Gios Course Special
 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelev...7624194974486/http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=173304

This is an interesting Gios Course Special. Does anyone have additional info?
Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelev...th/5047130377/

Front derailleur: Campagnolo Valentino
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Valentino http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in...p/t-76542.html
Brakes: Universal center pull
Brake levers: Shimano DuraAce
Cable guide: Campagnolo
Shifters: Campagnolo
Seat: Schwinn black
Wheels: Nisi Toro http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-193543.html
Tires: Continental Ultra Sport 27 x 1 1/8 (tires and tubes new)
Cranks: generic
Bars: generic
Pedals: generic flat
High flange hubs with Gnutti quick release levers
5 Speed Cassette

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelev...7624194974486/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelev...7624194974486/
Serial number 72869 (the third number could be 5 or 6)

Here's an email from Marco Gios:
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From: Gios Torino [mailto:info@giostorino.it]
Subject: Re: Gios Course specicial
Dear Sir,
This is a Gios Course Special, built in about 300 pieces for America in late sixties. It was a kind of "city bike" racing fitted, with double brake levers. I don't have any other information! Sorry...
Regards,
Marco Gios
---

Are you sure that's a Gios? The simple details on it kinda make it look like a French bike from the early 70's. Not used to seeing the name "Gios" associated with a bike that looks like this, but maybe it's really old, like you said 60's vintage.......Was "Course" used by other Italian makers as a model name? It's just a name that I might associate to maybe an English bike...like maybe a Raleigh or something...... Turkey leg brake levers look like a later 70's add-on too. Those taken off and a good cleaning/servicing might reveal a nice bike under the grease and dirt.

Chombi

From what I understand Gios was actually a run of the mill production bike factory that put out lots of low-end stuff like that and "city bikes" (but not often imported to the US). When they decided to supply a pro level frame for the Brooklyn Team in the early 70's they did a fantastic job and is what they are mainly known for now. But Gios was not a builder to the pros in the way that Masi, Colnago, Cinelli, De Rosa, etc got their start in the bike business.

I've just gotten an interesting email from someone with a similar bike: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelevin/4666259284/
If you click on his name, you'll see his Gios. I lent mine to a friend who is enjoying it as a daily commuter!