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Famous bike frame builder. Whom are you opt for?

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Old 12-18-14, 09:17 AM
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Famous bike frame builder. Whom are you opt for?

Based on the few frame builder below, what is your criteria to choose one of them or more?

Stelbel
Freschi
Pogliaghi
Masi(faliero)
Umberto Marnati
Marastoni

Regards.
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Old 12-18-14, 09:22 AM
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I'd go for an early 70's Pogliaghi. Just because I always liked them.
And could never afford one back then.
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Old 12-18-14, 10:41 AM
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Size and price and availability, the equation would be different for each. Freschi and Pogliaghi are kind of close though, at least for a time.
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Old 12-18-14, 10:52 AM
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Is "none of the above" an option?
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Old 12-18-14, 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by rootboy
I'd go for an early 70's Pogliaghi. Just because I always liked them.
And could never afford one back then.
My cousin had one of those in red -- gorgeous bike. I rode my first century -- a metric double -- with him, from his home in Los Altos Hills, through Big Tree basin to Santa Cruz, then north on the coast and back over the hills through Palo Alto. He was kind enough to slow down for me.
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Old 12-18-14, 11:26 AM
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Most of my first pick builders are for one reason or another not building anymore. So if I were to choose a builder now it would be Bruce Gordon.
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Old 12-18-14, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Wulf
Most of my first pick builders are for one reason or another not building anymore. So if I were to choose a builder now it would be Bruce Gordon.
Are we talking about current builders? I wouldn't think some on the OP's list are still doing it. Pogliaghi? Masi?

Anyway, if it is current builders, I'd go with B. Gordon too. Love his colors and graphics.
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Old 12-18-14, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by repechage
Size and price and availability...
...the great god Craig is a fickle provider, but still we worship at his altar.
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Old 12-18-14, 12:54 PM
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None of the ones mentioned above.
Have owned custom tandems built by:
Matt Assenmacher
Colin Laing
Co-Motion (Dwan Shepard)
Zona (Bob Davis)
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Old 12-18-14, 02:35 PM
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I dig Masis.

I have bias here though.

I am adding a 1974 Masi to my little gathering of bikes in 2015.

A very pretty bicycle.
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Old 12-18-14, 03:36 PM
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Old 12-18-14, 03:54 PM
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Old 12-18-14, 04:32 PM
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I'd probably opt for ANY of those (even if it was chipped & rusty) over a modern disposabike, but I have a long & storied history with Masi.
Turns out I now live within 5 miles of where my beloved '84 Gran Criterium was made. My gf bought her a set of NOS Tricolor cranks for Xmas, so we're going to restore her from wall-hanger to rider again this Spring.
We just bought her a Masi Gran Corsa from the same year, and she built it up herself with only verbal guidance.




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Old 12-18-14, 04:56 PM
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For a classic, I would pick Masi, I drooled over one displayed in a shop in CA back in 1973 or so. It was too small for my size and too large for my wallet at that time. But now, if I was going to spend part of the retirement fund, I would blow it on a custom Chris Bishop.
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Old 12-18-14, 04:56 PM
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Stelbel is cool, they did TIG as one the first builders, Stelio and his dad. I like wayward builders.

But allowing for people not on the list, I think Tomii is the hottest builder in town right now. He, or the guys at Firefly. They're really moving the goalposts in terms of bike aestethics.
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Old 12-18-14, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by fender1
Is "none of the above" an option?
+1 Japanese bicycle fan over here.
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Old 12-18-14, 05:16 PM
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Daniele Marnati, the son of Umberto, is still building, and his work is as fine as any you'll find.



I really like the look of Freschi that I've seen - I believe he was a builder for Pogliaghi, but memory might be off.

Marastoni would be on the short list of bikes I'd still be interested in.

If we're talking modern bikes, there are a lot of talented builders out there - who I picked would depend on where I lived and what kind of bike I wanted. I really like Mooney and Kirk. Spectrum ti is on the short list.

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Old 12-18-14, 05:46 PM
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Lots of nice bicycles mentioned here.

While there are quite a few modern steel brands I would consider, there are surprisingly few C&V bicycles I would go back and seek out.

A Masi jumps to the front for me based on a ride I had a few years ago.

