Larry Trotter and the Case of the Golden Gios...

Now. I've wanted a Gios for years. Literally. That lovely blue, the straight to it, simple but beautiful aesthetic that is a miles away from the showy Colnago pantographing, but the Italian built craftsmanship and heritage...

So, when I stumbled across this a month ago I was a little taken aback. Once I convinced myself it is indeed a 1986 Gios Compact Pro, I wanted it enough that I overlooked the fact that not only is it a few cm larger than is ideal, but also... Gold. Yes. I've seen them, white, blue and even red, but never Gold. And its original, though since I promptly bought it at what was a pretty bargain price I have not been able to find out anything about it.

Now, I can't decide what to do... after taking it out for a long ride I got used to the compact geometry and really liked the feel of it, as although large I could ride it comfortably enough with a lowered saddle and slightly shorter stem, so I stripped it down to get it re-sprayed the Gios blue I want it to be.

Thing is I can't bring myself to do it, as although the paint is not mint, it is original and I hate to re-clothe it just out of vanity when a few small touch ups would do, but I never figured I'd be the Ron Jeremy of the Gios owners club. To make choices harder I finally got my much abused Colnago fixed and overhauled for a fraction of the price I thought it would be, which is making this bare frame look like it could be in storage for a while.

What to do? Anyone know anything about this golden phenomenon?

http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad29 ... CF2118.jpg
http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad29 ... CF2123.jpg
http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad29 ... CF2122.jpg
http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad29 ... CF2119.jpg

Dunno about they yellow - but I've seen white Gios before.

I reckon that's a respray - the headtube lugs and rear ends on the Compact are generally chromed - may be worth scratching a little bit of the paint away e.g. remove one of the sliding drop-outs. Stickers are plentiful available.

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/gios-misc/4.jpg

Just found this pretty funny footnote to Gios history in Bulgier-Alfredo and Aldo posing with a Blue and Red Gios each. No chromed stays or lugs though, so having poked about at the drops already I still think its the genuine paintjob... Strange. Must've been some fit of mid 80's kitsch extravagance.

Gregorio":35yikcps said:

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/gios-misc/4.jpg

Just found this pretty funny footnote to Gios history in Bulgier-Alfredo and Aldo posing with a Blue and Red Gios each. No chromed stays or lugs though, so having poked about at the drops already I still think its the genuine paintjob... Strange. Must've been some fit of mid 80's kitsch extravagance.

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Surely if it's the wrong size for you spending money on a spray isn't ideal anyhow? Could you not ebay this and buy a frame in the correct size in the correct colour? I'd if you put this on the bay and were willing to ship the US and Far East the gold colour might fetch a premium, esp if you can prove it to be original.

The thought had crossed my mind... esp cos I saw a mafac gold chainset with matching brakes the other day. Kitsch to the max-some misguided soul's got to love it!

Gregorio":12lt25ue said:

The thought had crossed my mind... esp cos I saw a mafac gold chainset with matching brakes the other day. Kitsch to the max-some misguided soul's got to love it!

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Misguided soul or discerning Gent? Either way this'd look the part on it > http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-ICS-18k- ... 0471839211

Definately not repaint. Especially if it is an original paint in good condition I wouldn't do it. You can only 1x decide to ruin an original paintjob and there is no way back, so only repaint when strictly necessary I would think. Given there are already so many blue, there is even more reason to preserve this unique and imho really nice paintjob.

Why not build it and acquire a 2nd slightly smaller blue one next to it?

John said:

Gregorio said:

The thought had crossed my mind... esp cos I saw a mafac gold chainset with matching brakes the other day. Kitsch to the max-some misguided soul's got to love it!

Click to expand...

Misguided soul or discerning Gent? Either way this'd look the part on it > http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-ICS-18k- ... 0471839211

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:shock:

Wow. $5000 for something that is as unattractive as it is pointless! Not so much the aesthetics as the sheer excessiveness that I find distasteful. If you're a millionaire and like bikes then why not... Definitely not something to leave locked up outside the pub though!

Elev12k said:

Definately not repaint. Especially if it is an original paint in good condition I wouldn't do it. You can only 1x decide to ruin an original paintjob and there is no way back, so only repaint when strictly necessary I would think. Given there are already so many blue, there is even more reason to preserve this unique and imho really nice paintjob.

Why not build it and acquire a 2nd slightly smaller blue one next to it?

Click to expand...

I would if I had the cash... but its a slippery slope and I'd end up having way too many bikes with not enough money to do any of them justice. Between that and the Flying Scot I've got going I'd be hard pressed. Maybe the gold Gios would fund a blue equivalent-will think it over but less and less in favour of respraying it. Kitting it out in gold everything is an experiment in bad taste is morbidly appealing too lol