I have two ALANS, which I bought new in 1978 amd 1981. Still going strong. I bought a Motobecane Prolight (a rebranded Vitus) in the mid-80's. Had it all built up with Sugino Aero Mighty (anyone remember that?) when I discovered that the rear triangle was badly misaligned. Motobecane wanted the shop to cold set it. I am not a mettalurgist, just a humble chemical engineer, but I know better than to cold set an aluminum frame. (Can you say STRESS RISER?) so I said Hell No!!! They eventually refunded my money and I sold the Aero Mighty gruppo to a member of my club. Wish I had kept the gruppo.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> If you are thinking about buying a Vitus, I might suggest that you
> should instead consider an ALAN aluminum-framed bicycle. There are
> three reasons to prefer these bikes over vitus.
>
> 1. ALANs were the FIRST bonded aluminum bike. The Vitus was a cheap
> french imitation. A Vitus bike is just bonded (glued). An ALAN bike
> is glued _and_ screwed together. The ALAN bikes are much more
> durable. I was on a ride recently (on my ALAN) and a friend said that
> his Vitus 979 fork came apart when he was polishing it. Yech!
>
> 2. The ALAN bike is STILL being made. I think you should buy one and
> put a brooks saddle on it. These are about the only 2 pieces of
> bicycle equipment that haven't changed in 30 years.
>
> 3. Some people think that highly polished stainless steel lugs look
> cool. Well, the lugs of an alan bike aren't anodized, and if you
> polish them they would put a Kirk Pacenti or Henry James lugs to shame
> !!! (no offense kirk & henry). The ALAN has cool engraving on the
> head tube that I think a Vitus bike lacks. And the ALAN tubes are
> typically anodized in really cool colors!
>
> http://www.alan-bikeframes.com/
> http://www.alan-bikeframes.com/
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA