If you've been paying close attention to my posts on other Keeper articles lately perhaps you've noticed my stable has been in a state of flux. It all started when Frank texted me a pic of a pair of used demo 404's at his LBS for sale. Well no, that's not true. It really started 10 years ago when I lived in Bellingham, WA. and laid my eyes on the first Kona Jake the Snake I'd ever seen. From then on I wanted a cyclocross bike.
The Kona is a distant memory, so fast forward to last spring. My significant other and I were shopping for a new bike for her at a shop Frank and I used to work near. The salesman working with us was a guy named Bob who actually used to work with Frank and me down the street. Bob was an old friend who knows me as a gear junkie. He's also a damn good salesman. As Sheri and I were paying for her new steed, Bob wheels out an ALAN Cross Carbon Excell from the back that had been special ordered and never picked up. It's a rare steed. ALAN's aren't very common at all in the States but are very well known in cyclocross circles, especially European cyclocross circles. It's full carbon frame and fork with curvy lines immediately gave me carbone. It's also a large frame so it wouldn't fit many people. Being 6'2″ as I am, with a 34″ inseam, Bob thought I'd be just the guy for this beauty. He was right. $2700 and an hour later I walked out of the shop with twice the cross bike I'd lusted over 10 years prior. Last year I was so enamored with the ride quality of the ALAN I slapped road tires on it and used it as my sole machine.
Enter the the Zipps at Frank's LBS. They were to be used on the ALAN this year. They would have worked well too but I never got the opportunity to try the combo out thanks to CompetitiveCyclist's rippin' good deal on last year's BMC SLT01 frameset, perfect for the Zipps. The Team Machine is also the pro-level frame and fork I've wanted for quite some time. I pulled the trigger.
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Anyway, to make a long story short, I've gotten my stable in order and am in compliance with Rule #12. What's more, I was able to live up to Rule #11 without a ruckus whatsoever. Where's the third you may be asking? It's around but I will not speak its name nor post a photo here for fear of losing my newly granted Keeper status.
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View Comments
Love the Brooks saddle on the Alan!
@frank
Not the lightest by any stretch but oh so comfy on those long dirt road rides.
Good enough for Floyd and Tyler? So you're doping now?
@brett
OOOHHH! It's ON!!
@Marko
It's also good enough for George Hincapie; so are you doping and whining like a little bitch?
@brett
@frank
I'm riding around with a broken collar bone, shoe covers on, and being paced by a menonite van
@Marko
HA!!
Sweet pair of bikes. That Alan 'cross bike is really cool.
I just bought a new 29er mountain bike - online! Mail order baby. I'm sure that broke a few rules - no?
@Dan O
Well, you broke the 29ers are stupid rule, and now Rule 58. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
@Dan O
Dude I buy bike shit all the time online, hence the BMC frameset. I live in the sticks, the closest decent bike shop is 4 and a half hours away. I don't think there should be a rule there at all.
Now a 29er, that'd be cool.
@Dan O
I have to say I'm with Brett on this one; if you use a store's brick-and-mortar expertise, you should buy from the store. Unless they're assholes. But if they have a staff that is knowledgeable and friendly, they are incurring lots of costs that online retailers don't have to cover.
But, I also buy things online. Sometimes for convenience, sometimes for speed, sometimes for cost. But anytime I do, I know I'm on my own for warranties and service. On the rare occasion that I can't service the part myself, I make sure Speedy gets an extra tip in the workshop tipping jar.
If memory serves, though, from reading your blog, it appears you demo'd friends bikes, and you're handy with a wrench. I say, just make sure you pay for the shop's time when you need to go pick up 3 foot long spokes for your gigantic wheels.