Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 303
From: Hervey Bay, Qld, Australia.
Bikes: Colnago (82, 85, 89, 90, 91, 96, 03), 85 Cinelli, 90 Rossin, 83 Alan, 82 Bianchi, 78 Fountain, 2 x Pinarello, Malvern Star (37), Hillman (70's), 80's Beretto Lo-Pro Track, 80's Kenevans Lo-Pro, Columbus Max (95), DeGrandi (80's) Track.
ALAN frames are Italian. They are screwed and glued together. It is possible for a mechanic to dis-assemble the frame to replace a tube (or so the story goes). I know the ALAN frames were used fro many years with great success in cyclocross in Europe (approx. 20 years). I believe they won many world championships.
Many of the frames had aluminium tubes but ALAN did use carbon fibre tubes with their aluminium lugs to produce very desirable frames. Other framemakers did use ALAN frames with their own decals.
The frames are quite comfortable to ride despite being made from aluminium but, rumor has it that they begin to 'sag' with extended use (mine is still very nice to ride).
Mine is a road frame with Campy Super Record. It weighs much the same (slightly lighter) as a regular steel frame of that era. I have also seen Lo-pro frames.
I do see advertisments for ALAN frames in magazines, but they appear to be similar to the regular aluminium frames available today.