Classic & Vintage - Medici Rider

Hello,
I would like to know if there is any Medici fan in this forum! I really love the Medici Pro Strada and I own one,size 49, and ride it for more than 15 years. So long that I just recently got another one size 51 that fit me better but I still attached to the old one!!! The bike is not really fit me but I fit to the bike!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3357/3654303710_bfa7003546_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/7427460860_bbf80c61d2_b.jpg!

Gasp

Hello,

Welcome to the C&V forum ! Nice bicycles. I owned a Medici a number of years ago. I like them and would not hesitate to get another if the right one comes along ! I'm sure you'll find other Medici fans here.

Cheers,
Joe

Some more pics.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7427508558_1e8e0d3a29_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/7427238846_2018c033af_b.jpg

Hi Joe,
Thanks. I wish you will find a right one. I'm actually building a third Medici for a friend in Vietnam. That will be the first one ever get into that country. Most people there only know vintage french bike.

"Perhaps God wills that this war, which began in the blood of my brother and of myself, should be ended by any means. My desire is that by my life or my death, my misfortune or my prosperity, I may contribute to the welfare of our city..."
-Lorenzo de' Medici

beautiful bikes especially that green one. I have never owned or even touched a Medici but i would certainly like to atleast take one for a ride. My understanding is they area somewhat underrated but well built great riding bike.

Thanks. The medici is somehow an italian breed lugged steel frame that still affordable.

Really nice looking bikes, that green one is outstanding.

Columbus Fork.



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7427542260_ed292f3b1b_b.jpg

I think they're fine bikes & never heard any bad things about them...only good! I used to ride w/ the family that made Medici's in & around the hills above the SF bay area (Woodside). Many of the riders in our group rode Medici's. One fellow I went to high school with had a green one just like the one pictured above, but w/o the yellow tires. I always lusted after it. Once in awhile Gianni, the main man, would come up from the LA area (I think) & ride w/ his brothers & the group. Biking was a complete family affair w/ them. We used to meet at Carlo's, his brother's house, b4 the weekend ride. A strong rider back then at 65 years of age. I learned a lot about riding from him. His other two older brothers were usually present as well. They each had their own Medici & I see them occasionally on the same bikes. Carlo had a real nice red & white Campy outfitted model w/ Delta brakes...IIRC.

Very nice looking indeed. I might have to start looking a little harder for one !

Ciao !

Joe

Hello all,

Mr.Uyle is helping me to build my Medici. Here in VIetnam, I beleive there are some colnagos but it will be the first Medici in Vietnam.

Welcome, folks, to the forum.

Not mine, but spotted in the wild...... the blue and yellow on the right.... looks like the same half-step gearing as your green one, with a 26t granny for hills. I think I learned that there was a Masi-Medici connection....
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7848828436_0662efc4f6_o.jpg

If the original poster likes the green one less in riding, check the fork length, axle to crown race. I bet it is longer and the head angle is more slack as a result. Later Medici bought out forks from Tange.
I own one, and it is a good bike. Medici does not get the notice that translates into decent resale value. The only one I know of that sold for a good price was one auctioned off by Ray Dobbins and it went to France, benefitting from being very well detailed and RED.
The history of the company from its origin to the end is a novel itself.

A Medici Pro Strada was my first road bike. It was a Tange tube model, I replaced it with a Columbus tube model a couple years later. Both beautiful bikes that rode great, although the Tange model was little too whippy for me when sprinting. A friend of mine rode a tiny pink 49cm Pro Strada for years. I always check the Medici threads in hopes to see one of my old rides. Medici's were very common in the San Diego & L.A. areas when I was racing in the late 80's.

Hi Lugnut,
Thanks for the interesting story. Since the company is defunct, information regarding Medici is scarce.

If the original poster likes the green one less in riding, check the fork length, axle to crown race. I bet it is longer and the head angle is more slack as a result. Later Medici bought out forks from Tange.
I own one, and it is a good bike. Medici does not get the notice that translates into decent resale value. The only one I know of that sold for a good price was one auctioned off by Ray Dobbins and it went to France, benefitting from being very well detailed and RED.
The history of the company from its origin to the end is a novel itself.

