I guess I should count myself lucky given all these dismal accounts of local bike shops. Today I took my 1971 Masi GC on our first ride together and although always nervous about first rides, she performed as flawlessly as one could wish. A short test ride turned into 35 delightful miles and that with a NOS chain and freewheel (and Sig. Masi was more fond of Everest than I am) and still perfection.
One of the benefits of consigning these classics to a LBS is you get them back where they belong. out in the public. I admit it's kinda cool to walk into my shop and see a gleaming 1971 Masi on the stand surrounded by Treks and "Raleighs". And don't think others don't notice, either. Far more "normal" people than happened upon Cirque at the Leesburg Fairgrounds I reckon. And don't doubt that interest in 1970s era racing bikes isn't growing and not by more of we 50-60 year-old geezers trying to be 17 again. Nor are all young cycle mechanics clueless, unappreciative bozos when it comes to classic bikes. At least around here. A good cycle mechanic is just that regardless of the era of the machine. I've had some superb wheelsets built by a lad half the age of the machine the wheel is for. And it's kinda cool to have a 23-year-old scratch his head over the threading vageries of French bikes like we oldtimers do. Some things are timeless. And best shared.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA