info on lugged/glued aluminum Concordes

[moki]

I've got my eye on a glued Al Concorde, not certain of the model, as the sticker's scratched, but it looks like "Alara" or something.

Apparently the frames were made by Bridgestone in Japan.

Anyone own one of these? I know I should just go and ride the thing, but it's -30C out and the roads are icy, so a test ride wouldn't tell me much. I've never owned an Aluminum bike before, and lugged Al like Alan, Vitus, etc, seem to have a reputation for flexiness and implosion.

The bike is in my size, light (20.5lbs, with clinchers, bottle cage, cheapo saddle, and old shimano clipless) and in nice shape.

Thoughts?

[moki]

Just came across Bridgestone's 1987 catalog - Radac bonded AL frames

any thoughts on these?

[unworthy1]

a picture would clarify...but the only bell this rings for me is a posting back a few months from a guy in NYC who showed a ALAN frame/fork labeled as a Concorde (with the "e") and it was definitely not a Bridgestone or Japanese product. He was asking what to build it up with. Now there WAS a JP bike that I think was Concord wihout the "e", and could have been a bridgestone and might even have been a "kabuki" type with steel tubes cast into Al "lugs"...but I don't know

[unworthy1]

Hmmm...Ok that's altogether different from the old Kabuki/Bridgestone stuff...looks a lot like a Vitus, but they say it's made by they themselves...no experience with one, but I'd guess a lot like a Vitus in ride characteristics, surprised if Concorde (Benelux) brought those into their catalog from Japan, but crazier things have happened. Flexy, yep, but if you're light it might be OK

[moki]

don't have pics, but this bike is most definitely a Bridgestone, painted in PDM Concorde colours.

So, I guess the question should be: Are Bridgestone Radacs any good? BTW, I've no intention of riding thr aluminum fork - got a spare steel to do the job.

[MajikMan]

Sorry to get off topic but....there's aluminum Vitus as well? Only Vitus tubing I'd ever heard of was French steel.

[unworthy1]

Sorry to get off topic but....there's aluminum Vitus as well? Only Vitus tubing I'd ever heard of was French steel.

Oh yeah, in fact many of the younger readers will have ONLY seen Vitus as an all-aluminum frame with bright annodized colored tubing, and not known that they made steel tubing too

[Elev12k]

Hi,

A friend has a lugged aluminium Concrorde. It is a sweet bike with Campagnolo Super Record:









According to him it isn't the stiffest bike he ever rode.

- Melvin

[silversmith]

but I'd guess a lot like a Vitus in ride characteristics, surprised if Concorde (Benelux) brought those into their catalog from Japan, but crazier things have happened. Flexy, yep, but if you're light it might be OK

Its hard to say.

I ride a bonded aluminum Sakae Ringo Litage. I was able to swap during a ride last summer with a friends similarly constructed Vitus. The Sakae doesn't flex as much as a Vitus, which seems odd because it is a bit lighter than a Vitus.

I'm a Clydesdale and I love my bonded bike.

[unworthy1]

Hi,

A friend has a lugged aluminium Concrorde. It is a sweet bike with Campagnolo Super Record:


According to him it isn't the stiffest bike he ever rode.

- Melvin

Nice pix, thanks for those...details look different from the '87 Radac as well as the SR Litage, and completely unlike an ALAN...does he know who made it for Concorde?

[LWaB]

Can't remember which Japanese mob made them for Concorde, they were stiffer than Alan or Vitus frames though. The tubing diameter was slightly larger.

[Elev12k]

Nice pix, thanks for those...details look different from the '87 Radac as well as the SR Litage, and completely unlike an ALAN...does he know who made it for Concorde?

Can't ask him now, understood he is abroad the upcomming several weeks. I seriously doubt he knows.

Have been told by him the Concorde didn't gave enough stability on decents or it doesn't gave him a sufficient secure feeling on decents. That's why he bought a 2nd modern bike recently.

- Melvin

[wrk101]

Reviving this old thread just briefly. Tore down my aluminum Concorde today. The steering tube is clearly marked Bridgestone, so I would assume Bridgestone made the frames.

[ultraman6970]

Those AL concorde are made by vitus. Concorde is a french brand just in case.

ALAN and Vitus sold to 3rd parties a lot.

ps: 1st time I see a concorde bridgestone, good to know.

[unworthy1]

Concorde is a french brand just in case.

Not exactly: the company was formed by a partnership of 3, a Dutchman, a Belgian and a Frenchman (with a Spanish name). Jose Alvarez dropped out of the partnership leaving it to the 2 from Benelux.
Here's the whole story from the one-and-only Norris Lockley:
"Towards the end of the 80s there was a move by three of the largest
wholesalers in the Benelux and France to form a company with the aim of
killing off the
opposition. the triumvirate was Veltec of Belguim, Weltmeister of Holland,
and Jose Alvarez, the Naploeon of the French lightweeight industry from Auch
near the Pyrenees. The first two went ahead with the venture and formed
CONCORDE,
while Alvarez declared himself bigger than the other two.. and went on his
own very successful way.At the start of the 90s, I can't be exact the new
alliance backed Sean Kelly with Concorde frames for the PDM team.
These frames were sprayed by Van Tperzeele at Geraardsbergen near Ghent (the
Flemish name) or Grammont (in Walloon) some 1km from the foot of the famous
Mur de Grammont of Belgian Classics fame."

[Chombi]

Reviving this old thread just briefly. Tore down my aluminum Concorde today. The steering tube is clearly marked Bridgestone, so I would assume Bridgestone made the frames.

I agree, definitely not a re-badged Vitus 979 or Futural frame from what I see. The lugs, dropouts and fork crown are all very different from what you will find on a Vitus....or an Alan aluminum frame. I think the similarities to other brand frames is just a result of common technologies back then resulting to similar designs from different companies.

Chombi