Help/ advice re vintage Alan bike.
- Thread starter Helen.S.
- Start date
stringfellow1946
Senior Retro Guru
That's useful thanks. Would this still be here is say it was a Donnay version- I've been told via other people on here that Alan made bikes for other companies too! ... Tbh I don't mind what it is but it is interesting finding out... And I want to sell so need to know so I can correctly advertise. I appreciate your kind help x
That's useful thanks. Would this still be here is say it was a Donnay version- I've been told via other people on here that Alan made bikes for other companies too! ... Tbh I don't mind what it is but it is interesting finding out... And I want to sell so need to know so I can correctly advertise. I appreciate your kind help x. I'll have a look tomorrow when I'm off work.
stringfellow1946
Senior Retro Guru
I don't think it would have ALAN on the Bottom Bracket or on the Frame tube lugs if it was not a Genuine ALAN. BUT i'm not 100% sure on that one but I suspect someone else will know. It was Just the patten in the carbon weave that made me think it was a British Eagle Pro Carbon frame as I used to sell them in the shop? & i'd not seen anything quite like it before or since. BUT it was way back in the early 90's.
I was intrigued that it doesn't have ALAN on the seat stays or any markings on the lugs, which is why I suggested one made for Donnay. I also noticed that the carbon weave looks different to other pictures of ALANs I've seen.
Lots of pictures of a British Eagle here, including a shot of under the bottom bracket to compare to the ALAN one:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=174151
and interesting that it has much the same 105 kit on it as this one.
Also info on the different carbon weaves here:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=205105
"Mine was 'made in Belgium' but uses the same lugs as the Alan Record Carbonio but with different weave tubes on at least the surface. A.R.C seems to use bi-directional weave on its outer layer where the Donnay and yours from the pics i can see use uni."
One last thing: all the pictures of Donnays and British Eagles (and some versions of the ALAN) have three cable guides on the top tube; this one appears to be missing the central one. Could have just come off at some point (I guess they're glued on), or does it suggests it is different again?
Edit: this B.E. has two, just the same: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... amp;type=1
so I'm definitely veering more towards British Eagle now.
All very interesting, but I guess the bottom line is whether the sale values of the different frames (ALAN, Donnay, British Eagle, ...) are significantly different. Anybody have an opinion on that?
Nick
Lots of pictures of a British Eagle here, including a shot of under the bottom bracket to compare to the ALAN one:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=174151
and interesting that it has much the same 105 kit on it as this one.
Also info on the different carbon weaves here:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=205105
"Mine was 'made in Belgium' but uses the same lugs as the Alan Record Carbonio but with different weave tubes on at least the surface. A.R.C seems to use bi-directional weave on its outer layer where the Donnay and yours from the pics i can see use uni."
One last thing: all the pictures of Donnays and British Eagles (and some versions of the ALAN) have three cable guides on the top tube; this one appears to be missing the central one. Could have just come off at some point (I guess they're glued on), or does it suggests it is different again?
Edit: this B.E. has two, just the same: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... amp;type=1
so I'm definitely veering more towards British Eagle now.
All very interesting, but I guess the bottom line is whether the sale values of the different frames (ALAN, Donnay, British Eagle, ...) are significantly different. Anybody have an opinion on that?
Nick
Ha ha.... I will do some further investigation! From reading the posts your have linked above it seems that there are a few bikes around where the origin is uncertain! I will try to look further for stamps/indication of make ... And compare up close some of the pictures from other posts were Bikes are ? Alan/Donnay/British eagle. Looking at pics so far the Donnay looks most like the one I have in terms of it all being black carbon aside from the joints which are aluminium. I must confess I never knew bikes were so complicated - so glad of all your advice/ comment.
Yes, thoughts on price comparison (sale as whole ideally) based on outcome if make would be really useful. I'll get back to you re. my findings. Ta x
Yes, thoughts on price comparison (sale as whole ideally) based on outcome if make would be really useful. I'll get back to you re. my findings. Ta x
Happy Friday to you all! So, there is no Alan stamp underneath (just a number and the bike frame size). Perhaps giving firm evidence that it isn't a straight forward Alan. Possibly a British Eagle, a Donnay ... Or something else perhaps made bit influenced by Alan (and sold under a different name). I've attached a few more close ups of joints (are these what you refer to as 'lugs?') to see if this helps draw some final conclusions. X
Ps Also, any thought in what us best to clean the bike with? I can't take it apart but can give it a but if a tidy up.
Ps Also, any thought in what us best to clean the bike with? I can't take it apart but can give it a but if a tidy up.
Attachments
Re:
"are these what you refer to as 'lugs?'" --- see, you're talking (and taking pictures) like an old retrobiker already
I can see no difference between the lugs and bottom bracket here and on an Alan, apart from the word "Alan". So did Alan provide the lugs for British Eagle, and then they were assembled in the UK with different carbon tubes? I don't know.
I'd make a start on cleaning with some hot soapy water and a soft cloth. It is possible to polish up the lugs to make them all shiny (see the links to some of the other bikes), but life may be too short for polishing lugs... and it shouldn't change people's opinion about the bike's value, anyway. The 105/Dura Ace components are anodised or coated, so shouldn't need (or benefit from) any polishing.
Nick
"are these what you refer to as 'lugs?'" --- see, you're talking (and taking pictures) like an old retrobiker already
I can see no difference between the lugs and bottom bracket here and on an Alan, apart from the word "Alan". So did Alan provide the lugs for British Eagle, and then they were assembled in the UK with different carbon tubes? I don't know.
I'd make a start on cleaning with some hot soapy water and a soft cloth. It is possible to polish up the lugs to make them all shiny (see the links to some of the other bikes), but life may be too short for polishing lugs... and it shouldn't change people's opinion about the bike's value, anyway. The 105/Dura Ace components are anodised or coated, so shouldn't need (or benefit from) any polishing.
Nick
get me! Thanks as always for your helpful clear advice. Maybe someone else might know more or confirm... If not certain maybe they have some suggestions on what I write to advertise it?! :/ xSimilar threads
