[CR]Confente, Masi, etc... real or forgery?

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "Dennis" <dennis@mrpconsulting.com>
To: "Classics" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 20:39:34 -0700
Subject: [CR]Confente, Masi, etc... real or forgery?

Hi all,

I have been enjoying reading all the posts from those of you out there about Masi this and Masi that, Confente and why I should spend more than I can really afford (and what people will think of me if I do not mortgage the house for one), real brake hoods vs. forged, why the Mona Lisa is smiling and so many more topics that will never get resolved. There is not enough hard drive storage out there on the entire Internet to hold all the text that has yet to be written on these subjects.

I have a few pre 1985 bikes. I ride them, all of them. I do not abuse them nor worship them. I take very good care of them. If you check out the pictures on my web site, you will see that some of the pictures of some of the bikes show my speedplay pedals and Specialized Body Geometry saddle. Who made my Masi? I don't know. The serial number B8001B for those of you out there who know and would like to answer. I do know that I will not enjoy the ride or fantastic craftsmanship any more or less by knowing who held the torch or who applied the decals (let alone the name of the guy who packed and shipped it!).

This is supposed to be fun. Ride what you like. Buy what you can afford. Do not pass judgment on someone else who has not been around the Veledrome as many laps as you or may not have as deep pockets as you may. DONT' CALL THEM IGNORANT! High prices? What about the buyers who are paying them? It takes two to close a deal. The buyer is just as much to blame as the seller. Sure, I have on occasion paid more than I wanted to for stuff off of Ebay, but nobody was twisting my arm when I hit the "submit bid" button. Sometimes Ebay is the only place I can find the parts I want (notice I said want, not need). Once, a fellow Ebay member with the initials KD contacted me about paying too much for stuff. When I asked for his help in locating parts, he totally ignored me and did not help me locate anything I wanted -er I mean needed. I am the one who has to be happy with my choice in bicycles/parts. It is nice to have something that others will admire, but in the end, I have to be happy with my bike.

There. I will get down off of my soap box now. I would have considered it my two cents worth, but with the postal rates going up, I will need the extra two cents to help pay for the stamp to put on the envelope when I send in my house payment.

Dennis Stover
Arleta, CA
http://home.ix.netcom.com/~santana/