Review: Mason Macro frameset
Macro is the 10th bike in the Mason range, launched on the UK brand’s 10th birthday. I completed the £1,500 handmade Italian frame with my own eclectic mix of gravel and MTB components; complete Shimano or SRAM bike builds are available from £3,000.
Frame and fork
The frame looks striking. There are five layers of coating on each Mason frame, including the internal and external corrosion proofing, and the finish is flawless. The Macro shares a lot of the features from Mason’s steel ISO adventure bike, with mounting points for water bottles, bags, mudguard and racks on the frame.
Mason’s HotShoe2 fork adds many more, including one for the custom 2kg-capacity Shutter front mudguard or the optional steel Condenser rack. Rear brake and gear lines can be routed through the Deda headset for minimal bar bag interference or run into the frame flanks.
‘Multiport’ screw-in inserts guide the lines or hide the holes depending on your choice, and fork and frame have routing for dynamo cables. UDH dropouts mean it’s compatible with the latest SRAM derailleurs and make finding a spare hanger easy.
The ride
What the Macro really makes easy is forward progress. The custom Dedacciai alloy frame weighs 1,980g (size large) and the fork 702g, including bolts and SwitchLever axles. That’s significantly lighter than comparable steel frames – including the ISO – and most titanium frames too.
With XC mountain bike tyres at 20psi, the ride quality is close to what titanium frames promise but relatively few deliver. The carbon fork and curved, unbridged rear stays deliver a bright and buoyant ride that skims across rough sections and makes it easier to attack climbs.
While it’s primarily designed around a more upright flat-bar position, my build with wide but shallow drops felt planted but still fun when unloaded.
The HotShoe2 fork is more forgiving than the first version but big potholes and bouldery tracks can still be jarring. However, you can use the Macro with a 100-120mm suspension fork for maximum control.
Verdict
Aluminium has a reputation for harshness compared to steel but the Mason Macro is a joy on trails that would knock the fun out of a gravel bike. With comprehensive fixtures and even bar and fork versatility, the frame is a fantastic blank canvas for off-road riding.
First published in Cycle magazine, June/July 2025 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.
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Tech spec
Mason Macro frameset
Price: £1,500.
Sizes: S, M, L (tested) XL.
Weight: Frame including fixtures and axles 1,980g (complete bike 9.98kg).
Frame & fork: Mason X Dedacciai custom-formed and shaped aluminium frame, Mason HotShoe2 carbon fork. Three frame bottle mounts, top tube gear mount, front and rear rack and mudguard mounts, 3−bolt fork crown rack/mudguard mount, UDH dropouts, post mount brakes, internal brake, gear and dynamo wire routing.
Available from: Mason Cycles.
