Help/ advice re vintage Alan bike.

[Helen.S.]

Hi all. After I mistakenly posted in the mountain bike section (I am not familiar with any if this, and came here after advice from a friend).... And receiving some really kind and helpful advice, I thought I better post in the correct place! In brief, I find myself in a position if selling my husbands road bike (he died of cancer age 38, 2 years ago) as it is of no use to me or our little boy. I have been given the following advice and managed to learn a bit myself on the way! But I would appreciate any further views and thoughts before I offer it up for sale. The MTB guys said I should ask on this part if the forum. I know nothing much about bikes so please excuse my everyday language or descriptions! Most of the below is copied off replies and messages I've had.

From advice I've been given:
It is an Alan carbonio 52cm frame but with no obvious engraving so it has been suggested it might be a Donnay version? I'm
Prob late 19080's early 1990's. I don't think it had been used for at least 10 years but has been stored indoors.
Most components are Shimano 105SC (the 1055 version from the early 90s). I need to check the wheel hubs but prob wheel hubs, but prob also 105SC (and they have a 7 speed hyperglide cassette).
The wheel rims are Mavic MA40, and they are "clinchers".
DT Swiss stainless steel spokes front and rear.
The seat post & handlebar stem are Shimano Dura Ace 7400.

As I say I welcome further comments from you all and thoughts on sale price (and where). If prefer to sell as a whole bike if at all possible as I'm trying to avoid too much faffing about.

Many thanks in advance for any help/advice offered.

 

[andy---doe]

Sorry I can't be any help on the model or value, but I'm sure somebody will be along soon with some advice.

Please don't sell it like that - spend a short time cleaning it and it will look lovely and command a far higher price.

 

[lewisfoto]

Re:

It seems the advice up to now is accurate. Shimano 105 would be a bit of a downgrade for a Carbonio so maybe the group was added later? (this theory is bolstered somewhat by the Dura-Ace stem and post.) Shimano stamped two letter date codes into their parts, easiest to find on the back of the crank arm. Compare the date codes on the 105 bits to the date code on the Dura Ace bits to see if they agree. I think the Dura-Ace is older and that would help to nail down a date. In the code the first letter is the year and the second is the month of manufacture. (As a caveat, I have personally noted irregularities in the date code but it is generally correct.)

The Alan was notorious for coming apart at the glued junctures, particularly the carbon models. I would clean and inspect each bond to see if there is any separation, particularly at the bottom bracket (the part of the frame where the cranks connect. Also, as noted, I would clean it up a bit before the sale, but I would not pay to have it tuned as you will likely not recapture that expense.

Value is a bit of a wild card since I am in the States and prices are very localized but I would guess £200 to £300


http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Japan/ ... _codes.htm

 

[Robbied196]

Well, I have to say I've never heard of an Alan coming apart although I've heard plenty of tails about Vitus who also bonded frames. However, the bonded frame debate has been well covered. Best place to sell if you want the maximum return is Ebay but give it a clean and take plenty of photo's. Your local bike shop or Halfords will probably give you a bike box, so if you offer to post it you will get more interest and more bids. You can book a collection from your house and it should cost around £15 for delivery.

My guess then would be £400+

 

[Helen.S.]

Thanks! Someone else pm me and suggested cost of whole bike prob £400-500. I will take your advice about cleaning it up a bit and then some nice new photos. ... And info about boxes/postage is helpful too. Have you used a particularly delivery company? Thanks. I also have a local fb page if cycle enthusiasts where I could possibly advertise? I feel a bit unsure about ebay but I hear what you are saying. Many thanks x

 

[Robbied196]

Have you used a particularly delivery company?

Try one of these:

http://www.parcelmonkey.co.uk/

http://www.p4d.co.uk/

You can get various quotes but the norm seems to be around £15

 

[Helen.S.]

Re:

V helpful. Thanks x

 

[Helen.S.]

There is no evidence of cracks or like it is coming sort anywhere. It all feels still very much fixed and secure. The 105 stamp on the 'crank arm' ( I finally figured which bit of the bike this was!) is OJ (1990 Oct) but I don't know how to find it on the duraace handle bar post or seat post?! Also the only sticker on the whole bike (apart from wheel rims) is this ... (See pic). ??

 

[47p2]

There should be a serial number and frame size number stamped underneath the bottom bracket. Not sure about carbon bikes but ALAN used to date stamp their alloy frames on the seat tube just below the clamping area.

As far as I know they started making carbon frames around 1986 until the early 1990s and the 1055 groupset dates from 1990-1991 so I would say the entire outfit is most likely from around 1990. I would also suspect the 1055 groupset was original as it has a 105 headset fitted and looks like it has been there a long time.

The image above is the Cinelli logo, something someone has styck onto the frame at some time in the past

 

[stringfellow1946]

I'm not convinced that this is an ALAN Record Carbonio. British Eagle used to sell a carbon tube frame (Pro Carbon) which was an exact copy of the ALAN. I assume that it was made by ALAN for British Eagle as it looks identical to the genuine ALAN one apart from the canon tubes & the detailing on the Lugs. The only reason for mentioning this is that the close up photos of the tubing reminds me of the British Eagle one i.e. the carbon weave is very different to the genuine ALAN & the seat lugs look totaly different they are not embossed or have the gold band. But thats only my opinion for what its worth??
Photos of the underside of the Bottom Bracket should confirm it one way or the other.