1974 Masi Gran Criterium
06-20-20, 02:12 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
1974 Masi Gran Criterium
I "finished" this one last week, but haven't gotten around to posting pictures. I bought it back in April. Some of you may remember seeing it in Bob Freeman's "Bikes in a Barn" listing on Classic Rendezvous. It's one of the early California Masi's, serial number 119, but it looks like someone added a few braze-ons and repainted it. The bike was mostly complete when I bought it. I just switched out the stem and handlebars for fit, and added new tires, hoods, and bar tape, and swapped in a bigger cassette (13-28 IRD Classica).
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 02:19 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,777
Bikes: Numerous
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1676 Post(s)
Liked 3,089 Times
in
911 Posts
Thats a nice one Andy. Love the fork crown!
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
Likes For Spaghetti Legs:
06-20-20, 02:24 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
You may have noticed in the first picture that something isn't quite right about the brake levers. At first, I thought I just had them installed at different heights on the bars. After closer inspection, they don't match. (The hoods, BTW, are reproductions I got from Italy on eBay recently.)
So it goes.
Switching to a stem with a 26mm clamp let me use a set of older shield logo Cinelli bars.
The saddle that came with the bike is a nice Ideale of some kind. I'm not sure if I should just ride it until the leather breaks (or I do) or if there's something I can still do at this point to preserve it.
Finally, the rims it came with are interesting. I've heard about sleeved rims, but this is the first time I've had a set that you could actually see that it was sleeved. Anyone know anything about these?
So it goes.
Switching to a stem with a 26mm clamp let me use a set of older shield logo Cinelli bars.
The saddle that came with the bike is a nice Ideale of some kind. I'm not sure if I should just ride it until the leather breaks (or I do) or if there's something I can still do at this point to preserve it.
Finally, the rims it came with are interesting. I've heard about sleeved rims, but this is the first time I've had a set that you could actually see that it was sleeved. Anyone know anything about these?
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
Last edited by Andy_K; 06-20-20 at 04:19 PM.
06-20-20, 03:18 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STP
Posts: 14,491
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 821 Post(s)
Liked 255 Times
in
142 Posts
Such a nice example.
When it rains, it pours nice bikes on the forum today.
Love the fork crown as well, plus so many other nice details.
Congrats!
When it rains, it pours nice bikes on the forum today.
Love the fork crown as well, plus so many other nice details.
Congrats!
06-20-20, 03:21 PM
#5
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
Nice. The brake levers: the non-drive lever is the original design while the driveside one is the later version. I think the change in shape happened along with the CPSC-mandated changes in 1979.
The rims look to be 90s Mavics with machined sidewalls and closing join. I run these on all my users and they're bulletproof.
DD
The rims look to be 90s Mavics with machined sidewalls and closing join. I run these on all my users and they're bulletproof.
DD
06-20-20, 04:01 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 3,861
Bikes: '02 Litespeed, '99 Bianchi Alfana. '91 Fuji Saratoga, '84 Peugeot Canyon Express, '82 Moto GR, '81 Fuji America, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '76 Fuji America, plus many more!
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 178 Post(s)
Liked 223 Times
in
126 Posts
This one has been on NYC (Fairfield) for a couple of years at least. They want $3,500 for it. CL isn't the best place to sell a $3,500 bike. Plenty of photos on the CL post. Reminds me of the
Breaking Away Masi Gran Criterium.
Breaking Away Masi Gran Criterium.
06-20-20, 04:14 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,828 Times
in
1,995 Posts
Early Carlsbad GC's are hard to beat even modified, the terrific fork crown, the extra beef on the lower head lug downtube spigot... the extended seat lug.
I am biased, I have a bunch.
Smart to just leave the paint.
Ask RHM on the saddle conservation.
I am biased, I have a bunch.
Smart to just leave the paint.
Ask RHM on the saddle conservation.
06-20-20, 04:29 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
That does seem like a very ambitious price for the NYC Masi, especially with rust on the chrome. I guess the color helps though. On eBay who knows.....
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
Likes For Andy_K:
06-20-20, 04:31 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Nice. The brake levers: the non-drive lever is the original design while the driveside one is the later version. I think the change in shape happened along with the CPSC-mandated changes in 1979.
The rims look to be 90s Mavics with machined sidewalls and closing join. I run these on all my users and they're bulletproof.
DD
The rims look to be 90s Mavics with machined sidewalls and closing join. I run these on all my users and they're bulletproof.
DD
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 04:43 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
What is the significance of the flags chose on the downtube decal?
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 04:50 PM
#11
Senior Member
Nice classic Masi for sure. Congrats.
Last edited by Salamandrine; 06-20-20 at 05:07 PM.
Likes For Salamandrine:
06-20-20, 05:09 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,434
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Beautiful bike for sure. How do you like the IRD freewheel? I've read some mixed reviews of them. Also how is that NR campy RD handling the 13-28 freewheel? I've gotten that combo to work but I've had to shove the wheel back in the drop out to make it happen.