You are very correct about the fork length of the green one. It is columbus tubing and I also saw once a gran turismo with identical frame except the fender bosses. The catalog in early 80 offered same frame for both models with 50 dollars extra to add fender bosses for gran turismo. The grey bike has tange fork that is tighter to the wheel.

Hi Lugnut,
Thanks for the interesting story. Since the company is defunct, information regarding Medici is scarce.

Your Welcome. The last name was Simonetti. A couple of local bike shops carried the Medici line back in the 90's. You'd always run into Carlo at one of them. He was a permanent fixture...lol! I didn't know they stopped production of them though, as I fell away from riding for awhile. You have yourself a piece of Medici (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Medici) history. Don't know that the link has anything to do w/ bicycles, but I thought I'd throw it in.

... I didn't know they stopped production of them though, as I fell away from riding for awhile.

Medici was the name Bill Recht came up with when he learned he could not buy Masi in the USA. His Medici bicycle company had two primary employees, Gian Simonetti and Mike Howard. Both who had worked at Masi in Carlsbad California.
The pair with some additional help here and there, ran the production.
In the late late 80's or early 90's the Medici name could no longer be used. The whys of this are not completely clear but Mr. Recht got into some legal trouble and it might have something to do with it.
Simonetti then used his name and there was also Simo cycles as follow on enterprises.
Mr. Howard got into legal trouble separately and was not available to weld up the bikes while serving his sentence.
With no primary builder, Simonetti closed up shop in due course.

Hello,
I would like to know if there is any Medici fan in this forum!

Yes, I am (slowly) building up a 62cm Pro Strada. I have also been building a spreadsheet of Medici serial number info (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmInO7qBBGRXdExGR2tNNzNEQk1sbUlyd2d1a0xVQ3c#gid=0). I would love to have details about your two Pro Stradas. Bigger pix would be nice as well. It looks like your green one is older - simpler decals and perhaps Confente brake housing guides, but I can't tell for sure. Do you know the age of either of your bikes with any certainty?

Skip

I think they're fine bikes & never heard any bad things about them...only good! I used to ride w/ the family that made Medici's in & around the hills above the SF bay area (Woodside). Many of the riders in our group rode Medici's. One fellow I went to high school with had a green one just like the one pictured above, but w/o the yellow tires. I always lusted after it. Once in awhile Gianni, the main man, would come up from the LA area (I think) & ride w/ his brothers & the group. Biking was a complete family affair w/ them. We used to meet at Carlo's, his brother's house, b4 the weekend ride. A strong rider back then at 65 years of age. I learned a lot about riding from him. His other two older brothers were usually present as well. They each had their own Medici & I see them occasionally on the same bikes. Carlo had a real nice red & white Campy outfitted model w/ Delta brakes...IIRC.

Such a small world. I have a friend who is friends with Carlo, and met him in MA, where he now lives? My friend is an avid rider, but modern bikes (though he appreciates my vintage bikes). Anyway, my friend is moving to TX, and Carlo has told my friend that he has an old Italian custom bike that he is going to send him. Can't wait to see what it is!

Such a small world. I have a friend who is friends with Carlo, and met him in MA, where he now lives? Anyway, my friend is moving to TX, and Carlo has told my friend that he has an old Italian custom bike that he is going to send him. Can't wait to see what it is!

I knew he moved when I saw his house up for sale but had no idea he moved to the East Coast. Sometimes he would host party's at his house. The placed would be packed...a very popular guy. He loved to be the lead man out w/ about 40 riders behind him. I never saw him falter on long rides, he hung tight. He wasn't nuts about hillclimbing though. Carlo probably had more than 1 bike, although his primary ride was the red/wht Medici. He's a tall man & if I remember right, it was at least a 60 cm bike? Occasionally you see him riding another one. I'd think a man so into riding & racing would have more than 1 bike though. Your friend might in for kool bike...

