The Second time is a really a charm "Gios Compact" pic heavy
 

A few weeks ago I got very lucky...I was preparing for a trip to NYC and on a lark, while packing just for the heck of it I decided to look at CL I had promised myself that I would be out of the bike business for a while (LOL). While browsing I saw an add for a Road Bike and parts, bottom pics showed a campy crank and some rusty campy brakes. The add had been up for a fews days so surely it had to be gone by now...so no harm in making contact, right?
I saw that the add said Gios and I love the ride that my Record gives and although I had never heard anything about the Gios Compact ( any good?), the price was right...I thought it was worth a try.
I sent a contact by email and received a message back that the bike was sold and the buyer was on his way, so apparently another person had spotted the Gios too.
A day passed and I was on my way to the airport that day when I received a text that the person never showed up and if I wanted it, the bike was still for sale. The seller was the original owner and bought in 88, never dropped or crashed.
I called one of my friends to ask if he could pick up the frame wheels and miscellaneous parts for me and left for NYC, hoping for the best but expecting the just O.K.
Add below

http://i64.tinypic.com/r2t64h.png
When I got back, I went out see my new found "treasure", the frame was straight with no dents a very little paint loss, the fork had a campy HS and some minor rust etc. It needed a good wash and wax so for the 100.00 that I paid I felt that I was ahead.... 3 of the wheels had campy record hubs.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2vta6i1.jpg
Box of rusty parts
http://i65.tinypic.com/33mtufq.png

I wanted to see what was in the BOC so that was, next, I began peeling away the rusty grubby parts I saw a glimpse of what looked like something special.


http://i65.tinypic.com/2qa5x7a.jpg

This is what I found....
http://i65.tinypic.com/167jpe0.jpg
There were 3 nearly complete campy groups( sans cranks and BB), Chorus, Record and Campy brifters with rear cog and chain... not counting the Victory crank, there was no seat post or saddle, but I am not complaining at all.
This will be my second Gios the first being a Blue Record...as I said, I don't know much about the compact but excited to see how it rides.
I will start a cleanup and rebuild shortly and will post pics as it progresses...I know that I will need to change the BB because I want all campy on this frame. I need to decide if I will use the Deltas or something else.
So there is truth in the old saying the second time is a charm.
Have a Good Labor Day!
Ben

...it's a tight and light bike. They have adjustable vertical drops on the rear, and sometimes the screws that hold them on the frame are seized in place and need some work. I have one, in lavender purple, and I wanted to put 700x25's on it, and in order to fit those tyres I needed to slide the drops all the way back....that's how tight the geometry is.

They got lusted after and sold to a lot of amateur racers when they were new. Good, solid, fast, steel bicycle from the golden age.

Be careful with those through the top tube cable fittings, they can break... difficult to find replacements.

3Ar,
Thanks for the information, I have the rear drop bolts soaking right now and one of the cable guides is already gone with the other one in need of some work.
Any idea what the group would be for the 88?
Best, Ben

...sorry, I have no idea. Mine is put together with Dura Ace indexing and a close ratio freewheel in the back. I think maybe I upgraded to dual pivot sidepull brakes.
I bought it from a kid who was racing it in Cat 3 or some such, and he had set it up to fit his own needs, so I set it up to fit mine when I got it.

...IIRC, someone figured out another source for those cable guides in this thread.

Nice score!
Good mix of parts - some refurb needed here and there, but clear winner for the money.
You could clean up and sell the deltas and recoup your money and then some. Deltas of all flavors are selling (closed/sold auctions) for $250-400, more for NOS/9/10+
The ITM stem looks pretty minty, too. 120mm?

That frame should build up into a nice rider - I remember when those came out.

Hello S.L,
Yes, new meaning to the BOC..it was amazing to me that someone had passe o the bike and that it was still there, the frame in my estimation was well worth the asking price.
I was surprised by all of the stuff that was packed into the box.
I tried to clean the frame a little last night and it looks like the years of grime will come off easily and I will post pics soon.
Best, Ben

3Ar, Thanks for the link, I found some on the bay.
Best, Ben

:beer:

See, it's not just in the movies ;) Great score

Thanks for the information, I noticed that the two non-brifter levers are different and since I am not a Campy expert on the newer groups I am posting some additional pics.
http://i68.tinypic.com/28smwd2.jpg
Are they Chorus?
http://i63.tinypic.com/sy4fg6.jpg
Deltas are very nice with no blems...which generation?
http://i65.tinypic.com/rk1sfk.jpg
correct 120 nice