This was my impression too. I've seen quite a few "Gios blue" Gios' and the color seems to have changed a bit over time. Part of it could just be the affects of sunlight on their special compound or the clearcoat layer. In my head I can picture three specific bikes and their different colors, though the color's not all that different. An early 90s Gios was a bit darker and glossier. The other two I'm thinking of were from the late 70s, I think, and one seemed to have a little deeper color, where the other appeared flat. It could be in the later two cases a difference in clearcoat. This is all just my memory, but it jives with Marc's thoughts. enjoy, Brandon"monkeyman and Gios fan"Ives SB, CA
On Thursday, May 29, 2003, at 08:45AM, Marc Boral <mbikealive@dslextreme.com> wrote:
>I don't agree with those out there who believe the current Gios blue, and
>touch-up, is the same color as frames from the "Super Record" frame model
>era. I have quite a few Gios bikes from the old era, and a later version,
>as well as later version touch-up paint. I believe the blue from the old
>days is different from current (last 15 years) color. It's closer than
>anything else out there, but different. Just my opinion.
>
>Marc Boral
>Long Beach, CA
>
>-------Original Message-------
>
>From: Patrick@aardvark-pro.com
>Date: Thursday, May 29, 2003 7:47:03 AM
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: RE: [CR]Gios Blue
>
>There was a blurb on Cyclart's web site about the headaches involved
>w/matching Gios Blue, but I'm not sure if it's still posted on their site.
>I seem to remember that Jim Cunningham related he sent the color out to a
>lab/chemist for analysis, or something to that effect. It seems that this
>blurb also mentions the inability to bring in the correct blue paint in from
>Europe. This could certainly be plausible, as I heard that up until 5-6
>years ago, Sikkens paint couldn't be brought in the U.S. due to it's
>chemical content.
>
>One other thing that might be tried is to purchase a small canister of
>"official" Gios Blue touch-up paint from Excel Sports in Boulder, as they
>are the current importer of Gios. This touch-up paint is perfect, as I used
>a small bit on my Gios Super Record. You could perhaps use this as a sample
>for your painter to match.
>
>
>Dave Patrick
>Chelsea, Michigan
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
>[mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of Mara &
>Steven Maasland
>Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 10:20 AM
>Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: [CR]Gios Blue
>
>
>Stephen opined:
>
>> As I understand it the unique "Gios Blue" cannot be duplicated
>> today due to
>> some nasty chemicals that are no longer used or allowed in paint.
>> Maybethey still allow it in Italy? I'm sure others have a better
>> technicalexplanation.
>
>It would seem to me that the environmental laws in the European Union
>are now stricter than those in the US, so since Gios is still painting
>their frames the same colour blue, I rather doubt that it has anything
>to do with chemicals. One of the painters on the list like Brian or Joe
>can probably chime in, but I think that it is simply a multiple step
>paint process that most painter's don't have the patience to replicate.
>Like the Bianchi celeste and Legnano chartreuse, I was always led to
>believe that you needed to first apply one colour, followed by another,
>something that requires too much time for most people today.
>
>Personally, I doubt that there is any colour that cannot be replicated
>perfectly using today's paints.
>
>Twenty years ago, when working for a company that made reflective
>safety equipment, I attempted to paint a frame using a then
>experimental black 3M paint developed for use on road signs. It was
>black with a metallic gold flake during the day and highly retro-
>reflective gold when lights shone on it at night. It didn't apply very
>well to the rounded surfaces of the frame (it was designed for flat
>signs remember), but I have always thought it would be an interesting
>finish.
>
>Steven Maasland
>Morrestown, NJ
>
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Nobody can do everything,
but if everybody did something
everything would get done.
--Gil Scott-Heron--
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