Sending an Alan Back?

[Iwasgoodonce]

Is it possible? Has anyone done it? I have a 1980 Alan which I would dearly love to get back on the road.

Certainly the forks seem to be coming a little unglued (like me) which is worrying!

Has anyone had any experience with the Alan factory? Is it something they could do or are they now 100% carbon?

Thanks.

 

[bm0p700f]

Which ALAN is like the one in my sig?

No experience of the ALAN factory, I doubt they would restore them. It is probably a good idea to replace then with carbon forks anyway. The you can run a 1" threadles headset and a modern stem and bike that bike up to date. There is a good reason why glued ALu forks are nt made any more.

Having said that I have an ALAN with the original round forks and I plan to ride it once I have sorted the wheel and everything else.

 

[bobbinogs]

To be fair, I thought the tubes/forks aren't just glued but tapped/screwed and glued (at least according to this). Could be wrong though as mine (an '89 Competition, btw) is still solid so I haven't seen one deconstructed.

It might be worth contacting the son of the chap who made the frames in Italy as I have found him to be quite helpful (Alberto Falconi, [email protected]). He is the 'AL' in ALAN (his sister Anna was the 'AN'!). However, I would be tempted to see if there was a UK alu expert who could look at it first rather than shipping out/back.

 

[monty dog]

I remember an article in the comic many years ago where they took an Alan frame to Dauphin Sport, when it was run by Alan Mills - and they pulled it apart with heat and re-glued it.
Having had a pair of Alan forks 'go soft' on me to find the steered cracked most of the way around I'd replace with a more recent carbon fork - it'll improve the handling too.

 

[daccordimark]

I remember an article in the comic many years ago where they took an Alan frame to Dauphin Sport, when it was run by Alan Mills - and they pulled it apart with heat and re-glued it.
Having had a pair of Alan forks 'go soft' on me to find the steered cracked most of the way around I'd replace with a more recent carbon fork - it'll improve the handling too.

One too many Alans there - it was Tony Mills I think.

Mark.

 

[monty dog]

Oops - brain fart - indeed Tony Mills it was