Don't you love how personal bicycles are? Charles, in describing why he doesn't like the Gios ride, explains perfectly why I do!
I have one of the original Gios models, c. 1975, so very much right out of "A Sunday From Hell". Totally different ride from my '71 Masi and '74 Colnago (although this is a nice mix of both ride styles). Definitely a sprinters bike (hence I guess explains why De Vlaeminck seemed at his best riding one), built to be ridden "on the drops" and for aggressive riders (me!). I suspect the later models with the crowns were stiffer still as were most 1980s machines and probably like my Ciocc. The Gios probably isn't a great hill climber but would be aces on time trials and actually it wouldn't be my choice on pave due to its light front end feeling. But all this is down to personal preferences I guess and I am just glad there were these distinctions. Of this classic mid 1970s era, I would still nominate my '74 Motobecane Team Champ and '74 Colnago as the best overall racing bikes I own for all-around ride. But the Gios is unmatched for a 25 mile good thrashing!
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA