Originally Posted by
dbakl
Do you have a link?
need to look it up...
Originally Posted by
kroozer
Do you just want to get it on the road quickly, or are you planning a full restoration? I'd do both.
I'd put some 70's vintage European parts on to start with. They look the part, function well, are readily available, yet are still reasonably priced if you steer around the exotic stuff. You can find old sew-up wheelsets quite cheaply, also Mafac brakes, etc. Or buy an early 70's low-end Italian bike for the parts. That way you can ride the GG and see how you like it and get a better idea of how you want to eventually set it up. And you can also take your time about collecting the old 50's components, which are generally much less common and can be expensive.
i agree. For 50ies parts, it is often more cost effective to obtain a donor bike, which can be cheaper than buying the parts separately. The red one from my pics above cost me less than the drivtrain alone would have cost as single pieces, and i shudder how long i would have searched for all those branded parts.
When applying 70ies parts, be aware that some Giras need a 65mm rear brake and a 57 front brake (mine does). Brakes with 65mm reach were rare in the seventies.