anybody got a Gios?

on-yer-bike

Maybe looking for a steel frame is the Gios Compact Pro an OK frame?

Monty Dog

I've got one, a 1983 Aerodynamic and had a Compact Pro up until a few years ago. They are not the lightest frames but have that classic steel feel about them - as long as you're not intent in charging up mountains they're great for cruising around. There are actually 2 Gios bike companies now, Alfredo's sons have each gone their own way - one is hawking a range of hideous far east bikes whilst the other is selling a limited range of Italian-build frames: www.giostorino.it - the Record is an update of the Compact Pro and is reasonably priced at 800 Euros. I quite fancy the Record Pista as a summer cruiser.

giant_man

The models on giostorino, to me, are better looking bikes overall. Shame retailers like Racescene are not stocking these; only the far eastern ones. The Carbonio is very appealing.

http://www.giostorino.it/carbonio.aspx#inizio-pagina

derosa

I recall that Robert Millar gave the Gios steel frame ridden by the Kelme team a blinding review in Procycling some years back.

Mozza1

I have a Gios (aluminium) frame which I like a lot. Not the lightest but beautifully built & finished. With light components it's built into a pretty light bike. Nice rarity value.
To clarify the situation with Gios in the UK:
Racescene used to be importers for the UK market, however when Alfredo retired the company sort of split into two; the 'designed in Italy built in the far east' Gios range of bikes (http://www.gios.it/distributors/) & Gios Torino (http://www.giostorino.it/) frames built in Italy for the Italian market only.
Racescene DO NOT import either now although they still have some Gios frames in stock (01226 292111).
However Gios bikes are available on mainland Europe & if you went to Italy Aldo & Marco will be more than happy to sell you a frame.
Would love to drive to Turin & pick up frame or two.................

Tonymufc

As an alternative why not have a look at the Genesis Equilibrium. It got a great review by the Radar test team http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... m-10-36088. And the bike is British.

giant_man

Mozza1 wrote:

I have a Gios (aluminium) frame which I like a lot. Not the lightest but beautifully built & finished. With light components it's built into a pretty light bike. Nice rarity value.
To clarify the situation with Gios in the UK:
Racescene used to be importers for the UK market, however when Alfredo retired the company sort of split into two; the 'designed in Italy built in the far east' Gios range of bikes (http://www.gios.it/distributors/) & Gios Torino (http://www.giostorino.it/) frames built in Italy for the Italian market only.
Racescene DO NOT import either now although they still have some Gios frames in stock (01226 292111).
However Gios bikes are available on mainland Europe & if you went to Italy Aldo & Marco will be more than happy to sell you a frame.
Would love to drive to Turin & pick up frame or two.................

yes, same here!

Monty Dog

I met the 'Gios boys' at L'eroica where they had a stand exhibiting their wares and they kindly gave me a cap - it was good to know that they have a quality product in capable hands. They are akin to Alfa Romeos, stylish and distinctly Italian - the Record Strada and Pista were good value at 800 Euros - I don't care about some mass-produced frame from Taiwan when I can buy something with pedigree and heritage. I've got a nice mix of original and retro parts to go on a fixed gear build and can't think of anything better to hang them from.

on-yer-bike

When did the company split?

Monty Dog

The company split in 2009 - Alfredo tried to reach a mutually acceptable conclusion but one of the sons did a licencing deal with the Far East and hence the range of bikes you see on the Gios website. There was some legal litigation for a while but they have agreed to go seperate ways which is a shame. TBH they had been losing direction for a while - they couldn't keep pace with technology and before the retro/fixie thing took off, nobody was going to pay a premium for an Italian-built aluminium alloy frame either.

dennisn

Have had a Compact Pro for 6 or 8 years now, with steel fork. No problems. Have done 6 Bike Tours of Colorado on it. No problems.

FransJacques

Monty Dog thanks for the info about the two sites - I saw the el cheapo asian sourced one and wanted to cry - it was minging.

A circa 1988 Compact Pro was one of the best 3 months I had until it got stolen :-(.....

I have no idea how heavy it was because people didn't care if a frame was 1800 grams or 2100 grams since there was just SL (light) SLX (slightly more robust) SP (for heavy guys or larger frames) or SPX (for sprinters).

It had the adjustable rear dropouts and a curved unicrown fork. Paint was gorgeous from all angles and in all types of light but the seat stays chipped easily. The chrome OTOH was deep and thick.

The top tubes are short. It rode like heavy stee does...would like to know where it is today...sigh...

Monty Dog

The Compact Pro is no lightweight - the frames were fully chromed and painted. Frame tubing varied depending on model year, I've seen a number of different tubesets - mine was Oria. The new Record Strada is pretty well the same as the Compact Pro except it doesn't feature the adjustable drop-outs, just traditional sloping ones and of course has the older style Gios Torino transfers

FransJacques

Yes, they chromed the whole thing - precisely why the paint didn't stick. I should have mentioned that.

My 1986 Team Miyata is also fully chromed underneath it's paint, which also doesn't stick so well. The work involved to chrome a frame then roughen it up to aid paint adhesion was seen as too much of a faff I guess.

Gios and steel frames are nice, but I'm glad I don't race steel any more, man are 80's frames heavy and whippy!