I am in the process of building up a newly acquired NOS Alan cyclocross frame. The idea started not just from the desire for a new project -- but from a desire to race cyclocross this fall. Of course, I couldn't resist the urge to assemble a bike both race-worthy and "classic." Luckily this isn't very difficult in 'cross, which is quite tradition-centred.
Since the "glued-and-screwed" Alan cyclocross frames were, to the best of my knowledge, produced unchanged from the late seventies until around 2004, my "theme" for this build is going to be something like "light, race-worthy, preferably aluminum components produced any time between the late 70s and 2004, with an emphasis on components that were produced unchanged over a long period."
I suppose a TA Pro 5 Vis crankset would be best in terms of "staying power," but I'm interested in what little I've read about a cyclocross- specific TA crank: the Tevano 144bcd, 42-tooth single-ring set with double guards. Harris Cyclery appears to have had these in stock until recently. Does anyone have any experience with them?
Details on the rest of the build to follow! I am tentatively planning on using some Mavic MTB hubs laced to some newer Mavic tubular rims, Mafac or Mafac-copy cantilevers, and Suntour bar-end shifters (for durability, tradition, and sheer contrarianness.)
Adam Hammond
Tonronto, Ontario, Canada