Masi Gran Criterium 1970s Classic Road Bicycle

If you are a cycling enthusiast, you have probably seen the classic 1979 coming of age, Oscar-winning film, Breaking Away. The hero is Dave Stoller, an Indiana cycling buff with dreams of riding with the Team Cinzano. Dave’s Masi is surely one of the most recognizable bicycles in the history of filmmaking, and was a huge part of the engine driving the US “bike boom,” getting so many people interested in cycling in the first place – and, if at all possible, with some Italian flair. At the cross section of cycling and pop culture, you’ll find this very bike. But even if it didn’t have such a prestigious Hollywood pedigree, this Masi for the 70’s – surely their golden era – would be a wildly collectible and desirable machine.

After racing in Monuments like the Giro d’Italia and Milan San Remo in the 1930’s, Faliero Masi took what he learned from racing bikes and started building them, having an almost “sixth sense” as to what a rider needed from his frame to insure a peak performance. This ability earned Masi a nickname – The Tailor – as he built his company renowned for their obsessive attention to detail. By 1950, Masi’s company – Cicli Masi – was turning out frames for some of the most legendary riders in cycling history, all from a space located below the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan (Italy).

Launched in 1970, the Masi Gran Criterium is one of the most sought after Italian bicycles ever manufactured. Inspired by the racing bikes that Masi had built for Eddy Merckx (many riders raced for other teams, though the steel they rode was actually built by Masi), the Gran Criterium is perhaps the pinnacle of Faliero Masi’s achievement. Masi rarely disclosed which steel tubing he used for the Gran Criterium (or any of his other bikes for that matter), but it’s presumably made either of light and sturdy Columbus SL or Reynolds 531 tubes or a mix.
This particular one has has been refurbished and received an elegant beige paintjob. As for the equipment, just the best from Campagnolo found its way to this beauty - full Campagnolo Nuovo Record Groupset, Cinelli cockpit, Martano rims, Cinelli Unicanitor saddle or nice finishing touch in the form of NOS Benotto tape.

The bike has been fully checked in our workshop and is ready to be ridden. Of course it’s suitable for Eroica - wouldn't it look great cruising lets say along the California coast?