They are really nice looking bikes and I came very close to picking one up, but after reading the very long "discussion" on the CR board I changed my mind. I wouldn't judge anyone for riding one, but the karma behind the brand is seriously messed up.

They are really nice looking bikes and I came very close to picking one up, but after reading the very long "discussion" on the CR board I changed my mind. I wouldn't judge anyone for riding one, but the karma behind the brand is seriously messed up.

I have my Medici long before that discussion and the story behind that discussion does not affect how I like the bike. Maybe the story is too confusing to me.

The green Medici serial#640 is already on your list:D. Yes it is a early one with no slot in the brake housing guide. I do not know the age. The grey one I bought in 95-96 at CycleArt look like it was repaint with a Joe Bell sticker. Will update pics.

They are really nice looking bikes and I came very close to picking one up, but after reading the very long "discussion" on the CR board I changed my mind. I wouldn't judge anyone for riding one, but the karma behind the brand is seriously messed up.

I do not think Mike & Gian are the bad guys in the story, nor Brian Baylis that participated as a minor character. William (Bill) Recht was the culprit and he had the capital, without that Custom Bicycles by Confente or Medici may not have happened. Basically everyone else just wanted to make bikes and make a living. Prior to Medici, Wizard had failed, and lack of capital was a big part. One could fault Gian perhaps as he knew of Bill financing both operations and Mario did not. Bill also underestimated Mario's reaction when Mario did learn of the full business plan and most probably did not know that relations between Mario and Gian were more Italian than American.

I find many aspects of the story intriguing. Adds to the mystique of the brand. (I own a California Masi as well. Masi was a big part of the story as well, at least by originally bringing all the parties together.)

Skip

I did swap some components to make a complete "classic bike"

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7885155380_cf2566ab2c_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7885163272_d2cc845a7a_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/7885161134_ac46f205d4_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7427509562_f854a6033f_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/7427461570_bb319049a8_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/7885191376_4f8acc153d_b.jpg

Looks sweet! I'm far from a purist, but if you're trying to make it "complete 'classic bike'" I gotta ask/suggest:

1. Why use top tube cable clamps in addition to the braze-on cable housing guides? I've never seen them both used, back in the day or now, should be one or the other, not both: clamps if no braze-ons, no clamps if braze-ons are present.

2. Seatpost looks like a later/cheaper Campy aero post, really should be a non-aero Nuovo Record or Super Record post; Super Record ideally to match the other parts.

3. Chainrings should be Super Record.

4. I can't i.d. the shifters, but they look black? Should be Super Record...

I've owned two Medici Pro Strada, still have one of them. I sold a fairly early one for a friend some years back. I like 'em, I like the back story, I like that Bill Recht was from Jersey.

I don't know of any companies with pure karma. We're all free to apply whatever moral standards we want, of course, but I doubt there's any bike company you can look into that didn't have corporate back-stabbing, financial shenanigans or whatever somewhere in its history.

Velometao,

Were you racing in LA back in the 80s? I purchased mine from Magic Mushroom used after I crashed my Gios in Torrence. Remember the Torrance Classics? They don't care about the Jr riders, so they let a car into the course. I went through the side window along with three others tring to go through the same hole.

jeff

I only crash them back then. I has a black one. it died during a training ride in the late 80s. Miss that bike a lot.

Gee, I am surprise you didn't szy anything about the white pulley (s?).
Looks sweet! I'm far from a purist, but if you're trying to make it "complete 'classic bike'" I gotta ask/suggest:

1. Why use top tube cable clamps in addition to the braze-on cable housing guides? I've never seen them both used, back in the day or now, should be one or the other, not both: clamps if no braze-ons, no clamps if braze-ons are present.

2. Seatpost looks like a later/cheaper Campy aero post, really should be a non-aero Nuovo Record or Super Record post; Super Record ideally to match the other parts.

3. Chainrings should be Super Record.

4. I can't i.d. the shifters, but they look black? Should be Super Record...

I've owned two Medici Pro Strada, still have one of them. I sold a fairly early one for a friend some years back. I like 'em, I like the back story, I like that Bill Recht was from Jersey.

I don't know of any companies with pure karma. We're all free to apply whatever moral standards we want, of course, but I doubt there's any bike company you can look into that didn't have corporate back-stabbing, financial shenanigans or whatever somewhere in its history.

Speaking of Medici


http://dayton.craigslist.org/bik/3227363420.html

Speaking of Medici


http://dayton.craigslist.org/bik/3227363420.html

"bottom bracket has been painted" okay, rust addressed.

"seat tube has been cut down" what does he mean by that?

Looks sweet! I'm far from a purist, but if you're trying to make it "complete 'classic bike'" I gotta ask/suggest:

1. Why use top tube cable clamps in addition to the braze-on cable housing guides? I've never seen them both used, back in the day or now, should be one or the other, not both: clamps if no braze-ons, no clamps if braze-ons are present.

2. Seatpost looks like a later/cheaper Campy aero post, really should be a non-aero Nuovo Record or Super Record post; Super Record ideally to match the other parts.

3. Chainrings should be Super Record.

4. I can't i.d. the shifters, but they look black? Should be Super Record...

I've owned two Medici Pro Strada, still have one of them. I sold a fairly early one for a friend some years back. I like 'em, I like the back story, I like that Bill Recht was from Jersey.

I don't know of any companies with pure karma. We're all free to apply whatever moral standards we want, of course, but I doubt there's any bike company you can look into that didn't have corporate back-stabbing, financial shenanigans or whatever somewhere in its history.
Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, I can only swap around whatever available from other bikes or extra old, used parts I have. Nowaday, It's hard to justify the price of campy supper record. The chainring is Galli and the shifter look like a Simplex.

Uyle,
Those are two seriously beautiful Medici bikes you have. The green is beautiful, never seen a bike in that color before, shade of green but not that one on a bike. Welcome to BF/C&V not too many members from Viet Nam, actually none I can recall. Hope you and Candid stick around and keep us posted on how Candid's bike comes along.

What part of Viet Nam are you from? I have friends that served there in the war, glad our countries can get along now.

Bill

Hello qcpmsame,

I' m too young for that war, maybe your friends had to fight with my father. I am from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam now.

I just started my hobby of cycling with a vintage Australian road bike name Malvern Star.

Ihope I will get a Medici soon

Those bikes would cure many a bad day with a good ride!

Hello qcpmsame,

I' m too young for that war, maybe your friends had to fight with my father. I am from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam now.

I just started my hobby of cycling with a vintage Australian road bike name Malvern Star.

Ihope I will get a Medici soon

Both are very nice bikes! Welcome to the Forum.

I travel to Thailand regularly and am very happy to see that there are a lot of vintage bike collectors there.... It's always great to see the international nature of our hobby..

Cheers,
Bob

Hi Bob,

Here in Vietnam, there are bike collectors as well, there are some clubs. The French vintage bike are common here. The vintage japanese road bikes are also popular. More and more people ride bike now, but they want to buy new carbon MTB or road bike.

Here are some of mine photos about of bike in Vietnam
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2576/3788132892_3741386aba_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3527/3902651947_3719f7bb88_b.jpg

Another one has recently been listed on ebay, I don't like the seller, and it is overpriced for the Medici market... but it is red/white/blue.

Here in Vietnam, there are bike collectors as well, there are some clubs. The French vintage bike are common here. The vintage japanese road bikes are also popular. More and more people ride bike now, but they want to buy new carbon MTB or road bike.

Here are some of mine photos about of bike in Vietnam


Did that guy who was attempting to produce penny fathering bikes in Vietnam ever get into production?

http://www.tallbike.com/tall/bikes.html

Color scheme reminds me of this. Probably mid 90's and not sure where it was made. Wish I had kept it.


http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz87/Tbike4/Masi%20Gran%20Corsa/DS.jpg

Hello qcpmsame,

I' m too young for that war, maybe your friends had to fight with my father. I am from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam now.

I just started my hobby of cycling with a vintage Australian road bike name Malvern Star.

