As to real risk, we had that debate it seems 20 years ago now, but in fact it was probably only 6 or 7 years. Theoretically, any aluminum structure will eventually fail from stress fatigue. Some see this as a clear and present danger. My guess is that at the mileage even an avid noprofessio nal cyclist is likely to log, it probably would take 100 years or more to a pply the number of stress cycles required to cause a fatigue failure in an ALAN frame or fork. Now if a pro racer logs even 20 times the mileage of an avid nonracer, maybe he would destroy one in 5 years, but how many in t he pro peleton ride a frame for 5 years?
So, while this theoretical problem has depressed the prices of ALAN frames, I refuse to be concerned. As I think I said in that much earlier disc ussion, my conecen of being injured by a fatigue failure of an ALAN frame i s about 10% as great as my worry of being struck by lightning. Either co uld happen of course, but neither is worth worrying about. Of course, wh o knows? I may make a premature departure from the list due to the failu re of my all Zeus 2000 ALAN Super Record on a 70 kph descent - or due to a lightning strike.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
From: Harry Travis <travis.harry@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [CR]alan To: "Drew Ellison" <drew@masirider.com> Cc: "classicrendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 11:54 AM
In the Washington DC, USA area Mel Pinto was an early importer. Early being 1975, a year after Alan was started. Pinto built them up with Campagnolo Nuovo Record and put his own decals on them. I've never see the pantographed chainring.
If those are painted flutes on the seatpost, it may be a mid-80's replacement, a copy of a Campy Super Record.
The one you show may be a little later. with the attached cable guides unde r the BB shell. The seat lug and rear break mount show the earliest design.
Drew's Super Record that Drew is a later model post,1980, with heavier tubes featured in the brochures. I suspect that was a response to criticism of flex in the larger frame sizes. Alans came in a dozen sizes. And your friend's bike may have been built up at any time. Melpintoimports.com still lists several NOS framesets.
But, of course, this is an all an indulgence . Alans are screwed and glued aluminum, but grandfathered under the 1983 cutoff for this list. <smile>
Can someone here explain the prejudice vs the real risk of the aluminum Ala n forks?
Harry Travis Washington, DC USA
On Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 11:31 PM, Drew Ellison <drew@masirider.com>
wrote:
> When I got my Alan (Super Record model) a couple of years ago, about the
> only thing Campagnolo on it was the seatpost - two bolt NR model. It's
now
> mostly OT Campagnolo. I love the ride.
>
> Drew Ellison
> Everett, Washington USA
>
>
> On Oct 19, 2008, at 12:09 PM, Sarah Gibson wrote:
>
>
>> http://flickr.com/
>> my girlfriends bike
>> picked up in portland last year
>> since these were taken
>> replaced the no name japanese pedals
>> with some campags
>> levers also
>> which were superbe
>> what seatpillar woulda come with this machine?
>> its got an sr in it right now
>> its 25.0
>> just wondered what woulda been original?
>> this one?
>> any info much appreciated
>> peace
>>
>> sarah gibson
>> kansas city