myself what made a former engineer who has tested hundreds of bikes get so giddy about a £3,000 aluminium offering that weighs nearly 9kg.

Mk2

To the casual observer it might look like nothing has changed that much, but the Definition2 has seen some subtle alterations that bring it up to date with the latest and most popular disc brake standards, namely the flat-mount and thru-axle formation. This meant a change to the rear dropouts, which Mason worked hard to design itself with its Italian frame makers – rather than stick on a part from a third-party that might not work with the chainstay design.

Mason had thought ahead on this and knew it would happen eventually when bringing out the first bike, but didn't want to rush ahead before it had come up with the right solution. The result is a custom part that no one else is using, and the Definition2 is a little stiffer at the rear with the thru-axles, according to Mason.

Mason has also moved the multiport for the rear brake hose from the top to the inside of the chainstay, because the previous placing could potentially lead to water ingress – again a small change, but every little helps. 

All Definitions now come with the Aperture2 thru-axle carbon fork with the clever F-Stop Axle system (specced on the later batch of first Definition bikes) and 30mm Schwalbe G-One tyres now come as standard instead of 28mm Continental 4 Seasons, because that's what most people wanted anyway, says Mason.

You get a set of 1,535g Mason x Hunt tubeless-ready wheels, Shimano Ice Tech 140mm disc rotors and Deda finishing kit, and my test bike came with a full Shimano Ultegra R8020 groupset with compact chainrings.

A new Element Grey colourway is offered in addition to Shutter Black and the Lens Blue on my test bike.

Frameset

The Dedacciai tubes are hand-selected by Mason, and then sent to independent frame makers in Italy to be built. Mason and its makers maintain a close working relationship, so new designs and innovations are always a two-way thing. The frameset has mudguard mounts as standard, and my test bike weighed 8.79kg.

To look at it's beautifully finished, with very smooth welds and a vivid paint job that gleams in the sun. I really like the branding on the fork, which adds some colour to an area that's usually quite plain, while the rest of the frame is pretty understated. I'm afraid our photos really don't do justice to the finish, though – my fault for riding the bike before Oli took the photos; I cleaned it but didn't polish it, hence all the smears.

The frame geometry is the same as the first Definition, and in terms of the tube shapes they're unchanged except for a more ovalised down tube – as opposed to round – for better stability. Mason did toy with the idea of altering the geometry to be a bit more aggressive, because a lot of its Definition customers were using it predominantly for club rides, but decided against rather than risk changing the ride feel and all-day comfort it's renowned for.

The Definition2 comes with a 71.5-degree head angle, a 15.5cm head tube and long 42cm chainstays on my 54cm frame. The effective top tube is 55.1cm, the seat angle 73 degrees (similar to a race bike), and 38.3cm of reach is plentiful, so you can get into a racy position on the drops if need be.

All in all it's on the sharper side of an endurance bike, but not a race geometry. The bike looks quite square, upright and relaxed, though it rides anything but – as I was about to find out.

The ride

Most of my test riding was done on rough, muddy cycle path, with occasional scrambles on gravelly roads and also plenty of dedicated training rides on tarmac thrown in – easily over 1,000 miles all in all.

After initially hopping on, I could feel that it was pretty upright and tall at the front, and those 30mm tyres felt like pillows compared with the 25s I usually ride. I wondered if it would just feel a bit too relaxed and ploddy for me, but the opposite was true.

The acceleration and power transfer you can generate through the Definition2 is almost other-worldly, and although I knew of the bike's lofty recommendations it still took me by surprise. It's easily comparable or even better than a lot of the carbon frames I've ridden in terms of power transfer; you really feel that none of your effort is wasted and everything just works in unison.

Bikes with more relaxed head angles can often leave me feeling a bit uninspired, but this is absolutely not the case here – it's properly exciting to ride, and just made me want to go fast.

The BSA threaded bottom bracket and large area around it adds stability and control, and it's a joy to ride uphill, with no creaks or squeaks. Mason says the larger down tube also adds to the stability you feel.

I'm not really sure why or how because I didn't make it, but I'm sure the fork really makes a lot of difference to the ride in terms of handling and control. It feels really nippy and springy, yet when you brake it feels incredibly firm and controllable.

Although I wouldn't dare leave it locked up anywhere even in plain sight, it's also perfect for riding through town because of the acceleration you can achieve and the stability. I actually started to enjoy the last bit of my ride home through Bristol city centre on the Definition, and I don't say that lightly.

I made sure to test out the stiffness of the frame and comfort offered from the front end through the many potholes that my local council are kind enough to not bother covering up, and the Definition2 passed with aplomb. No buzz or vibrations that I dread with cheaper aluminium frames, it glides over with ease. The wider tyres and plush Deda RHM 02 handlebar with the comfy new Ultegra brake hoods would have undoubtedly contributed to this, but as a whole package you get a seriously smooth ride.

Descending and cornering were equally as impressive, and the Definition has a great ability to hold its line.

