Alberto Masi‘s enigmatic Volumetrica frame caused as much discussion upon it’s arrival as the crimped tubes on Colnago’s Master. Leave it to the Italians to passionately explore every variation on a steel-framed bicycle, it wouldn’t have been too long before one of them had the novel thought of putting the lugs inside the tubes.
With the advent of thinner-walled, larger diameter tubing, it was possible for Alberto to create a custom cast lug for the tubes to fit over like a sleeve. A ring of silver, sandwiched between the two, is heated by the torch brazing the tubes and when it melts, it flows into the join. The internally lugged method produces a very stiff frame, the thinner tubes granting a reduction in weight that’s made up by the increased tube diameter. Sounds like the only winner is the sales distributor, glad to have one up on Colnago’s crimped tubes which, during the mid 80s, were all the rage.
This immaculate Volumetrica belongs to the awe-inspiring Speed Bicycle collection of Stefan Schaefter. You can see more details of the Masi there, as well as the rest of his museum. But be warned, extended viewing will seriously damage your productivity.
