RE: [CR] Fantastic '81 Baylis - you've got to see this one

Eric,

I'll have to get some full shots some other time. I really intended to b ring that bike to the Cirque, but just couldn't make it happen. I also r ealized that the risk of shipping that would be tremendous. I doubt if t here are any other Baylis bikes from that era of that caliber that are v irtually brand new 25 years later. There would be no way to replace the condition of this bike. I've heard of one other possible bike like this. It's a similarly gold plated Masi GC commissioned by Ted Kirkbride for Masi as a possible special edition. Only one was made by me (a second bi ke was built by Rob Roberson and is ridden locally by our buddy "steady Eddie"). I believe the one I built is hanging in a garage in La Jolla. I do not know the condition. Someone should ferret out that bike, It's an other show stopper, except it's technically a Masi!

Yes, Mark, that is gold plating. Done correctly I might add, since it's 25 years old and still good as new. Not on account of not being used. It 's because I applied special lacquer to the plating before proceeding to the rest of the painting. Experience I had 25 years ago is paying big d ividends now.

The owner is planning to bring it to Velo Rendezvous in October. If you want to see it in person (which this bike really deserves) then you shou ld plan to attend the event. This same person also owns the very first f rame I ever built! I saw it the other day. He has my 51cm TT bike in his stash as well, along with at least one other.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA When I saw that bike for the first time since it was built, I could hard ly believe I built that 25 years ago. The workmanship is the same as I d o today. How many bikes look the same today as what they were building 2 5 years ago. I'd say almost none. IC lugs have changed almost everyone.