Brakes & bits

Braking through Shimano's Ice Tech rotors is awesome considering their diminutive size: precise, quiet and responsive. Mason will supply you with 160mm rotors if you really feel the need for something meatier, but I'm pushing 12 stone and had more than enough stopping power on the road.

For '4Season' purposes, I think the Mason x Hunt wheelset provided is perfect – it's tubeless-ready, pretty light at 1,535g, and the freehub even makes a sexy noise. The spokes also have brass nipples with hex heads so you can get precise tensioning, should you hammer them too much. That said, I've ridden them pretty ragged over the test period and they're still running true, so I've no doubt they will last you.

Fabric supplies the bar tape and its Scoop Shallow Pro Carbon saddle. The saddle won't be to everyone's liking – those who like a wider groove or more padding might want to swap it out for something more plush – but I'd have thought for the majority of cyclists it will be comfortable for long rides.

Ultegra groupset

I'm a big fan of the new mechanical Ultegra, as are all of us who have tried it so far at road.cc Towers (full review of the groupset coming soon). The shifting is clean and crisp, and the front mech is particularly rapid, which comes in handy for roads that ascend sharply.

I also love the brake hoods; my hands never felt uncomfortable even on 80-milers.

You're getting the full groupset included here with no cheaper components mixed in. My test bike had compact chainrings and an 11-28 cassette which was welcomed for climbing, but Mason can spec other sizes and ratios on request.

A very minor cosmetic moan – I reckon the old Ultegra crank would look better on this bike. The fat one here doesn't match the neat slim tubes of the frame in my opinion, and I think it looks better on an aero bike.

The fact that this is my only criticism of new Ultegra tells you all you need to know about my feelings on it. Unless you've unlimited funds or ride for a pro team, there seems little need to spec Dura-Ace level components for the rest of us now Ultegra is so good. And it's versatile – you can get up to an 11-34 cassette on the back if required.

Other options

You can get the Definition2 with Shimano 105 for less, but unless you agree with me fervently about the crank aesthetics, I reckon the Definition deserves at least an Ultegra-level spec. If you're a SRAM fan you can also get it with Rival 1x (£2,795), Force 1x (£3,130) or wireless eTap (£4.995). A shade under £4,000 gets you the Di2 version of Shimano Ultegra.

There's no denying £2,930 is a big spend, so what's out there in terms of competition? To be honest, it's hard to find anything completely comparable – premium aluminium usually means a race bike, such as Cannondale's CAAD 12 (£2,199 with an Ultegra disc spec), but that's a completely different beast, without the tyre clearance or more relaxed feel.

> Buyer's Guide: 13 of the best aluminium road bikes

Looking at alternative metal frame materials, a titanium Kinesis Tripster ATR V2 with similar do-it-all properties comes in at £1,850 for the frameset. A steel Fairlight Strael 2.0 (review coming soon) is £2,600, and with a lower claimed weight and similar attention to detail with build, tyre clearance and flat-mount standards, this could be one bike that challenges the Definition's all-season prowess.

Conclusion

Overall, I feel the Definition2 is a real triumph and represents the pinnacle of what can be done to date with an aluminium frame. A massively responsive ride, the latest disc brake standards accommodated successfully, and plenty of tyre clearance with no discernible disadvantage other than some weight penalty and, of course, a price premium. But I think you are really getting the best of everything with the Definition2, therefore the outlay goes much further.

With regard to the unchanged geometry: could Mason have been braver, perhaps even offering a more race-orientated Definition2 as well? Practically, that wouldn't have been ideal for a smaller brand, and with such positive feedback for the first, why risk changing it? That was the conclusion Mason came to, and from my experience of riding the bike well over 1,000 miles, I'm glad. It wouldn't feel like a Definition if the comfort, and potentially the smooth running of the new rear thru-axle system was compromised for the sake of very marginal speed gains, so I'll assume Mason knew not to try to fix something that ain't broke.

If I could have one very good multi-purpose bike for commutes, occasional forays on gravel/mixed terrain and training rides, this would be it at the time of writing. N+1 advocates might not agree, but I'd swap my winter bike and five-year-old carbon racer for a Definition2 in a heartbeat given the choice. Any ounce of snobbery I once had about aluminium frames has been well and truly cast aside after a memorable two months with it.

Second opinion

I asked Stu what he thought of the Definition2 on his ride back from Brighton to the West Country (after I'd written this, so as not to influence my opinion). Here's what he had to say:

"From the second I started to pedal away from Mason HQ on the Definition2 it was like being reacquainted with an old friend, and I was definitely glad Mason had decided not to fettle with the geometry and the rear triangle. It still retains that same liveliness and responsiveness of a race bike with the comfort and stability of something more endurance-based.

"One noticeable difference while carving through the descents of the South Downs was the Aperture2 fork. Being thru-axle compatible, there is a firmer feel at the bottom end of the fork legs under really heavy braking compared to that of the quick release original. A minimal but beneficial upgrade."

Verdict

A fantastically speedy and versatile do-everything bike that's an absolute joy to ride, whatever the weather