1971 Masi Milano Gran Criterium, first year signed Faliero Masi Unrstored.
This bike was obtained from Brian Bayless. According to Brian it was owned by man who had ordered the bike from a Johns Bike Shop in Pasadena, California. Brian says that he has been chasing the man to buy the bike from him years. Brian wrote me saying "I called him every 5 years or so between 1972 and 1998 when I bought it." Apparently the man agreed to sell it when he entered a retirement home at the age of 80. If the bike has 2000 miles on it that would be a lot. With the exception of tires and brake hoods it is complete right up to the Masi water bottle. It still has the original yellow paint on the cable ends. As can be seen by the date stamped on the steerer tube it was built in June of 1971.