I'll let you know how shallow I am. I don't like the looks of how Gios seat stays are positioned at the seat lug. To my eye, if tehy are attached to the side of the seat lug, they should intersect where the center lines of the two tubes intersect. To put them back behind that line, but still on the seat lug just makes them look haphazardly placed to my eye. This bias of mine regarding the placement of the stay on the seat lug of course does not apply to fastback stays or other styles that don't put the stay on the side of the lug.
I'm being open about this being a preference that is aesthetic in nature. In general, I like other aspects of Gios bikes I've seen. As far as the "build quality" of them in relation to "M" bikes, all of the Gios frames I've seen have investment cast lugs. Generally, investment cast lugs do not require much work with the file. Therefore, the bikes tend to be very uniform (all filed by the same person, no one) and they look like very well filed lugs. That could be the reason they look better to you than "M" bikes. I've never seen an "M" bike from any of the builders that made them that looked structurally poor. In other words, I doubt the Gios is better, at least in the structural sense.
As far as the "steepness" or "comfort" issue goes, it is the most misrepresented, overstated, silly aspect of what goes on in the realm of bicycle folklore and worse yet, in the bicycle marketplace. My position on this (pun intended) is that it is the rider's position on the bike that allows comfort or makes for discomfort. No frame material has a characteristic that will overcome improper position and in my experience, much BS has been used to coat the "materials characteristics" of bicycles with exaggerated properties.
Of course, another factor that colors comfort on bikes is the rider's relative state of condition. Were you ever uncomfortable on a bike when you were 25 years old and rode harder and longer?
Chuck Hoefer
Vista, California USA
I always find it interesting that the GIOS Record/Super Record frames don't get the respect they deserve. In my opinion, GIOS framesets are of the highest quality, and the ride quality is simply outstanding. Whenever someone asks me about good buys on a vintage bike, I always suggest a GIOS frame, because so many folks are more impressed with what I refer to as "snob" marques.
Sure, they were built with short top tubes, but once compensated with a longer stem, you have an outstanding riding machine. I find it interesting to hear them described as not being comfortable or overly steep, as I could ride mine all day long without any discomfort or pain. Understand that ride "quality" is subject to personal preferences, so take my comments for what they are worth. I put in pretty many actual miles on all my bikes, so they simply don't collect "Looking at" dust.
Every time I ride mine and wipe it clean, I am impressed with the build quality throughout. Yes, much better than most of my other highly regarded "M" branded machines.
I recall Rodney Moseman's reaction when I handed my frame to him to him in the early 1980s,,,,,"wow, this frame is light!". For those who don't know Rodney, he owned a local PA shop and built some pretty respectable frames. A true gentleman to boot.
If anyone wants to see a bunch of photos detailing my GIOS, you can view them at the following Wool Jersey address:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
There is actually a pretty nice factory chrome-plated GIOS Professional on eBay right now that is tempting me to buy it!
Regards, Kevin Kruger - Grantville, PA
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