Marastoni Artisan Road Bicycle 1970s

Licinio Marastoni was born in Reggio Emilia in 1922, the third son of a reasonably successful amateur racer. He was originally destined to become a priest but left school at the age of 11 and decided for cycling and how to build bikes.
He was so skilled that by his 17th birthday, he made frames under his own name.
His bikes sometimes had a very distinctive green colour, to which he was inspired, when he found a lizard on the side of the road on his way home. But also other colours are spotted regularly especially on older Marastoni bikes.

After the war, Licinio had to start over again with a companion. And he started to build bikes which were pretty modern for their time. Came the 70s he made early braze-ons for bottles, cable guides and front derailleurs and maybe the first investment cast lugs in 1970!
Licino did not make too many bikes but every single one was on spot regarding details.
He built frames for several professional riders, including a time trial frame carrying Bianchi decals for Fausto Coppi, and a bunch of frames for Francesco Moser, one of which he rode in his victorious Giro.

Our Marastoni stems from middle 1970s and it is a fine example of an artisanal Italian frame. You can admire the clen lines of the lugs, which are beautifully shaped by the way and on the head tube they are also chrome plated. It also show some typical and then modern details like the brazed-on shifting cable guides. In fact, there are many fine details and unusual solutions. The front derailleur for example has been modified and mounted directly to a brazed on socket. Similar idea is behind the clean lines arounf the fork crown and brake bridge. The brake calipers are monted directly to the frame and fork respectively with no nut on the other side.

As for the equippment, this elaborate frame has been equipped with Campagnolo Nuovo Record gruppo with many pantographed and milled parts.

A bike from such a famous artisan builder is always interesting not only due to its heritage aspects, but also because it still rides so well that an Eroica ride or weekend jaunts are not a problem at all. Quite contrary, riding this machine is quite a pleasant experience!
Checked and ready to go, our Marastoni will be your trustworthy companion for many decades to come. As collectible as it is enjoyable.