A new rider had joined our Saturday coffee crew and he had a 1974 Masi. First of all, it was gorgeous.

Mostly Galli equipped.

Secondly, he was a very strong rider, certainly a couple notches ahead of me.

That bike/rider performed beautifully all day and after a late water break he asked me if I would like to swap bikes for the rest of the ride home.

I anxiously agreed and it was love at first ride. Smooth and self assured the Masi was, with just enough "pay attention to me" in the steering to keep my attention/respect.

I also noticed how it fit me perfectly. After the ride I mentioned that I enjoyed the bike and if he should decide to sell it someday, he should let me now.

Well, two weeks ago he let me know and it will be living with me after June when he returns to the United States.

I have two other "must haves" on my list and hopefully the McLean will be here by fall......
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Old 12-18-14, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by gomango
Lots of nice bicycles mentioned here.

While there are quite a few modern steel brands I would consider, there are surprisingly few C&V bicycles I would go back and seek out.

A Masi jumps to the front for me based on a ride I had a few years ago.

A new rider had joined our Saturday coffee crew and he had a 1974 Masi. First of all, it was gorgeous.

Mostly Galli equipped.

Secondly, he was a very strong rider, certainly a couple notches ahead of me.

That bike/rider performed beautifully all day and after a late water break he asked me if I would like to swap bikes for the rest of the ride home.

I anxiously agreed and it was love at first ride. Smooth and self assured the Masi was, with just enough "pay attention to me" in the steering to keep my attention/respect.

I also noticed how it fit me perfectly. After the ride I mentioned that I enjoyed the bike and if he should decide to sell it someday, he should let me now.

Well, two weeks ago he let me know and it will be living with me after June when he returns to the United States.

I have two other "must haves" on my list and hopefully the McLean will be here by fall......
Very cool! Let me know if the deal falls through. I am thinning the herd, and will probably be selling my '74....
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Old 12-18-14, 05:55 PM
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I'd go with the green one.
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Old 12-18-14, 06:01 PM
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From the OP's list, probably a Masi, a fine middle weight refined instrument, all day and then a glass of wine.

For the modern lugnuttarati, I'm with Scooper for Dave Wages at Ellis Cycles, or Toby Stanton at Hot Tubes.
They almost seem too pretty to ride, but I think I could manage.

For a sharpened road axe with a surgeon's blade, or a balanced splitting maul of a cross bike, it's Adam Eldridge, hands down, for me.
You don't ride his frames, you wear them, and you better be ready to bring it, because the bike will not be in the way.

Whether you go high dollar for his Stanridge Speed or low dollar for his Wraith, you get a no-nonsense approach to riding at your potential.

Last edited by RobbieTunes; 12-18-14 at 06:15 PM.
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Old 12-18-14, 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
From the OP's list, probably a Masi, a fine middle weight refined instrument, all day and then a glass of wine.

For the modern lugnuttarati, I'm with Scooper for Dave Wages at Ellis Cycles, or Toby Stanton at Hot Tubes.
They almost seem too pretty to ride, but I think I could manage.

For a sharpened road axe with a surgeon's blade, or a balanced splitting maul of a cross bike, it's Adam Eldridge, hands down, for me.
You don't ride his frames, you wear them, and you better be ready to bring it, because the bike will not be in the way.

Whether you go high dollar for his Stanridge Speed or low dollar for his Wraith, you get a no-nonsense approach to riding at your potential.
Keep talking like that and I'll end up with one up here in the prairie.
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Old 12-18-14, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by bibliobob
Very cool! Let me know if the deal falls through. I am thinning the herd, and will probably be selling my '74....
Thanks Bob. I appreciate that for sure.

I have committed to the Masi and the McLean at this point.

I really would like both.

Btw I saw an incredible Behringer the other day.
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Old 12-18-14, 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by littlebeetle
Based on the few frame builder below, what is your criteria to choose one of them or more?

Stelbel
Freschi
Pogliaghi
Masi(faliero)
Umberto Marnati
Marastoni

Regards.
I'm curious how you arrived at this particular list. There are other builders I would probably want to seek out - Weigle and Kvale come to mind.
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Old 12-18-14, 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by AZORCH
I'm curious how you arrived at this particular list. There are other builders I would probably want to seek out - Weigle and Kvale come to mind.
A thing for Italians?
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