[CR]All the praise heaped on the lowly, ALAN frame

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Bianca Pratorius" <biankita@comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 19:58:04 -0400
Subject: [CR]All the praise heaped on the lowly, ALAN frame

Quite frankly, I can not see the affectionate praise currently being heaped on the on topic ALAN bike. I have one sitting in front of me as I speak, and granted, mine is a junker with two hairline cracks and a major break in the seat lug but .... Please tell me what's so attractive about the wreath on the top head lug and please tell me what's the fuss about the tiny ALAN engraved on the lower head tube lug. As an artistic statement, if anything, these flourishes are not in the spirit of the rest of frame. The frame is clunky and heavy handed. The tubes glued to the lugs have less grace than a nicely done copper plumbing joint. The rear dropouts are a piece with about as much flow and beauty as a tinker toy part but without the timeless appeal to child and parent alike. If this bike is a breakthrough in technology, the look of it falls far short of the Ericaphone, the VW Bug, or even the first Walkman. This bike ain't no Laser either.

Garth Libre in Miami Fl USA, currently stripping parts off an ALAN. The rest of the bike minus the fork will go in the garbage or back to the shop to be welded into a beater for the local poor.