Hello list
I have talked to Gosta Pettersson a lot of times about his bicycles as I have activly searched for "his Masi" (of course he had several) for many years. One of the Masi bikes he used as a pro, at the Giro 1971, he sold as a "normal bike" to a person entering his bike shop. He said - "to me it was just a bike".
I do not think that this bike is Gostas because it looks too small (without knowing the exact size - but judging from the photos). He is rather tall and would have used a 59-60 C/C frame. This does not say it is not a Pettersson bike - as he had three successful brothers Thomas, Erik and Sture - all of them good amature and professional riders. It might be one of theirs.
Then to the "before and after turning pro" - when amature they rode real Monark and Crescent bikes. Not Masis. I have that from Gosta himself and he was 100% sure of it. It was a big thing in Sweden at the time and if it would have gotten out that they rode re-labeled bikes it would have been a disaster. Therefore they did not.
When they turned pro at least Gosta still rode Monarks but now re-labeled Masis. Monark blue with Monark decals. They must have made a deal about it. I have pictures from both Feretti and SCIC with Gosta on Monark(Masi). What they rode when coming home after their pro period I do not know.
One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of bikes in Sweden are rumoured to have been Gostas/bought from Gosta/built by Gosta/etc. The truth is that those bikes might be bikes from any of the brothers/from their bike shop (which sold bikes for many, many years)/or any or non of all the alternatives.
If this bike is a Masi - I do not know for sure. If it is a Gosta (or his brothers) Masi - it has to be from pro time. I know one thing - do not use it as a commuter until you know more about it.
Very best regards
Johan Ericson
Stockholm, Sweden
> Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:48:24 -0700
> From: classicbici@gmail.com
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR] Pettersson Masi?
>
> If the Monark is a Masi I believe it would be from before he was a Pro
> riding for Ferretti and Magniflex. A "Monark" for a Swedish amateur makes
> sense, National Team, National Bike.
>
> Victor Penner
> Vancouver BC Canada