This has got well out of hand

This should have been so simple, to scratch my itch for a Masi by buying a frame and building it up with parts that I had lying around.

That's how it all started, but it didnt take long for things to go pear shaped.

The trouble started when I read a CR List posting by Brian Baylis which said:

"All CA Masis have 1973 dated parts. That shipment lasted for several years." Baylis worked there, so he ought to know.

Most Campagnolo parts from the era are not date stamped, so there was no need to mess with the pre '78 brake calipers or front derailler, but the 1981 rear mech had to go.

That left the unfluted mid-80s Super Record cranks and chainrings on borrowed time.

I searched ebay for a set of 175s but everything on offer was either visibly buggered or astronomically priced.

Broadening my search parameters a smidge, I found a mint pair of 180mm Nuovo Record cranks.

Some nice Campagnolo Super Leggera track pedals, a plausible period correct upgrade, were just collateral damage to my credit card bill.

Thankyou Ebay.

The decision to ride the Masi at this year's Noosa Strade Bianche created a couple of more practical problems.

The unpadded Cinelli saddle looked the part, but was excruciatingly uncomfortable after a couple of hours.

Knowing That Eddy Merckx used Ottusi saddles, a boutique-butchered Brooks, on days when his arse was tender, I wanted something similar.

I pondered doing a bit of saddle butchery myself, but, once again, ebay came to the rescue with a nicely modified Brooks B17 Competition.

The B17 Competition was the predecessor the legendary Brooks Professional, and this one has been reshaped, trimmed and re-rivetted with large copper rivets.

The 32 spoke Super Champion Arc en Ciel rims that I had built initially give a lovely ride, but are a bit light for spirited gravel riding at 340g.

A rummage around the shed turned up a single Mavic Monthlery Route rim, which looked ideal at 420g and 21.5mm wide.I tried to get a match on Ebay, eventually buying a pair from Poland for less than other vendors were offering a single rim.The hubs are small flange Campagnolo Record 36h, laced with Wheelsmith DB14 spokes.
Gravel riding is always better on fat tyres.I have long been fascinated by the fat handmade tubulars used in cobbled road races, so this was the perfect excuse to get pair of FMB Paris Roubaix 27mm tubulars

I dont know how this happened, honest.

So.
Yeah.
I know.
I said that I renounced vintage bikes years ago.
Anyway, this just happened.
It's a 1975 Masi Gran Criterium, made in Carlsbad, California by Masi USA.
Maybe the legendary Mario Confente was in the room at the time, but to be honest I'm just a sucker for a nice twin-plate fork crown.
Lucky I had all the parts just lying around, huh?

A long day with Trenitalia

Up with the birds this morning, for the 30km, mostly downhill ride from Radda to Poggibonsi, from whence I caught the train to Milan, via Pisa.
This is by no means the direct route, but the only one where I was able to take my bike on the train.
In total, I spent about 6 hours on trains, arriving in Milan mid-afternoon.

Once there, I allowed myself a side trip to the Vigorelli Velodrome, which was looking unloved; and to Masi's shop outside, where Alberto Masi was schmoozing with a couple of cronies.
I'm sure Alberto has a practised eye for penniless tyre kickers, because no one made any effort to fit me up with a new carbon fibre Masi while I was there.