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1974 Charlie Cunningham Alan

Although one of the oldest bikes 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.

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
Picture
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