I met Faliero on several occasions when I picked my three Masi Specials in the early 60s. I always wrote ahead with my specifications before i showed up at his famous Vigorelli atelier. I communicated with him in my pigeon Italian (though I could name every part of a frame in Italian), which he seemed to take great pleasure in. My greatest struggle occurred when I asked him to lower the rear break bridge to accommodate a short reach brake (a second front brake) for better stopping power. Of course today it's the norm. But I guess I was a bit ahead of his time because he refused. That much Italian I understood.
Every time I visited his shop, he was wearing a shop apron. In fact on my first visit in 1962, Faliero throughly wiped down the entire bike before he handed it over to me, before I ride off with HIS CREATION. Did he build the frame? I'll never know, and would have slept peacefully until I joined this list. The last time I saw Faliero was in 1980 at the New York Bike Show. After recalling our connection, he treated me like a long lost son.
Recently, CR lister Mateo Brandi, visiting New York, gave me some insight into my meetings with the master. After every encounter, and before I road off with my new bicycle, Faliero would shout "Aguri" (to augur good prospects). I had assumed that simply meant good luck. But Mateo says it is a greeting in northern Italy offered only at New Years. So now I have to wonder; why would Faliero offer such a greeting if I was not on his frame. And, several years later, I wondered if Faliero thought I was an up and coming pro who wanted one of his frames?
Michael Allison
New York, NY