KonAaron Snake 

This looked like a very odd duck to me. The lugs look like Raleigh Technium glue technology, but the tubing diameter and style make me think steel.

Any thoughts as to what this is? It was very light.

jebensch

Looks like the early carbon frames from Alan that got badged as Guerciotti and Look and maybe some others. I had the Look briefly for the SR group on it, and the drops and lugs were all identical to this Gerch and the others I've seen.

wrk101

Rebadged Alan, saw one around here about a year ago.

KonAaron Snake 

Interesting...I think I'll probably pass on it, but interesting.

cudak888 

As the others have said - rebadged ALAN bonded aluminum frame. Pass on it.

I know a strong local rider who owned two of them, new, in '86. Popped the downtube out of the first one in less than 3 months. Frame was warranted. Second frame did the same thing. ALAN refused to warranty that one.

-Kurt

Chombi

If I remember correctly, the Alans were both glued AND screwed together, so one would think that they might be a bit stronger than other early aluminum or composite lugged bikes.
I think that many riders bought this frame very conciously knowing that it's was very new technology then, so they should not have been surprised itf it was so different from the steel framed bikes they rode before it (stiffness wise, and yes, maybe ultimate stregnth-wise....as they were meant to be different to satrt with. "Bugs" are just something you deal with with new tech/products for anything out there. ...Uhmmm...maybe that's why many turned to lugless welded construction for aluminum bikes after these??....
I'll take that Guerciotti/Alan frame in a second and build it up for my small stable of bikes. I don't have Cadell Evans wattage in my legs to bust it most likely anyway!

Chombi

KonAaron Snake 

Chombi...I'm more than happy to help you get it if you're interested.

I think you're right Kurt...I'd never ride it.

bigbossman 

I had a one for a while, and rode it a bit. It was a nice riding bike and I had no issues with it. Worth a look if you can get it cheap. I think I paid about $300 for mine with full Dura Ace group. I rode it as a commute bike for a year, and then sold it for more than I paid for it.

KonAaron Snake 

The Dura Ace group is worth that! He wants $200...I'll pass.

tugrul

Hmm, saw one on ebay the other day.



Sold for $137.50, for future reference.

DiegoFrogs

What shop was it in West Philly? Boy I miss that place some times...

KonAaron Snake 

I don't think it has a name...there's no sign with one anyway. It's on 52nd...fairly close to Baltimore. It's a pretty rough neighborhood and I don't think too many people really know about it. He often gets some pretty interesting things...he had a 60s Frejus in there a bit ago...some wooden rims...leather saddle made in Italy...

The down side is that he's a fairly sharp old bird and if he smells money on you, the prices jump up. He also keeps "whenever I'm around" hours and will often close for an hour to grab a sandwich, do laundry, etc. He had some decent deals...nothing to jump up and down over...

There was a Univega Viva Sport with some Suntour Cyclone for about $200 (he could probably be talked down)...a few lower end Cannondales for around $150...

DiegoFrogs

I lived in Philly from 2000-2004, and near 34th and Race (by Drexel) in the last year. I would have paid $150 for a Cannondale...

Yeah, I tried not to go too far west of, say, 48th Street. In fact, I bought a low end, busted fork Nishiki Marina around 48th, but I can't remember the cross street. West Philly had lots of pockets of wealth and absolute poverty lightly tossed in crack and balsamic vinaigrette. It was at once intriguing, and it scared me to death.

I once went to meet a guy, thinking I had gotten a CAD drafting gig at a desperate time in my life, at his house on Osage around 54th or so. Turns out, he had picked another guy, but said this wasn't competition, but "networking." He wanted me to go up on the roof with him to "taste" some "herbs," and he looked exactly like Jerry Garcia. I'm pretty slow on foot, but I set the land speed record getting the hell out of there...

KonAaron Snake 

It's actually gotten nicer out there since 04'...there are fewer pockets of slime balls. Those folks got priced out and moved to Overbrook and Upper Darby. It's fine if you like a lot of self righteous 20 year olds and students.

rhm

Ha, I lived on 48th near Baltimore, '92 - '95. Diego Frogs describes it well.

The thing that amazed me the most about West Philadelphia was the stuff people throw away. One time I was walking the dog and I came home with a Singer sewing machine in its mahogany table and a pair of PX-10 wheels. A block from my home was a Spanish ten speed bike with what looked like Campy parts but they were in fact Zeus. I struggled home with the sewing machine and the wheels and the dog, and ran back... but the trash men had already been there.

KonAaron Snake 

That's pretty much how I got Bauer's Merckx...I'm not going to complain about it! Also trash picked the Schwinn triplet.

nlerner

I lived in west Philly from 1978-80 and still hung out there often with friends for the two years after that. What was most impressive was the efficiency of car thieves. Seems like every other person I knew had a car stolen, and it was always a matter of there one moment and gone the next.

Neal

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

If anything I would say this bike shop is rare...

But I thought, Nah forget it. Yo Homes to BEL-AIR!

DiegoFrogs

I walked all over the area, probably 12-15 miles, last time I visited. It definitely was much different.

I had the strange experience of living across the street from the place where Ira Einhorn killed his live in girlfriend, put her in a trunk and continued to live with her for a long time. I think the rent in that place is probably still very affordable, even after only 35 years or so. When I moved out kind of quickly, I left a lot of stuff, and a guy living in that building was thrilled to get my 1978 Varsity.

One night I came home from work, about 4:00 a.m., to find my neighborhood on television on A&E. Creepy stuff.

I was fortunate to live near Taco Lou's truck on 34th, which would open at about 11:00 on thursday-saturday nights to cater to the drunk crowd. One night, while wearing my "Temple University" hoodie, I was accosted by some frat types, only to have my honor defended by "Willie," the (edit: self described) 1987 golden gloves champion of Philly and homeless dude extraordinaire. Talking to him and giving him a couple bucks (and a few beers) during that year probably saved my life.

Chombi

Thank you for the offer Aaron,
If this came up three months ago, I would have surely been interested and trying to get this particualr frame as it looks to be in good condition and the size looks close to correct for me.
Plus I was really trying to start up an Italian Build after dealing with French bikes most of my life.
But this year's build-up plans took a sharp turn back towards a French bike as a bunch of nice and more affordable French components and wheelset parts started popping up for me
I'll hold off again till I finish my project in progress and hopefully these Alan/Guerciotti frames would still pop up for my consideration.
Thanks again for the offer!

Chombi