[CR] Was: Q for members. Now: Alan aluminum bikes

(Example: Books:Ron Kitching)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:44:24 -0800
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Cc: clintonsimmons@gmail.com
Subject: [CR] Was: Q for members. Now: Alan aluminum bikes


I have an ALAN competition bought 5 years ago for $450 (shipped) in "very fine" condition. The bike appears to have 1000-2000 miles on it. There are no nicks to the anodizing larger than a grain of sand. The bike is full gran sport with Record crankset and mechs and seatpost, MA40 rims and Avocet fasgrip tires. Here's some info on the framesets :

Olympic : I don't know I've never seen one. Competition : no braze-ons, wreath insignias engraved onto head lugs Super Record : shifter & toptube braze-ons, triangle cutouts on lugs.

In the vintage era ALANs were a breakthrough at 2400 grams for the frame and aluminum fork. As sheldon & mike kone say in the vintage guide, it was common to "trick out" these bikes with the lightest parts. My bike had a cobra ALU derailleur bolt and the gransport calipers but record levers. The shifters are gransport and I presume they are the lightest. The rims weren't light (480g) but the tires were and still are the fastest on the planet. My bike had a 210 gram velojet ("systeme") team saddle.

I upgraded my bike with a super record seatpost ($22, corroded, now highly dremel-polished), SR chainrings($?), and an everest ($45) alloy freewheel.

I haven't weighed it but I estimate it's ~19 lbs, I could probably get it down to 18 with light tubular wheels.

When I polish this bik, the gold, black and silver are contrasts are spectacular. Great fun for only about $500.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, cA, USA