In a message dated 5/9/02 9:43:30 AM, RaleighPro531@aol.com writes:
<< In a message dated 5/9/2002 9:18:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time, richardsachs@juno.com writes:
> regarding the thread about using versus 'collecting',
> ferrari and masi were the dropped names.
> as far as i know, the ferraris that you can buy
> are not for racing, they are for driving within the
> speed limit. and the masi bicycles that were
> race-ready in the 70s are useless in today's
> racing environment.
> what's wrong with racing on modern, more
> worthy stuff, and just appreciating the bicycles
> and parts that make up the history that brought
> us to this point in time?
>
A good point, but you could in fact buy a Ferrari and race it, as well as buy road going versions. Today the difference between race car and street car is wider, even in amateur events, if only in the more stringent safety requirements. Maybe the old Masi is not a good race bike in todays world, but it would still be a fun ride if ridden hard by someone with the legs for it would it not? (btw: that's ridden hard as opposed to abused) Just loafing along on a race bike is kind of boring? It's too bad the bicycle hobby isn't big enough to support vintage racing. Say as an example, 70's vintage frames with appropriate components, limits on gearing, allowances for wear items like tires would have to be made. Just a thought.
Pete Geurds Douglassville, PA >>
Hello,
Individuals and teams do race vintage motor cycles and autos on a regular circuit. I don't know about modern tire allowances and regulations but there must be some leeway here and there.
I must take exception to Sir Richard's weighty comments (I suppose they are his comments as I have skimmed the thread) that "and the Masi bicycles that were race-ready in the 70s are useless in today's racing environment."
My personal race bike in the mid 70's weighed 19.5 lb. (not even a laughable write-off today) compared to Indurain's 23.5 lb. TDF winning Pinarello built decades later with modern equipment. I often raced on 260 -290 gram rims and 195-220 gram tires ( I was a wee bit smaller in the old days). These are much better performing (not more durable) wheels than what is generally offered today for short course criteriums.
I think with proper training ( what you see before you son is a friction downtube shifter that operates like this; back and forth) and education an early Masi would be extremely competitive in actual competition against modern equipment.
Look at the speed records; on road events many still stand from even before the 70's, time trial events are a bit faster with the introduction of aero equipment but only slightly in many cases.
Clincher tires, index shifting, powerful brakes, clipless pedals and lighter machines are more convenience features than major improvements that effect performance. In the real world.
I seem to remember a Team riding old fogey steel bikes painted red doing better than just average at the cyclo cross nationals this past winter.
Regards,
Gilbert Anderson
Raleigh, NC USA