06-20-20, 05:23 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
That's what I've read, but these measure 25.97mm on my digital calipers and fit easily in a 26.0 mm Nitto. I've found a few other examples of people claiming they had 26.0 shield logo Cinelli bars.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 05:25 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
So far, so good. I moved it from another bike, but still have only used it for about 200 miles. In that time I've been very happy with it. The finish is beautiful. This is the now discontinued model with shifting ramps, which work wonderfully.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 05:32 PM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
And there's an interesting note here: Velo-Retro: Cinelli Timeline
"Every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s, with a freakish 26.0 exception from the '60s."
So if they made some 26.0 stems, it seems reasonable to think they also made some 26.0 handlebars?
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 05:36 PM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
It's working great. At first the top jockey wheel bumped the cog in the 28T gear, but moving the wheel back just a little fixed that.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 05:41 PM
#17
Senior Member
I am in lust.
There was a powder blue one for sale here a while back. I almost pulled the trigger several times. Now, the ad is gone.
For me, this is a "grail bike".
There was a powder blue one for sale here a while back. I almost pulled the trigger several times. Now, the ad is gone.
For me, this is a "grail bike".
06-20-20, 06:07 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,828 Times
in
1,995 Posts
Here's an example: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...elli-bars.html
And there's an interesting note here: Velo-Retro: Cinelli Timeline
"Every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s, with a freakish 26.0 exception from the '60s."
So if they made some 26.0 stems, it seems reasonable to think they also made some 26.0 handlebars?
And there's an interesting note here: Velo-Retro: Cinelli Timeline
"Every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s, with a freakish 26.0 exception from the '60s."
So if they made some 26.0 stems, it seems reasonable to think they also made some 26.0 handlebars?
Some claim the knurling for the stem provides identification, measure.
06-20-20, 06:10 PM
#19
Senior Member
Here's an example: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...elli-bars.html
And there's an interesting note here: Velo-Retro: Cinelli Timeline
"Every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s, with a freakish 26.0 exception from the '60s."
So if they made some 26.0 stems, it seems reasonable to think they also made some 26.0 handlebars?
And there's an interesting note here: Velo-Retro: Cinelli Timeline
"Every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s, with a freakish 26.0 exception from the '60s."
So if they made some 26.0 stems, it seems reasonable to think they also made some 26.0 handlebars?
I've seen a whole lot of Cinelli bars and stems, and I've never seen one that wasn't 26.4, at least not till after the switch in the 90s. IMO saying they made some would be a gross exaggeration. Really rare IME. I can't really explain your bar. My first inclination is that it's a later bar with a retro logo. Another possibilities is that it was something that they did for only a couple years in the early 60s or something, when transitioning from steel bars. The Cinelli steel bars were 25.4, btw. Lastly, maybe a big manufacturer had enough pull to convince them to make some OEM models 26.0, so they could switch between 3TTT and Cinelli and ITM or whoever else. Cuz money talks... But really, I don't know. Interesting mystery.
Likes For Salamandrine:
06-20-20, 06:14 PM
#20
Senior Member
I still remember some old timers complaining about the newfangled alloy bars, long after Cinelli steel was gone.
Likes For Salamandrine:
06-20-20, 06:40 PM
#21
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,620
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3877 Post(s)
Liked 6,466 Times
in
3,198 Posts
Here's an example: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...elli-bars.html
Bike ... Bar clamp diameter ... Stamped bar width ... Measured bar width
Moto ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 37.8
Bertoni ... 26.3 ... none ... 39
Pmount ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 37.8
None ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 38.3
None ... 26 ... 40 ... 39.4
I measured bar clamp diameter right next to the mounted stem.
Last edited by SurferRosa; 06-20-20 at 06:43 PM.
06-20-20, 06:46 PM
#22
Pedal Pusher
As a skinny high schooler in the early 70's, I sat through many a class daydreaming of owning a Masi, or a Mondia with those fade paint jobs...
Likes For P.L.Jensen:
06-20-20, 06:46 PM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
My university logic teacher taught me that "some" means "at least one, maybe more." I think that applies in this case. 
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-20-20, 06:51 PM
#24
Senior Member
Can't argue with that kind of logic. 
06-20-20, 06:57 PM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Most all my bars are a little off like that. I currently have five Cinelli stem/bar combos:
Bike ... Bar clamp diameter ... Stamped bar width ... Measured bar width
Moto ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 37.8
Bertoni ... 26.3 ... none ... 39
Pmount ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 37.8
None ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 38.3
None ... 26 ... 40 ... 39.4
I measured bar clamp diameter right next to the mounted stem.
Bike ... Bar clamp diameter ... Stamped bar width ... Measured bar width
Moto ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 37.8
Bertoni ... 26.3 ... none ... 39
Pmount ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 37.8
None ... 26.2 ... 38 ... 38.3
None ... 26 ... 40 ... 39.4
I measured bar clamp diameter right next to the mounted stem.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes