Wow This question carries me right back to 1974, when I chose my first Carlsbad gran critter over a Witcomb USA. At the time, the local bike shop carried both brands and actually had both in stock in my size. I had previously looked at many different makes, but when I decided to buy the Masi I can remember carefully comparing it to a beautiful periwinkle-blue Witcomb. Thirty-plus years later, its difficult to remember exactly why I chose the Masi. Perhaps I thought the lines were a bit cleaner. Or maybe it was the unique-and-stunning chromed twin-plate crown, with splashes of yellow accents & decals here and there. I do recall even then, there was considerably more buzz about Masis among the local racers.
But if I had to identify a single event that may have slanted my bias in favor of the Masi, it was probably the world championship road race in Montreal, summer 74. The spare-bike support trucks that followed the peloton up & down Mont Royal were all loaded with gran criteriums, in every imaginable size & color. I can recall being dumb-struck by the sheer beauty of them all! I think probably from that time onward I had Masis on the brain and in my eyes!
That race was also forever memorable to me as the only opportunity I ever had to see Eddy Merckx in action. It was incredible he waited until the race was about half over, hanging out at the front of the peloton. Then he made his move and the rest was history. He dropped the peloton and the early breakers as if they were standing still. The only other rider who could (desperately) hang on to his wheel was Poulidor. He & Eddy shared the workload until they reached the 300M-till-finish mark, at which point Eddy launched his sprint and left poor Raymond in his wake. On the winners podium Eddy looked as though he was ready to start another race he was a human locomotive with pistons for legs!
Steve Goodwin
Westford, MA
thteach@sonic.net wrote:One of the "what did you ride today" messages prompted a question whose response from the group members might be interesting.
That of Witcomb versus Masi.
Witcomb, heretofore a British marque, set up shop in Connecticut (correct me if this is incorrect) in the 1970's. They employed american artisans to craft the frames under tutelage and guidance from masters. The americans made fine frames. The business was commerically unsuccessful (what happened to the trademark holder). The artisans under Witcomb employ were able to leverage the experience to become revered American Framemakers and keepers of the flame.
Masi, heretofore a Italian marque, sets up shop in California in the 1970's. They employ american artisans to craft the frames under tutelage and guidance from masters. They americans made fine frames. The business was commerically unsuccessful leading to the sale of the trademark to american businessmen which continued to sell the brand on and off to this day. Artisans under Masi employ were able to leverage the experience to become revered American Framemakers and keepers of the flame.
Given this characterization it difficult to understand why the demand for a 70's era Masi appears to be significantly greater that that of 70's era Witcomb?
Is it that Masi can be linked to Faliero and Eddy Merckx? Does Witcomb have an equivalent character behind the brand? I should know that but I don't.
Todd Teachout (has a Masi but saw an American Witcomb first) Hercules, CA
_______________________________________________
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard.