Classic & Vintage - Unusual Masi

Today I saw a Masi I've not seen before. It had the 3V log construction.but had a Greek "E" instead of an "S" in "MASI"....the top tube had a series of large flags the width of the tube(a la Gran Criterium down tobe flags but much bigger). There was some Greek lettering on the down tube...It was up on a rack so I couldn't see a lot of details up close. It was champagne color.with matching tires with champagne tread....Anyone know what this is?

Sounds to me like a Russian/Soviet era 3V

That's what I thought,too....but the shop owner insisted the lettering was Greek...

Interesting. The Russian Team 3V would've read "MA3N 3b" and had a "CCCP" decal on the top tube and no flags. It would be rather obvious that it was Russian. This one does sounds quite different. I'd love to know more about it. Have you searched the CR database?

Its a "Barcelona" Masi 3V from Masi USA, released near the Barcelona Olympics. 200 numbered framesets built. Boasted of all the past Olympics where a Masi was ridden to a victory.

They show up on ebay from time to time.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/longbeachgary/Masi%20Gran%20Criterium/3v.jpg

What is up with those wheels? What is all that jazz on the spokes?

Looks like Topolino wheels with carbon spokes.

That's the bike alright,guys...thanks...I wonder why the odd font for the "S" in "MASI"?

Our shop sold a pair of those wheels for a tandem!...Very problematic.....

The E-shaped character is the greek symbol "sigma" which is pronounced like an "s".

What are the black things on the spokes?

nm

I googled the name and found the descriptive info on their web site. You're saying they are trouble, at least on the tandem, eh? The certainly are different.

Σ: hold Alt key and type 228

excellent, too bad it didn't work for me