Refering to Alan frames there were lively debates on a german Internet forum on the ride quality and the evident problems on tubes getting loose and such. Some riders reported that thy destroyed their frames while riding but none reported a total collapse, such as the frame falls apart. When the glued joints come loose it is noticed by ghost shifting and by a softer feel of the frame in sprints or while climbing. A lot of frames suffered this problems but not all. My guess is that a lot of riders who claimed their frames being overly soft and instable have experienced a defect frame without noticing it. There was one rider claiming his frame was stiff and o.k. when he got it, but collapsed during a red-light sprint experiencing the ghost shfting and then the soft feel. Obviously when the joints start to get loose they do not necessarily slip out of the lugs but develop play which leads to softness. So according to these reports I would consider the frames save for general riding and no risk to your health. On the other hand close inspection and testing of each frame is required when getting a new to you Alan. Therefore the prices might be adapted to this circumstances when buying a used Alan frame especially via the internet.
Regards
Michael Schmid Oberammergau Germany Tel.: +49 8821 798790 Fax.:+49 8821 798791 mail: schmid@zunterer.com http://www.zunterer.com
-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] Im Auftrag von Jerome & Elizabeth Moos Gesendet: Dienstag, 21. Oktober 2008 02:49 An: Drew Ellison; Harry Travis Cc: classicrendezvous Betreff: Re: [CR]alan
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