When Islington Cycling Club (ICC) member James Murphy suffered a life-changing cycling accident, resulting in paralysis from the shoulders down, his club rallied round to raise funds for the charity Spinal Research. They are seeking a final £2,000 to reach their goal of £20,000, and are offering this lovingly restored 1979 Alan bike built up with Campagnolo Super Record for the first person to donate the remaining £2,000 or more. The one-off donation would secure this unique Eroica-spec bike, along with spare wheels and a collection of Alan documentation, adverts and posters.
James, also known as Gino, was on a normal ride in February 2024 with two ICC members, when he came off his bike. He hit a kerb headfirst, and the impact seriously damaged his spinal cord. He was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital, where he spent just over two months before being transferred to London Spinal Cord Injury Centre in Stanmore.
James said: “I don’t really have any memory of the accident. How or why I then came off my bike I still don’t know to this day.
“The first thing I remember is waking up in hospital being informed that I had a head and spinal injury and giving consent with my wife for spinal surgery.
“When most of your body doesn’t function any more it’s incredibly tough to suddenly become that dependent and that vulnerable. It’s been hard for me but also so hard for my wife and children. It has felt at times like our future has been taken away and we’re living with a bereavement for the life we were going to have.”
“But one of the things I am learning to do is to enjoy each moment that life presents with the amazing support of family and ICC friends. They have helped me make sense of and start to come to terms with where I am now. I’ve been completely overwhelmed by their friendship.”
Those of us who have suffered serious accidents or incidents, albeit less life changing than Gino’s, can relate to his situation. Also that support and friendship makes a huge difference.
Now about the bike: Alan was formed in 1972, in Italy, and was the first company to offer a fully aluminium frame using an aerospace grade alloy. Alan constructed its frames using a unique method of bonding tubes and lugs together using a special glue, which also originated from the aeronautical industry.
This 54cm frame was made in 1979, and has been built up with a Campagnolo Super Record groupset from the same era, plus Cinelli stem, bars and bar tape.
These components would have graced many pro riders’ bikes at the time, and it’s most definitely luxury Eroica-spec today. The Eroica sportive Rules are here, and you can scroll down to section 6.1 for the bike specific rules.
Although the main body of the wheels feature tubular tyres and a ‘corncob’ 13-19t 7-speed freewheel for that 1970s pro rider experience, there are a pair of Mavic Open Pro/Campagnolo hub wheels included, with a more knee-friendly 13-24t freewheel. Clincher tyres are fitted to these rims too.
Nick Finley, who donated the Alan bike, said: “I remember the day I bought this bike almost 35 years ago. I wanted something a bit special and it was perfect.
“I rode it for many years including my daily commute along the Euston Road, weekends back home in Derbyshire, undulating Breton byways and several cols in the Pyrenees. It is both beautiful and a pleasure to ride. I cannot think of a better way to part company with it nor thank Jeremy enough for turning it into the machine it was always intended to be.”
The restoration was taken on by club member Jeremy Antscherl, a consultant facial surgeon who restores bikes in his spare time. He said: “Over my career I have treated many cyclists who have crashed or been knocked off their bikes and fully appreciate the life changing consequences of cycling injuries.
“This historic bike is a real piece of Italian sculpture, and whoever buys it will know their money is going to a cause that should be close to every cyclist’s heart.”
The £18,000 that has been raised so far by ICC members has been through a series of sponsored activities, including a 2,400km solo ride from London to Lisbon, the London-Edinburgh-London randonnée, ICC’s annual Great Escape sportive, club rides to Brighton and Cambridge, and a comedy evening with Kathy Maniura, otherwise known as ‘The Cycling Man’.
The Islington Cycling Club campaign page has full contact and donation links, should you wish to help. The ICC JustGiving fundraising page is here.
You can contact Jeremy to ask questions and arrange to view the bike using the email chair@islington.cc.
1979 Alan Super Record Specification
- 54cm frame with age-correct reproduction Alan decals
- Campagnolo Super Record group set:
- Front derailleur
- Rear derailleur
- Drilled brake levers
- Cobalto brake calipers
- Crankset 52 42
- Bottom bracket
- Pedals with toe caps (colour co-ordinated toe straps)
- Headset
- Seatpost
- Simplex SLJ retro friction downtube levers
- Cinelli Giro D’Italia 64 42 bars
- Cinelli 1A 120 mm stem
- Cinelli cork bar tape (colour co-ordinated)
- Selle Italia Bernard Hinault Turbo saddle
- Mavic GP4 Tubular rims with Miche competition hubs
- Vittoria Strada Tubular tyres
- Maillard – Sachs 13-19 ‘corncob’ freewheel
ICC will also provide an additional set of Mavic open Pro / Campagnolo clincher wheels with Panaracer road tyres and 13-24 freewheel and a collection of Alan documentation, adverts and posters.
