Originally Posted by
luker
excellent job! it looks wonderful. Is the fork crown unmarked (no Gios or anything?)
No, there's GIOS painted in blue as can be seen from this overly crappy pic (unlucky you, if you want to do a restoration down to a T you need to shop for a fork, too
).
Edit: I've attached another photo, it's the exact same fork just painted differently.
About the adjustable rear dropouts. I have always thought the rear dropouts were designed to alter the c to c length of the wheels. The longer setting was for stage races and the shorter length was for criteriums. Is this so?
Longer setting was for stage races because, due to a longer wheelbase, it offered a bit more comfort. The shorter setting (as read from Gios catalogue from '95) was actually for climbs because it offered more stiffness (read snappier ride) when riding out of saddle. Catalog also states movement of 8 mm back and forth. The thing most people don't realize is Gios came up with this patent in 1984 and the advantage was multifold: besides the rear dropout movement, this was one of the first bikes to offer vertical dropouts which were also replaceable; all standard stuff now but not 25 years ago.
Some people state rear dropout movement is unnecessary but I certainly don't mind having it as an option.
...of all the bikes which have come into my hands over the last several years, the Gios is the only one which I have held on to...
I dare say my bike has a certain charisma (to me at least), so I hear what you are saying. I know mine's a keeper.