Adjustable vertical dropouts
 

GIOS fanatics are probably familiar with this already, though it bears repeating:

http://i.ebayimg.com/15/!CF,r)owB2k~...yc56OQ~~_3.JPG

http://cgi.ebay.com/GIOS-COMPACT-PRO...#ht_500wt_1156

I'm not surprised they didn't catch on - they're little more than a very complex solution to a problem that didn't exist.

-Kurt

It seems like a bunch of bolts that can rattle their way off and cause a major crash.

Guy like to show off his convertible.

That aside, I wouldn't mind trying the Gios compact geometry, weird drops or not.

Probably weights more that conventional dropout. What is the advantage over the horizontal DO?

allowed an even tighter rear than a conventional triangle with short dropouts: with this "compact" configuration you could make any rear tire "kiss" the seat tube, yet still get the rear wheel out for changes.

What is the real advantage of this? I know having a tighter wheel base is good for racing, but I've never been exactly sure why. Is it handling? Better power transfer?

On paper it may claim a such things as nimbler handling, better power transfer (less rear triangle flex since everything isnt quite as long back there), but I don't know, kinda splitting hairs but selling points are selling points. I can kinda see having the rear rim closer to under your body as possible for climbing purposes, but not so sure for just a flat time trial or whatever.

All that aside I wish more builders built machines with geometry like the gios compact, perfect for people like me with long legs and short torso, normal frames are a pain to work with to get the fit good, I always gotta stick a short 60mm stem just so I can ride.