This bike has been sitting in our garage since before I was born. I believe it is a 70's era frame in blue and yellow trim and on the down tube it says "Wizard". I'll try and get some pictures, but mostly I was wondering if any one had any knowledge about this frame.

Wizard frames are made by Brian Baylis, one of the premier artisan builders in the USA. He loves to hear about his frames...he has not made many.

Vintage Cycle Studios
1997 Friendship Dr. Suite E El Cajon, California 92020
619.449.5977 brianbaylis@juno.com

Wow, thank you so much for the info. I'll try and get in contact with him. I was going to build up the frame to ride myself, but it doesn't fit me so I went and bought a new bike. I'd still love to have the frame built up just because it's so beautiful even if I can't really ride it.

Brian Baylis and Mike Howard were both early employees of Masi USA when Masi set up shop in Carlsbad, CA in the mid-1970's. In the mid-70's they left Masi and together founded Wizard. They made bikes under that name for just a year or two. Mike then returned to Masi, while Brian started making bikes under his own name. He continues to make some of the most amazing steel bikes to this day. Mike later left Masi again, this time with Gian Simonetti to found Medici bicycles. Medicis were a popular custom steel frame for many years, eventually changing names (briefly) to Simo Cycles and then to Simonetti Cycles. They finally closed up shop a few years ago.

Read more about Brian Baylis and Wizard at http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Baylis_main.htm

These days Brian makes just a few frames a year. I have his newest, completed in October of 2006 after a 3 1/2 year wait. Go to
http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=235881

First, gorgeous bike. Now that you are finished with the build how do you feel about the carbon components as far as how they look with the frame? I see that you used silver brakes; was that your one component piece that maybe you considered retro or ??? I have a Richard Sachs to build up and I go back and forth with going all silver, all carbon (or black) or a mix. Thanks.


Brian Baylis and Mike Howard were both early employees of Masi USA when Masi set up shop in Carlsbad, CA in the mid-1970's. In the mid-70's they left Masi and together founded Wizard. They made bikes under that name for just a year or two. Mike then returned to Masi, while Brian started making bikes under his own name. He continues to make some of the most amazing steel bikes to this day. Mike later left Masi again, this time with Gian Simonetti to found Medici bicycles. Medicis were a popular custom steel frame for many years, eventually changing names (briefly) to Simo Cycles and then to Simonetti Cycles. They finally closed up shop a few years ago.

Read more about Brian Baylis and Wizard at http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Baylis_main.htm

These days Brian makes just a few frames a year. I have one of his very latest, completed in October of 2006 after a 3 1/2 year wait. Go to
http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=235881

Funny you mention Richard Sachs. My RS is from '98. It has the "25th Anniversary" paint job, pearl white with red panels. I've updated mine with new Campy parts just about everytime something new comes out. It's Record 10, with an '06 carbon crank, silver differential brakes, and carbon everything else. But it has a polished Ibis stem and Record pedals, with Neutron wheels. No skeletons or UT stuff. Yet.

The Baylis was built up with all brand new, latest Record components that I bought two years ago. That was when I was initially told the bike would be ready. Brian told me to go ahead and round up parts for it - I did - and then I waited another almost two years for the frame. If I'd waited it would have Record skeleton brakes and a UT crank - but I'd already bought everything in advance. I'm sure that eventually I'll update to black skeletons and UT cranks.

I'm no slave to old components or retro-looking components. Newer is better in that area, as far as I'm concerned. But nothing blows up my skirt like a beautiful lugged frame. Hence the Richard Sachs and two Brian Baylis bikes, in addition to my carbon Orbea Orca, aluminum Orbea Lobular, and aluminum Abici TT bikes.

My RS is foam green and white; done by Bell. I just go back and forth on the build. I have another project ahead of it though (Cannondale built for Cipollini) and I'm leaning towards getting the parts on the Cannondale that I might eventually move over to the RS. Thanks your reply.

Funny you mention Richard Sachs. My RS is from '98. It has the "25th Anniversary" paint job, pearl white with red panels. I've updated mine with new Campy parts just about everytime something new comes out. It's Record 10, with an '06 carbon crank, silver differential brakes, and carbon everything else. But it has a polished Ibis stem and Record pedals, with Neutron wheels. No skeletons or UT stuff. Yet.

The Baylis was built up with all brand new, latest Record components that I bought two years ago. That was when I was initially told the bike would be ready. Brian told me to go ahead and round up parts for it - I did - and then I waited another almost two years for the frame. If I'd waited it would have Record skeleton brakes and a UT crank - but I'd already bought everything in advance. I'm sure that eventually I'll update to black skeletons and UT cranks.

