BlueDevil63 

I've been collecting pretty aggressively since I retired and have been trying to get some top quality pictures of my collection for quite some time. It is amazing how long it takes me to get good pictures. I really know very little about photography but I am learning. This last week I spent a lot of time taking photos so unless someone objects I am going to do a series of threads on some of the bikes in my collection. Most have been restored by me to at least some degree and some were built from framesets. I hope you like. More pictures on my website, link is in signature.

Next is my 81 Gios Super Record. Although I am the fourth owner this bike is nearly NOS. All the previous owners claimed to have never ridden it and it shows. I myself have not ridden it either but have promised myself I will ride it next summer. Almost everything totally original and appears new. I only replaced cable housing which had weathered badly. Brake hoods are also very dry but will work. Supposedly sat in a storage unit in Arizona for many years.

rootboy 

OUCH! Stunning BDevil. Your pics are coming out very well. perhaps you can share your setup with us when you're all done making us drool. THX.

auchencrow

Hi BlueDevil63 -
Your photography skills are really quite as exceptional as your Gios here, and you can be sure that no one is going to object to your posting more pics like that!

Trucker Dan

You got that bike for a steal. That was my friends bike. I kept trying to get him to ride it but he never would. Great pictures. It probably would have gotten a couple more bucks with pictures like that.

thirdgenbird

come on, quit showing off...

the last three bikes you posted are all beautiful. ive been thinking a gios may be my next frameset.

joe englert

me want that bike. me will have to wait to get one off ebay or stumble on to one from craigslist. congrats! you lucky blue devil!!

BlueDevil63 

Yeah I thought it was too. The pictures were a bit rough and I maybe took a bit of a chance but it was exactly as described. Almost new. I was worried because there is lots of talk about counterfeit Gios out there but I am completely convinced, especially now that I have seen it in person, that it is original.

WNG

Out of this world! The Gios is one of my 'Grail' bikes. The condition is amazing. I'd retire happy if I had one!

BlueDevil63 

Well I saw Ray Dobbins pictures and said "Wow I want to take pictures like that", so I read Ray's DIY and tried to set up something like he had. I bought a photo setup off Amazon that included black and white backdrops, a backdrop stand, two light stands, lights and diffusers. Pretty cheap really at $150. I have a Sony a390 DSLR camera. I use a tripod because I can't hold the camera steady enough. I made a set of white and black wheel chocks and stands that blend in with the backdrop. The problem was I don't know enough about the technical aspects of photography. I thought my fancy camera with all it modes would just produce a good picture. But I had problems with it failing to auto focus well (there isn't that much on a bike to focus on) and then problems with lighting (reflections and such) and then problems with depth of field. So I had to learn a few things. I think I am getting things looking alright on the black background, not as good on the white. I am trying to get super sharp, high res images so people can zoom way in on the images on my web site.

Kimmo 

Nice pics.

...Shouldn't a bike photo purist have berated you by now because it's not in top gear with the crank in line with the seat tube?

jan nikolajsen 

..and valves at 12 o'clock!


Modolo Professional calipers and levers are among the nicest made sets of that era.

mkeller234

Wow, beautiful bike.

Have anymore photos?

gioscinelli 

Now that's a real classic! It makes my 85 Gios look used! Next step is to ride that beauty and know what a real steel bike feels like! Happy Holiday's, Mike

Trucker Dan

I will probably hurt you to know but the bike also had nos super record pedals and cinelli toe clips. He sold the pedals and clips a couple of months back.

BlueDevil63 

Yeah I figured something like that. I have picked up a set of near NOS Record SL pedals (black cages) but the titanium Super Records would have been ideal. Too bad they seem to be going for about $300 now.

Trucker Dan

I think he got about 230 for the pedals and 40 for the clips.