1974 Charlie Cunningham Alan
Although the oldest bike in the collection is this weight-weenie road bike, it has an important connection to mountain bike history and the pioneering work of Charlie Cunningham. This bike was the last in a series of road bikes that were highly-modified by Charlie, and served in part as what he has called his informal education into what makes a bike tick. This Alan was originally purchased by Charlie from Mel Pinto Imports in the mid-1970s and subsequently received many modifications over the years to improve function and reduce weight. It also helped him define the limit of "too light", which he was then able to avoid with his own frame building. In 1981, after having built his prototype aluminum mountain bike, Charlie listed this bike for sale in the local classified ads. The proceeds from the sale were specifically used to purchase a welder to begin the first production of aluminum mountain bike frames. The purchaser of the bike had it for 30 years before it was uncovered, reunited with Charlie, and restored to the 1981 configuration.
To save weight, Charlie made extensive use of aluminum, titanium, plastic, and magnesium to modify or fabricate his own parts for the bike. Acts of brilliance, such as the shifter directly integrated into the handlebar, can be recognized as characteristic of Charlie's out-of-the-box thinking. Almost all of the hardware on the bike has been replaced with lighter-weight alternatives. Items such as the rims were ultra lightweight options available at the time. The magnesium lower headset cup and the magnesium stem made by Charlie are simply exotic beyond words. The minimalist bar tape and the tubular tires are by-and-large original to the bike. As it sits, the bike weighs 16.6 pounds.
More information about Cunningham bicycles can be found on the Cunningham Photo Archive page.
To save weight, Charlie made extensive use of aluminum, titanium, plastic, and magnesium to modify or fabricate his own parts for the bike. Acts of brilliance, such as the shifter directly integrated into the handlebar, can be recognized as characteristic of Charlie's out-of-the-box thinking. Almost all of the hardware on the bike has been replaced with lighter-weight alternatives. Items such as the rims were ultra lightweight options available at the time. The magnesium lower headset cup and the magnesium stem made by Charlie are simply exotic beyond words. The minimalist bar tape and the tubular tires are by-and-large original to the bike. As it sits, the bike weighs 16.6 pounds.
More information about Cunningham bicycles can be found on the Cunningham Photo Archive page.
The Build
Year: 1974
S/N: 245080 Frame: Alan Competitzione Fork: Alan Competitzione Stem: Cunningham Magnesium Headset: Cunningham Magnesium / Nylfor Nylon Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Modified Ti Spindle Handlebar: Modified Alloy Shifter: Campagnolo Cunningham Integrated Front Derailleur: Cunningham Ti Re-railleur Rear Derailleur: Suntour Cyclone Brake Levers: Weinmann AG Front Brake: Weinmann Type 500 Rear Brake: Weinmann Type 500 Crankset: Shimano Dura Ace Chainring: Shimano Dura Ace 48 Pedals: Cunningham Modified Zeus Titanium Hubs: Hi-E Cartridge Bearing Rims: Hi-E / Nisi Sludi Mod 290 Tires: Clement Ritmo LB Wheel QR: Hi-E Titanium Seatpost: Cunningham Fixed Angle Saddle: Cunningham Modified Cinelli Unicanitor Bar Tape: Velox Cloth Cogs: Suntour Winner Alloy Chain: Sedis |
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