Ladies and Gentlemen! P. T. Barnham here. What better time than on the Fourth of July is there to announce a piece of news that will indeed STUN the crowd! A BOMB of tremendous magnitude is about to be unleashed. Are you sitting down? You'd better; this one is a whopper!
Imagine if you will that for just this few moments that you are indeed one of the worlds' best framebuilders. Imagine that already at about age 30 you have built frames for some of the famous names in European racing. At your disposal is a "modern" small production factory in So. Cal. that stands at your beck and call if you were to choose to build a frame. Since you are from Italy you left your bicycle at home. One day you decide to "whip out" a frame for yourself so you've got something to ride while you hang around in the warm sunny weather of Carlsbad,CA. What sort of frame might such a person build for HIMSELF with the materials and facilities at hand? Has anyone ever wondered what Mario rode himself; and where such a bike(s) might be? I know that in the past 30 years I have easily built 20 frames, real personal frames, for myself. Doesn't do much for most of you since almost everything is under 52cm. But framebuilders always seem to build at least one for themselves. So where are Marios' bikes?
Wouldn't it be a kick in the pants if someone turned up such a frame, and could prove it positivly; and that this frame could make it's public debut in the "round circle comparision session" at Velo Rendezvous? How AWSOME would that be, folks? What would you pay to be there to witness first hand a freshly restored to original paint and decals frame such as this?
Well, old P.T. is going to serve it up big as life. Yessssirrr!
I will explain the origins of this frame before too long. I want to see the frame first and some paper evidence to be certain that the claim is verifyable without question. This document should have Marios' signature on it! The story on how the owner came upon it will be forthcomming; but for now let me just tell you what this frame is.
First of all; it's probably the first bike Mario made for himself after comming to the US. It may be the only; but most certainly one of VERY few frames Mario built for his own use. It was originally decaled with Masi decals. It currently has Masi decals. It is a road bike but he built the fork using the 24mm round track blades and crown. Custom! I can hardley wait to see what it looks like! I wonder what kinds of numbers or whatever are stamped on it. I'll measure it and we'll know what sort of thing Mario liked for himself. How special is that? It was originally the "signature" Mario white frame with yellow head tube panel. It will be restored to its original state for showing.
You'd have to be a baboons' second cousin to miss this party! We're all going to be standing around gwaking at this Holy Grail along with a pile of others, and be able to compare all the great names face to face, side by side. Short of Eric Clapton showing up on his Cinelli or whatever, it just ain't going to get any better than this! This "framebuilders ROAST" will take place on the lawn of the showgrounds on Sunday.
Make plans to attend. The "Lost and Dying Art of Framebuilding" will be presented on Fri. Stay tuned to Chuck for the details of that portion of the program. The symposium will feature a talk centered around the topic of "Replica vs. Counterfeit"; primarily as related to frames. Have an example or a question; have it ready. Other topics to be announced.
That's it folks. A first hand look at Marios' own personal frame. Worth the price of admission already, don't you think? I know I'll be there.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
So who gets to clean up after the elephants?