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Old 01-23-17 | 01:32 AM
  #9  
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Chombi
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC

Regarding cracking at the lugs on the ALANs, the place to watch out for them is at the lower head lug, at the front where ALAN pressed in a wreath pantograph, right above the brake caliper. It is suspected that this caused some microcracking right from the factory on some bikes which were exasperated by flexing at th juncture. Cracking there is still relatively rare but is usually the first place one should check before buying a used ALAN frameset.
Cracking sometimes also happens at the seat cluster lug, but even less so than the head lug I mentioned.
Good thing about ALAN's screwed and glued construction is despite some lugs cracking in these areas, most owners do not experience catastrophic failures while riding, as the internal design/structure of the lugs will not just let go of the frame tube when this happens.
Anecdotal evidence shared by most owners that had this happen usually are not even aware that the lug has cracked till they discover it when cleaning their bikes after rides....
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