Masi Bicycles

Masi Bicycles is a manufacturer of road, track, cyclocross and commuter bicycles based in Vista, California, United States.

History

Faliero Masi commenced making bicycle frames at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milano in the 1950s, after a career as a professional racer and team mechanic. In 1973 his son Alberto took over the Vigorelli shop while Faliero and two assistants came to the US and began production at a new facility in Carlsbad, California after selling the "Cicli Masi" name and trademark to an American businessman, Roland Sahm.^[1]

Later, Faliero returned to Italy. Disputes over volume production caused a break in relations between Masi and the US Masi investors. The ownership of the US trademark remained with the US operation, so the Masi family were unable to sell bikes in the US under their own name.^[2]

Alberto Masi would later release bikes into the US under the "Milano 3V" name.^[3]

The U.S. rights to the Masi name and logo is now owned by Haro Bikes.

Many well-known and successful professional cyclists rode Masi bikes, such as Antonio Maspes,^[4] Fausto Coppi,^[5] Felice Gimondi, Jacques Anquetil^[6] and Eddy Merckx.^[7]

References

1. ^ Howe, Russell W.. "Mario Confente". http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Confente/Confente_art_R_Howe.htm. ^{[self-published source?]}
2. ^ Gensheimer, Kurt (December 1, 2005). "The Mystique of Masi: From Vigorelli to Volumetrica". EBykr. http://www.ebykr.com/2005/12/masi/. ^{[self-published source?]}
3. ^ http://www.milano3v.com/history/
4. ^ http://www.chainedrevolution.com/discuss/2008/10/25/AntonioMaspesCarvesATurnAboardAMasiTrackBike.aspx^{[dead link]}
5. ^ http://www.theracingbicycle.com/Faliero_Masi.html^{[self-published source?]}
6. ^ http://www.chainedrevolution.com/discuss/2008/08/28/JacquesAnquetilHourRecordMasiBike.aspx^{[dead link]}
7. ^ http://www.chainedrevolution.com/discuss/2009/06/29/EddyMerckxSprintsForTheFinishOnHisFaemaMasiTrackBike.aspx^{[dead link]}

External links

• Masi Bikes
• Flickr gallery of Masi bicycles
• Information on vintage Masi bikes, Masi Registry