1980-1981 ALAN compettizione

[bm0p700f]

Well I have started the ALAN build. Well I got as far as finding out was frame it is well I think I have found out what it is and rebuilding the headset as I have none of the other parts.

It has a campy BB and the headset is unknown but good. Now if the bike is a competitzione from 1980-1981 I was 5/6 year old when it was built so quite frankly I do not know much about bikes from this era.

The OLD for the rear is 126mm which complicates matters a bit. I also want to fit kit from 1980-1981 only to this bike. So would this have been equipped with a 6 speed freewheel back in the day and friction down tube shifters. As that is the going rate for a set of hubs from this era. I want to run Campag record or Shimano Dura ace/ax. But if any early 80's groupset cropped up complete I would tempted.

What rims from this period should I be looking for to completment this build. Ideally I would like to find a NOS wheel set but seperate hubs and rims are not an issue as I can build wheels.

Yes the forks are the round type :shock:

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

I don't know how I missed this! Watch the forks. Mine appear to be loosening at the rather vital crown/steerer interface! If you ever want to sell.....

As to rims, my bike was of a very similar year to yours and when I got it it had tubs on it. I still have the rims which are Olympic Montreals. Were the olympics there around then?

The rest of the stuff you could argue is up to you. Groupset loyalty was not so strong then! Suntour Superbe seems to be almost the law for the front mech on quality bike of that era.

 

[monty dog]

I had a 'moment' with a pair of Alan forks - they went all wobbly on me, rode home, dropped the fork to find the steerer cracked about 3/4 way round! Threaded aluminium steerers are never a good idea.

In terms of Campagnolo Montreal rims, they were later - period would be a pair of Mavic red-label rims like GP4s, Campagnolo Victory or Ambrosio Sythesis.

If you can't quite stretch to Campagnolo Super Record for which you'll pay a premium, look at components from Miche or Gipiemme which can be had for far more reasonable money. There were few compatibility problems then, parts were relatively more expensive and mix'n'match was common - a full SR groupset was only for pros / the very flush.

 

[daccordimark]

a full SR groupset was only for pros / the very flush.

I was neither - that must make me a poser I guess!

Mark.

 

[orbeas]

Alan frames

Alan's were always famous for flexy front forks especially on the cross frames.
I rode for Alan in the 80's and my first ride on my Alan, after my steel frames, I could not believe the front wheel shake...
The road frames were better, but think after 20 years, you need to be careful..
Vitus frames are worse for falling to bits,
rumour has it that Sean Kelly's Kas team used them for 2 months and then sent them back for rebonding..
I have a Vitus X frame which looked fine till I rode it and the frame came apart at the bottom bracket.. Its hanging on the wall now and looks cool..
so beware of bonded alloy frame or buy loads of apoxy resin and a frame jig !!!!!

 

[chipper]

I have an Alan cross frame and the front fork flex is very alarming,legend has it , that if you put the front brake on hard enough, the front wheel kisses the down tube . Anyway I had enough of it and fitted a pair of trusty 531 forks.

 

[orbeas]

alan frames

I have an Alan cross frame and the front fork flex is very alarming,legend has it , that if you put the front brake on hard enough, the front wheel kisses the down tube . Anyway I had enough of it and fitted a pair of trusty 531 forks.

Thats true from new, so imagine how weak they are after 20 plus years, plus the loading on the head tube lugs..

 

[monty dog]

My Alan flexy-fork story was coming down the Wicklow Gap eastbound on my Record Carbonio at over 60kph and as I came to the s-bends I got huge shimmy. Changed my shorts and the forks not much soon after!

 

[duffer2]

That frame looks lovely! IMHO, I wouldn't get too obsessive about contemporary components - its an ageless design, so anything beautiful and shiny would suit best ...I'd go for a polished Mavic Starfish crank for maximum impact!

Take the scarmongery with a dose of salt if you intend to use it for the road - my Pug Comete (AKA: widowmaker) is still serving well as a daily commuter after 25 years and I jump curbs with it. My 10 year old Elise probably used a very similar epoxy adhesive - I wrote it off by hitting a stone wall backwards at 30...walked away unharmed with no chassis failure!

Just consider it a very good excuse to check it over and clean the frame every ride!

 

[bm0p700f]

The forks do worry me, I might sell them and get some new carbon ones for peace of mind. However I have never ridden them and they look from the outside crack free. Still a worry though.