Now, I'm pretty well known as a really enthusiastic cynic, and a bottom-feeder who has a small collection of well-ridden bikes. Patina and scratches. B-class, as it were. No NOS wall queen stuff.
But, I'm curious enough that I looked at the pictures and read the description. I'm happy to consider this bike on-topic, but (without much more information), it looks to me like the triumph of craft over engineering. To me, aluminum tubes in an engineered bike will be larger diameter. Just part of the difference between steel and aluminum, if you want similar performance. To me, which alloy is used matters, a lot, for aluminum. I have no idea what Sabliere used. It is described as gas-welded. I can conceive of this, but have no knowledge of it, but wonder why someone would have used this instead of MIG, TIG, or whatever.
The fork and its crown, if aluminum, would be cause for concern, but I suspect that it is a chromed steel crown (and steerer?) bonded to Al blades.
But, if someone brings it to Cirque, I'll sure admire the pretty critter.
harvey "not a fan of Alan frames, either" sachs mcLean va usa. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don Gillies wrote:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/
This top-of-the-line gas-welded and hand-polished frame has a few things i've never seen with an on-topic frameset, such as : (a) An intentional no-bolt seat cluster, the seat is attached with an expander bolt, and (b) amazingly executed and profiled joints, especially for the head tube joints.
All told, the frame looks as if it were chromed, but its all polished aluminum alloy. If you believe gary klein, this will fail because it was not annealed to stress relieve the frame after brazing, but until that day comes, you've got an 18.5 lb masterpiece with polished mavic ssc componentry.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA