Older Masi GC: what do I do with it?
 

So, I was thinking of turning it into a gravel bike. I think it is an early 70's Masi Gran Criterium built in Italy. 63CM. I bought it used around 30 years ago and it was old then! BB is stamped SL63 or L63....hard to make out.

The paint and frame are rough. I rode it hard back in the day.

It was/is all Campy Nuovo Record except I might have misplaced the pedals and seat post....I had them at one point. I suppose I could dig into the parts box for a NOS c-record seatpost and a used C record pedals to put onto it. Not exactly Kosher but but still all Campy.

I remember it being a great ride. Sweet. I am curious if my memory on that point is correct.

Maybe I should sell it. It has been in the attic for decades.

I am also thinking of dropping it off at the LBS to have the bearings and just a general overhaul and putting some new tubulars on it and then riding it except a 5 speed straight block and a 55-44 chain ring are a bit much for me these days. Turning it into a gravel grinder seems wrong.

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I think you'd have one heck of a time turning that into a GG, if even possible at all.

I would lube the bearings and get it road-worthy, take it on a few rides, then decide.

I would send it to me as is. I'll clean it up and put a clean early 1970s Nuovo Record group on it. ;)

I don't see why you couldn't ride it on gravel. Based on the age I am guessing you would have no problem putting a nice 28ish mm tire on it, change the gearing. I am sure it will ride beautifully. We should see more photos though just to make sure.

it has a lot of clearance for tires....32mm should be no problem. I tons of parts to change the gearing.

I like that idea. The wheels spin nicely. Would need to glue some new tubulars on.

With the current derailleurs you could always drop to a 42/26, possibly a 42/28, low gear, which would help a lot on hills. I run 50-42/14-16-18-20-23-26 on the Bianchi, but if you want to stay with a 5-speed cogset, consider 52-42/15-17-19-22-26.

I guess I don't ride enough gravel to be an expert on appropriate tire widths but 32mm seems a little narrow to me. I guess it all depends on the type of gravel and conditions, so yeah it may work, my bad. I say clean it up and do whatever you want with it. You might be sad if you get rid of it.

Is the bike suitable for a 650b conversion? That would make it a good gravel grinder if it is. If it takes short reach brakes (and I'm assuming it does), you will be limited on tire sizes for 700c.

Exactly, where I love there is no chance I'd gravel grind with 28mm, but i'd ride a 23 on some of the gravel roads I see on the internets.

Sounds like a survivor, can we get a picture of the full bike?

I would screw on a fixed cog and take off the derailleurs.

I am actually thinking about doing that to my ~1972 wall hanger which likely is very similar in build to this. I figure it is better to ride it and chip it up. It's got the clearance for big tires that I want to run on my fixed gear so why not?

To zero in on the precise age, check Bob Hovey's website. His Masi Bits page has a lot of information on dating your Masi. Given that it has Alberto's signature (and presumably wasn't repainted by him), my guess it was made after Faliero came to here to start Masi USA. The braze-on cable guides above the bottom bracket shell suggest the build date was somewhat later as well. In the early 70s, most builders weren't brazing on too many bits. Other clues might come from the components, assuming they are original. Most NR rear derailleurs will have a patent date on top. Something like "Pat 71" or "Patent 74". If the hubs are Campagnolo, the locknuts will have a patent date on the back side. Since you need to rebuild things anyway, it's quite likely that you'll be tearing the hubs down to repack the bearings. Sometime after 1975, Campy cranks acquired date codes as well. If yours is early enough, it won't have a date code. More details about what Campy produced when is on Chuck Schmidt's Campagnolo TImeline. At the bottom of that page is a secret decoder ring for crank date codes.

Please, before you restore or modify it, take a bunch of pictures! Even if you think it's ugly, there is plenty of value in knowing how it was originally outfitted. (I presume full Campy, Martano rims, Cinelli bars and stem.)

Finally, once you figure out what you have, ignore all those other potential Masi museum curators and send it to me. It will fit me perfectly. My museum is currently lacking a Masi. :D

Fixed gear with fat tires is really fun... I've got 35mm on mine (not vintage) which is about the limit of the rims, but I could get fatter ones in the frame.

Need more pics.

Without seeing it I'd say new chain, cables, housing, tires and tubes (700 x 28 or so) a bit of lube and call it good. If you still don't ride it then sell it.

I'm out on a training ride right now or actually I have stopped for an espresso. I'll see if I can take more photos. It is rather sad looking with Modolo brake levers on it. Why did I do that. At least I have the original campy levers and calipers. I suppose the gum covers can still be purchased

Now that is an idea!

Reproductions are available from a number of sources. I doubt anyone at Campagnolo these days even remembers the 70s.

I set up a 72-73 Colnago for the gravel. I was able to squeeze 35mm Kenda clinchers on it, still using the original Campy "normal" reach brakes. And it's a fuun gravel ride. It also gets lots of attention.

BUT I discovered in a road configuration with 28-30mm tubulars and updated components it turned out to be my favorite bike to ride on the road. So that's was I used it for, just about every other day.

Toss some fatter rubber and ride the heck out of it. It's a bike not a piece of china.

The original rear derailleur indicates, "Patent 1972"

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This is a side shot of the bike

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Masi Registry Italy

Another Masi on this Italian registry is listed as a SL59 with a build of 1972. I would assume mine is from 1972 since it is a "SL63".......

Do you have some pics of the set up? It's pretty unusual to be able to fit a 35c tire on a bike with short reach brakes (39-49 mm); standard or long reach brakes (say 47-57 mm) are a different story. It's not just the brakes that are a problem, the chainstays can be an issue as well when using a larger volume tire on a racing bike.

I have a '93 Bridgestone RB-1 with short reach brakes and it was designed to fit a large volume tire (for a racing bike). It can take a 28c no problem; depending on the tire, I think I could get a 32c tire there as well.

Sheesh. That's one beautiful road bike. I would leave it as such.
But I would definitely lower that seat post before I attached a saddle and sat on it.

Campy "Normal" Reach brakes in 1972 are considered "long" by todays standards.