Would anyone be interested in a 1970's Alan shorter TT bike?

[Casper1978]

To avoid any misunderstanding, I'm not expecting it to be worth a fortune, but neither am I looking to give it away, and I was hoping someone on here might be able to tell me what would be a fair price.

I'm based near Carnforth, Lancashire, and I haven't measured the frame dimensions, but if someone shows me where to measure from and to I'll be happy to get the tape measure out.

Comparisons with modern bikes are probably inappropriate, after all it's nearly 50 years old, and technology has moved on a bit since then, but the bike has a very short wheelbase, so much so that the toeclips foul the front wheel when in fully forward position, a feature which needs to be taken into account when cornering, and I'm told that this is what identifies it as a TT bike.

View attachment 598841

This, together with the fairly straight forks, makes the bike very agile and manoeuvrable, and it performs like a true thoroughbred and is a joy to ride. Particularly impressive is its response to rapid acceleration, which is very impressive indeed. I haven't ridden a modern racing machine so have no point of comparison myself, but I'm sure they must perform better or else Geraint Thomas would still be on 531C. This is an antique, but a very classy one and my pride and joy for many years.

I love the geometry on this bike. The fact that the toeclips catch the front wheel , reminds me of some i guys i used to race with back in the day. i am sure their bikes were more "upright" , which allowed the wheelbase to be shorter. I am no expert , an interesting bike for sure.

 

[Casper1978]

Interesting frame and I hope you get what it's worth as a bike.

The brake clearences and design make it less of a TT bike and more of a fad for short wheelbase road bikes of the early 70's. A TT bike would have been made for Campag piccolo or Weinmann 500 brakes.

Way back then road /Kermesse frames got shorter and shorter wheelbases with vertical dropouts until the boys at Holdsworth called a halt at riding their 75 degree frames and wanted something more practical lol. Those of us with less money pushed the rear wheel forward in the dropout until it was just about to fall out...... And then closed the QR. Pretty stupid really!

The lack of braze ons was also an early 70's fad

Don't think Alan Shorter made his own frames but that one looks like a Liverpoo Green frame, I've got one almost the same badged as a Carhall.

Enjoyed your response , i was always trying to put my rear wheel forward............ then when i was out in a race it was a 50 50 chance the wheel would pull against the frame and rub. Usually had to stop and sort it back to its rearward position, then back to chase the bunch .......

 

[midlife]

Pics or carhall decals. I have mailed them as well but I thought I’d try and post here as well