Day 2 - The research starts.

Woke up after few hours of sleep with just one thought in mind: clean the bike and discover what model my Masi is.  Soap,  degreaser and sponge.  I found the big M below the bottom bracket. No serial number.  What the hell.  I know nothing about bikes.  I discover that a campagnolo group equips the bike.  Wow. Despite my ignorance I know campagnolo! Shot a lot of pictures following the bob Hovey guide.  Clean is even more nice. I found that front derailleur cable is almost broken.  Handbar is 3ttt. Saddle is san marco. Just brands that I do not know but I know to be famous.  I am over excited
My son what to play with me,  I am distracted by the bike.  I feel like an archaeologist discovering an ancient tomb.  I know nothing about bikes and I am studying and entering in this new field. But I am a researcher and discovering things knowing nothing is job.  This is a new additional and exciting challenge.  I love it.

Day 1 - wow, I have a van gogh

Still shocked i spend most of the nights searching the Internet for masi bike.  I learn the existence of Masi world the nice masi lover who contacted me sent some other message where I can find some additional information.  I discover Bob Hovey website and all his detailed work on Masi bike,  from headtube decal to serial numbers.  Serial numbers? Really my bike has a serial number? Wtf,  I did not know it. And also a big M in the bottom bracket? Wow.  Never noticed. I  frantic and ecstatic.  Eager of new information.  I watch thousands of pictures.  I do my best to identify the model of the bike.  Headtube decal are from mid 80s as my uncle told me.  But no sign of names.  Boh.  Overexcited and happy I fall asleep in front of the computer. Goodnight my new friend.

Day 0 - oh f@ck!!

Just twelve minutes have passed since the publication of the ad and my mobile beep.  The first offer. Creep78 writes: " i offer 80 but I want to know the size of the frame" .  The size of the frame? What the hell is the size of the frame??? After 5 minutes,  another beep: "holygreen55: 80 euro offered".  Great.  And without complicated questions.  Sold in 20minutes. The new Carrera will be mine tomorrow. After two minutes another beep." escher: i offer 100 euro.  Can collect now".  Oh oh.  What the hell is going on here? Are people turning mad? Another beep. A private message.  "cherrypop1965: guys...  What are you doing? You do not have any idea of the value of that bike,  have you? Please withdraw your ad and ask a professional to evaluate your bike. Otherwise call me and I will be pleased to help you or make a proper offer. Jack.  087156323.". WHAT?  I immediately Google Masi and the first hit says : "masi bikes are considered the Ferrari of the bikes. A cult object that will never lose its value".  Meanwhile my wife,  more venial,  goes on ebay and immediately discover: "masi prestige 1986 on sell.  Asking price 2455$ or best offer".  Oh fuck.  What a idiot.  What a ignorant.  I am astonished.  Very astonished but incredibly happy to have found a sort of VanGogh in my basement.

Day 0 - i will sell that old bike.

Ok.  After a short spin in Shankill,  It is decided. I will sell that old red bike. Can't stand it anymore.  The shifters in the down tube are unbearable for me.  In the traffic of the old bray road is quite uncomfortable to change speed. I will sell it and then I will by the new road bike that I saw in Carrickmines. A shining yellow Carrera which cost 400 euro.  Cheap indeed but mi wife won't let me buy it if  I firstly do not sell this old one.  Back home,  had a shower,  and done some pics of the old piece of steal.  Dinner with my son and then I seat in front of the computer and I post on advert.ie : "i sell this vintage Italian bike Masi from mid 80s. Overall good conditions,  some rust,  very good mechanical parts. Need new tires and service. Asking price 80euros." I wonder who will pay 80euro for an old bike from the 80s....

Day -1 - This bike is too old for me!

So this is my bike. It's old. I only know it's from the 80s. I know nothing about bikes, beside the fact that it's very tiring to pedal uphill and once i almost died in Florence when i was trying to climb Monte Morello. The bike was given to me by my uncle almost 20 years ago as he got a new one. I just used it from time to time. Just few hundreds of kilomiters. Very few, actually. I hate the shift. It is located on the down tube. Very uncofortable, almost dangerous if there are a lot of cars around. I want a new one, I saw a Carrera for 400Euros. Tomorrow i will sell this old piece of steel and buy the new one. :-)