GIOS has two running threads, so I figured I'd make three.

GIOS has a new website, at www.gios.it ! Take a look.

I say this primarily for two reasons:

1. They partnered with a Japanese company, I don't know if this is good or bad. Your thoughts?

2. Their new models this year are excellent! I don't see any lugs, but I also don't see any carbon fiber! They have a bunch of steel bikes, and are using their older decal style again! Most of their new bikes are steel, and they have some cool models. (I like the new cross bike with flat bars.)

Go take a look! I hope their business is excellent, and we see the whole industry start moving back to steel....

My thoughts are that they couldn't make it any more difficult to buy one of their bikes... unless you live in, or import one from, Japan.

I was seriously looking at buying a frame a couple of months ago, but gave up because I couldn't source one (okay, there is a certain US dealer - but they want faxed copies of your passport before they'll ship to the UK... yeah, right).

Have GIOS fallen out with ALL the dealers in Europe?

I don't understand what's going on.

The bikes look nice, but none on there are really mind-blowing to me. Still, it's good to see more variety in the marketplace, but I'm also a little bit less of a hardcore "steel-is-real" preacher. I'll be curious to see price tags and hear more about distribution.

I think the partnership with a "Top Japanese Company" is probably good in the sense that it will increase their distribution network. To my other point about my curiosity, it's interesting how little information is given about anything: manufacture, distribution, who the partnership is with, etc.

This one is perfect for you.

https://www.gios.it/bikes/?****io

Best bike name ever.

The ****io was 115, 500 yen on a japanese website, which translated to about 1400 USD.

Which is pretty good. Even with shipping and all.

Is it me, or does it seem like steel is making a comeback? I've been seeing non-lugged steel bikes creeping into the line ups of a few mfrs.

****z on, my brother.

The Italian Cycling Journal blogged about the distribution deal and changes at GIOS a couple of days ago:

What's Going On With GIOS?

GIOS, Re-inventing Itself

GIOS, Re-inventing Itself, Part II

yikes:

Those are the ugliest brake levers I've ever seen.

None of the line of bikes use lugs anymore...I love lugs...now I hate Gios.

Look at that bike. i think the brake levers are the least of this GAY-OS's problems.

Come on, really?

are those zip ties I see as cable clamps???
Hideous bike.

I'm afraid you do.

I thought the "Vintage" looks like a fairly nice bike, I'd buy it faster than the Spec. Allez steel bike...



Wonder what the price would be.

Embracing the worst years of the steel bike, tigged joints and unicrown forks, seems like a non starter to me.

It's funny becuase Gios for the last ten years or so actually had the most traditional modern models in their catalog. The Compact Pro is a true classic and was available in a very original form. Their aluminum race frames featured round tubes, traditional geometry, and really classic paint and graphics. The only problem was getting one.

Now that they seem like they are going to address the distribution issue their whole lineup looks like crap. Pretty sad really.

I don't think it looks that bad really, maybe not our perfect cup of tea. I wonder if the Gios can come close to the low price tag of the Allez. I haven't compared specs between the two.

Anyway, for someone looking for a steel road bike that doesn't really care about total nostalgia... it's really not that bad.

That was my point, I was comparing it to the Allez.

Yeah, the Allez doesn't look too bad at all. 600 something is pretty decent for a brand new steel bike. I hope my local specialized dealer gets one so I can have a closer look at it and maybe a test ride.

Turns out that GIOS had some legal debate and that the company has split two ways. The stuff we've seen so far is oriented towards entry level.

Traditional GIOS bikes are still in italy, at www.giostorino.it .

There you have your lugs galore.

Thank god, for a minute there I thought Gios got bought out by some Chinese company.

Looks as if the Japanese Gios bikes may be intended strictly for the Japanese market. All the models I looked at, including the horizontal top tube bikes, show 54 cm as the biggest size.

Re-invention? More like self-destruction.

There isn't a single mention in any of this stuff about CUSTOMERS. All I want to know is where - outside of Japan - I can buy one. Madness.

GIOS has had a special, different prescence in Japan, and that seems to have been finalized by it's Osaka branch. Which seems like it's definitely in the Japanese market. I don't ride anything but Japanese-size bikes anyway. (I'm 25% Japanese, and have the 5'3" thing going for me)

But I would rather have a real, lugged steel bike anytime.

I emailed them, to see if they'd repaint my bike. Twice. No reply.

I emailed the www.giostorino.it email address, and got my reply withing 12 hours. It was courteous, but I was told they couldn't ship worldwide, so I'd have to bring the frame to Italy to have it repainted.

Hahaha, that would be the ultimate restoration... And a dream vacation.

But I agree, the biggest problem with GIOS is their market is so small. It's hard to get one of their bikes.

I highly reccomend that you email them at www.giostorino.it, not their other website, and ask how you can get one of their frames.

-Nick