I'm no slave to old components or retro-looking components. Newer is better in that area, as far as I'm concerned. But nothing blows up my skirt like a beautiful lugged frame. Hence the Richard Sachs and two Brian Baylis bikes, in addition to my carbon Orbea Orca, aluminum Orbea Lobular, and aluminum Abici TT bikes.

I sent Brian Baylis an email the other day and he got right back to me. I've got pictures and I'll post them up soon.

Unfortunately the frame has seen some better days. After years of being kept in a full garage surrounded by kids (my sister and I) and our reckless ways the Wizard has some paint damage and corrosion. It looks like the frame is structurally sound. I was laughing to myself when I checked out the components. Campagnolo cranks, suntour rear derailleur, shimano brakes and levers. Also the original wheels and tires are missing for much heavier wheels and fatter tires.

Pictures:
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1708/img0414br2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6660/img0413ay2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3720/img0414wl6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5633/img0419un4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6569/img0422yp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

more:
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1112/img0426nv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4114/img0429km3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6876/img0431cl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2954/img0433pa5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9792/img0436ij7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Also, does anybody have any ideas on putting together parts for a restore of this bike? When I talked to Baylis he said all Campy and '75 era. Are there good places to find NOS parts other than ebay or craigslist?

there are a few specialty shops online. though finding NOS campy c.75 is gonna be a bit pricey, FYI.

check out:
http://www.velostuf.com
http://www.bicycleclassics.com/index.html
http://www.vintagevelos.com
http://www.campyoldy.co.uk

and ebay aint too bad. banna_brain has a lot of stuff and if ever in Santa Barbara, has a shop, Cafe de Velo, with loads more.

there are a few more, but I can't think of where else, i have some links on another comp.

I'm going to have to check out Cafe de Velo the next time I'm in Santa Barbara, sounds pretty cool. Thanks for the info Moschika.

Well I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at the prices, but still. This is definitely going to be a long term project.

Thanks for the info.

edit: almost forgot to mention one last thing. The seat clamp bolt is actually hand made Ti designed and machined by one of my dad's friends as a homework project when he was in school. The guy designs cooling systems for nuclear power plants now. That bolt is pretty rare considering the date (1975) and the material it is made of.

Also, does anybody have any ideas on putting together parts for a restore of this bike? When I talked to Baylis he said all Campy and '75 era. Are there good places to find NOS parts other than ebay or craigslist?

You really do not need to change much, and I would not use NOS parts as the whole bike has a nice "lived in" look already. I would just find clean used pre 1978 Campy Nuovo Record Derailleurs and call it good. The First generation Dura Ace brakes are right at home and were a popular choice at the time, same for the Suntour Barcons. Those are most likely what the bike was built with originally, as the brakes were a lot less money than Campy but still nice quality and the Suntour Barcons worked better than the Campy shifters. You can still find the correct gum hoods for the DA levers from Banana Brain on ebay. You mention the wheelset was changed but do not say what to. Again, a used low-flange Record hub laced to common tubular rims like Super Champions can be bought off ebay for under $150.

As for the frame I would just clean everything up real good and apply a good coat of paste wax. If you are thinking of having it re-painted (which I would not) you should have Brian do it. It will be expensive and take forever, but in the long run be worth it. Plus you will get your money out of it one day if Brian does the work. Again, I think it looks fine as is.

Nice bike. You can definitely see the Masi influence in the seatlug and seat stays. Looks similar to the carlsbad masi's and the medicis that Mike Howard made later.

How's the project coming.

Unfortunately the project is completely stalled out at the moment. I don't have room to spread out for a disassemble and clean up because I'm in a small apartment. I might move it back to my parents garage soon so that I can get started on it. There is a local guy I was talking to to get some wheels and I spotted some cable guides to replace the rusted ones on the bike on ebay.

I'm not in any rush to finish, or even really to get started, since the bike would get minimal use anyway.

I'm not in any rush to finish, or even really to get started, since the bike would get minimal use anyway.

+1 on the advice not to repaint, and to keep the eclectic (and probably period correct components)

+1 on the idea to shop for some good replacement parts & do it when you have time.

It's a lovely bike just to hang onto until you can do it justice:thumbsup:

Ok, finally moving into a bigger place. I'm going to get the Wizard out of storage and start stripping it. My main concern right now is how to deal with the rust. Here's some of the worst of it:

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/7849/img0426ub2.jpg

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5039/img0430pd0.jpg

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6227/img0427mt9.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9342/img0420oe6.jpg

and some bottom bracket goodness

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/1354/img0425hq2.jpg

from the pictures I have it looks like the weels are shimano hubs laced to some sort of clincher hoops

most of that rust looks like it is on the components themselves or is just surface rust, which while not great is nothing to really worry about, that will all be corrected when you repaint it, or if you are not going to do that, then just lightly sand those areas and if you can find a close match, use touch up paint, or even clear nail polish works well.

Great looking bike by the way.