Alans are neat. They were in production until the mid-2000s, as the ALU-303 model, although not imported into the US. I think the Vitus 979 is prettier, but I like 'em both. At my size and weight, I'd actually maybe be better on an Alan... they had a reputation of being the tougher frame, although that's possibly mythology. (I wonder if that idea got started because Alan made cyclocross frames and Vitus didn't?)

--Shannon