Ihope I will get a Medici soon

Well that war is in the past, I'd like to see Viet Nam, and the places they described to me and the north around Hanoi and Haiphong. Regardless, your bike will be appreciated here, please post pics when you finish it completely. Ride safe in Hanoi and ride lots.

Bill

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3527/3902651947_3719f7bb88_b.jpg

That Mercier is beautiful....

@repechage: I know nothing about it.

Here is my beauty. Can't wait to see her. Thanks Mr.uyle!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/7918962268_fd0f16696e_b.jpg

Hi Medici folks. This is my first post on Bike Forums, but I have viewed the Forum via searches over the years. I'm here after a desultory search for decals for the Medici I'm working on, and i thought I'd add to the history/lore.

I got my Medici Pro Strada Osso (#63 OS 73) through 4 Seasons Bike shop in Yorba Linda CA, probably in 1992. It was my first real good bike. Steve Abrego(?), the owner of the shop, brought me to the Medici shop in Chino Hills where I met Gian. Steve brought me there so I could pick out my paint color, and probably to show off, too. There were a lot of black and white LA Sheriffs team frames hanging up in the shop. They were being repaired and built up because it was mid-season. I believe that when Chevrolet came on to co-sponsor the team with the Sheriffs that the colors went to green and yellow and another bike sponsor came on.

My bike is made with Tange Prestige OS tubes. I got metallic gray DuPont Imron paint. The top tube has an internal tube for brake cable routing. I got it with Shimano 8 speed STI Ultegra 600 components and it came with Campy Lambda wheels. And I just remembered, they had 20 mm tires mounted on them. What? I was 6' 2'' 190#, pretty close to Gian's size, and it's a big ol' bike. The black 3TTT stem is etched MEDICI. It came with a brazed-on frame pump peg and a plastic Silca frame pump painted the same color as the frame. It also came with two water bottles with the lion logos. Some of that stuff might still be bouncing around somewhere. Not in museum condition. I paid $1,800.00 cash no tax for the bike.

I've been working on the bike lately. But I apologize to the steel is real vintage restoration enthusiasts. I'm just getting it back in good enough shape to serve yet another winter on the CompuTrainer. I moved to a north suburb of Chicago in '95, so I spend many winter hours dripping salty sweat onto that poor Tange top tube. I just wire brushed the body rot off of it and the seat lug. I'll tape those off and spray paint them. The rest of the paint job is still intact, including the starburst Medici decals. I expect to get my 8-speed Ultegra shifters back from a guy who rebuilt them earlier this week for $100.

Maybe I can get it road-worthy enough to ride it with the boys on our recovery Friday retro-jersey ride one of these days.

Also, I saw a guy at Northbrook Velodrome a couple of months ago riding a Medici track bike. He said he bought the frame on line a couple of years ago.

Welcome... I'm just down the road in Evanston. Drop me a note sometime (skip@pobox.com). I can see by your post count that you won't be able to send me a pm. I'm just getting my Pro Strada frame built up. I also saw and older fellow in Highland Park a few months ago with what looked to be a nice one. Bibliobob here has a Gran Turismo. He lives I'm the city.If you post to the Classic Rendezvous list (it's a google group) about your dearth of decals, Mike Howard might chime in. He might be able to help you find some replacements.Skip

I live in Deerfield. Another Medici sighting for the record: I saw a guy riding a Medici on the Alberto's Sunday ride out of Hubbard Woods a long time ago.

My repair progresses: I got the shifters back today, Friday. I had put them in the mail on Monday. Fast turnaround! $103 with 2 new hoods shipping included. That seems pretty like a pretty good deal to me. Assuming that they work.

I wire brushed the body rot spots on the top tube and seat lug, and I'm surprised at the high polish of the tubes, almost to the point of suspecting that some chromed tubes were used. The polished part did get scratched by the wire brush. My knowledge about steel bike tubes is obviously limited. I did see that there were some reports of Tange Presige tubes feeling "whippy" compared to Colombus SL (and SLX?). I think that the slight oversize and ovalizing of this "Prestige OS" tubeset stiffened it up pretty much.

Thanks for the note Skip. I'll resume the search for those decals if I ever end up painting the whole bike. John