Why I wonder , is just one
> maker selected to make the headlines when world wide there are hundreds
> of different models owned by enthusiasts which bring the joy and
> satisfaction equally to that of owning a Masi.
'cause the maker's pair of Masi's are particularly stunning- I got the opportunity of seeing them 'live' yesterday in his shop...
just joined the list, and against my general sense of anonymity in this world, I was instructed to put a short bio and list of bikes.
in the late '60's (high school), i did some work in a shop in newtown square PA (USA) called Mann cycles under the tutelage of Andre Myers (a fine mechanic). Richard Mann imported such notables as Cinelli, Ron Cooper, Geoffrey Butler, Holdsworth, Bob Jackson, Condor- some Italian,
mostly Brit, no French. A 'run over in the driveway' Dutch Gazelle 'tour de lavenir' + $60.00 for tubular rims/ spokes/ tires + a night with a campy frame straightening tool + assorted used parts made my first lightweight bike. after this, i worked at a production bike shop in the adjoining county for part time work. moving forward, i got back into riding a few years back with a Peugeot tourmelet, a fillet brazed bike with hle tubing from back in the '80s sometime. extensive modifications on this one and ride it fairly often. I also have a 1. '72 Frejus with drilled out chain rings owned previously by a racer in NYC sold to my brother. put the fenders back on and it is hanging up
in the living room. 2. a somewhere in the 80's lugged Bianchi pista frame with Miche fixed drive train on which I would like to put on a more aesthetically pleasing fork and track bars, built it from a frame buy on ebay- this is
my daily main ride in the fall/winter/spring when i am alone here in the
flats of central New Jersey. 3. couple year old Orbea Onix which i use on weekend group rides during the summer. 4. '72 Schwinn Paramount P 10 on which I built a set of clinchers on campy low flange so i could keep pristine the tubular high flange wheels. it is in great shape and a great ride. 5. some old frame with zeus dropouts that I will refinish and build in the style of a radonneur tourer with bags and such (just because they are cool). I believe it is an old Raleigh judging by the dropouts and three rivet holes for a plate on the head tube. 6. a Raleigh competition frame for which I have been collecting suntour superbe components for the build. these were after my mechanic time, I had always been a bit of a campy fan, but admire the quality of the superbe and want to try them.
I would love to own a Ron Cooper, Cinelli track, and a few others but little chance with my large frame size (25"). did I mention I would not
mind a Masi? and will be lucky to be able to look at the Richard Sach's that my wife just ordered in a few years (to tie this back to the beginning where I saw the 2 Masis). c ya, gabriel -- gabriel l romeu ± http://studiofurniture.com Ø http://journalphoto.org ± Central Jersey of the North American vintage