or... " Have you had your Masi today?"
Title: Home of the Hour Subject: Anqutil's Record Bike Date: November 7, 1964 Where: Cycling (aka the 'Comic') By: Roger St. Pierre (St. Peter, if you can't read french)
Acknowledged as the world's master time trialist, although Ferdinand Bracke is challenging for his crown, and one of the fastest pursuiters in the game, Jacques Anquetil is notably meticulous in his preperation both in physical and mental terms, and this extends to his mechanical preparations.
The French champion believes in riding the lightest possible machine, and it is interesting to examine the machine on which he broke the hour record in 1956 and which he still uses for pursuiting.
This amazing machine was constructed for the Norman in 24 hours after his abortive series of attempts. He had sciatic pains and was told by a Masi mechanic that these were do to his frame having too long a wheelbase.
"Try Coppi's frame," he was told, "it will fit much better."
Jacques found it was true.
"We will make another within 24 hours," he was told, and two days later he went on to break Coppi's record, which had stood for 14 years, on a machine in all essentials identical with that of the Italian master.
I recently had a chance to visit the works where this magnificent machine was made.
Underneath the stands of the Vigorelli track, Milan's renowned "temple of records," works ageing Faliero Masi.
Surrounded by autographed pictures of the stars of today and yesterday, the diminutive mechanic builds frames and assembles complete machines for many of the world's leading professionals, although they rarely bare his transfers. From Coppi to Van Looy, all have ridden his masterpieces.
While I was there he was assembling two machines for the Spaniard Vincente Uriona. One of these was a five-geared t.t. mount with holes drilled in the chaiwheel teeth, the gear levers and the fork ends. The frames had the sponsor's name beautifully hand-painted---"Gruppo Deportivo Kas," a fruit-juice firm.
With loving care, Faliero was mounting a pair of Clement silks.
In the corner stood two unfinished frames, destined for Edgar Sorgeloos and his "master," Rik Van Looy. But Faliero's proudest piece of work was depicted in a full-size photo adorning one of the walls of the workshop--that used by the since crippled Roger Riviere when smashing the hour record in 1958 with the fantastic distance of 29 miles 739 yards.
It is fitting that the last four bikes to take the hour record were all made just 20 yards from the magic boards of the Vigorelli.
Note: the article had drawings and descriptions that i cannot add to the email because i don't know how to coppi pictures on to email. e-RICHIE