[CR] info on Masi?

An elderly gentleman has moved into our boarding house and I have been interwebbing to help him identify his MASI bicycle. John is too ill and old to ride anymore, and I will be cleaning this bike this weekend (eh, I just like cleaning bikes) and have posted pictures on Picasa http://picasaweb.google.com/1oddmanout/JohnSBike#. Bob Hovey has narrowed it down to a 73 or 74 frame, with modifications, and I just saw that the crank arm has a diamond with an 8 in it, indicating 1978 parts.

John purchased this bike used in 1990 at Ricci Cyles Aix en Provence, france; based on the fork crown, (narrow slot) it is an Italian 73 Gran Criterium; all of the Masi decals and emblems have been removed, I believe it has been repainted, and Ricci Cyles decals put on it (head tube, seat tube, rear lower strut); it has a full Campy Super Record group set, with the following odd differences - the brake levers have painted slots instead of drilled holes - the chainring is golden/brass color without the big M logo; 3ttt tube with cinelli giro handlebar; the BB is marked UU58, no serial number (maybe be under paint), the tab in front has an L stamped in it, and one of the the bottom rear struts has 32 stamped into it. The cables go under the BB in guides; and the rear brake cable goes through the upper frame bar.

OMG the thing is LIGHT and I rode it for a block and it is FAST! I ride a recumbent and a folder, and I go fast, but this beast . . .!

I have seen notes on only 1 other bike with the UU stamp, and I have only seen 1 picture with the in-bar cable.

Any insights would be appreciated. I hope to get to ride it some when it gets warmer. Odd, the steering stem is missing the hex screw for the stembolt!

Robert Skeen Vienna Virginia USA -- Really neat video - around the world jam session http://www.wimp.com/jamsession/