<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Land Shark Bicycles =====

Land Shark Bicycles was started in 1983 by John Slawta in his parent's 12'x12' tool shed in North Hollywood, CA((Address verification from: [[https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/find/person/pxnl484ll86u4ruu9n8r9]] and date verification from Land Shark Bicycles website: [[https://landsharkbicycles.com/]] and [[https://www.buzzsprout.com/1968180/episodes/10763030-this-time-we-have-john-slawta-mr-land-shark-custom-bike-builder]].)).
Land Shark moved to Pacoima, CA a few year's later, and finally Medford/Talent, OR in 1991, where John Slawta continues to produce quality aluminum and carbon fiber complete bicycles.

John Slawta skipped art school to pursue his back yard hobby of making bicycles and applying his artistic talents on painting smoothly fillet brazed steel frames.  
Land Shark's greatest moment came when [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Hampsten|Andy Hampsten]] won the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_Giro_d%27Italia|1988 Giro d'Italia]] riding a John Slawta frame painted in [[huffy:start|Huffy]] livery, cementing Land Shark's reputation as a premier road cycling builder.  He has also made bikes for Harrison Ford, Woody Harrelson, and the entire 7-11 team.  His wife has won four National Titles on Land Sharks.
Land Shark Bicycles was named after a 1975 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Shark_(Saturday_Night_Live)|SNL skit]].  

Land Shark is a one man business and John Slawta has built over 7,000 bikes himself, doing all welding, painting, assembling and shipping, usually making 225 bikes/year.  He can produce a custom painted frame in a day but typically takes 6 weeks to produce an order.  His record is nine fillet brazed bare frames in a day ((That day was followed by a night ride)) and twenty-nine painted bikes delivered in a month.  It is possible that he is the most prolific fillet brazing bicycle builder alive.

Resources:
  * [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/43773932186]]
  * [[https://www.instagram.com/landsharkbicycles/]]
  * [[https://www.facebook.com/p/Land-Shark-Bicycles-100067999036034/]]
  * [[https://landsharkbicycles.com/]]
  * [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1191698-landshark-1990-john-slawta-article.html]]
  * [[https://www.buzzsprout.com/1968180/episodes/10763030-this-time-we-have-john-slawta-mr-land-shark-custom-bike-builder]]
  * [[https://www.oregonlive.com/cycling/2009/07/cyclings_thin_wheels_keep_powe.html]]

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<div column 45%>
{{slawta.jpg?400|John Slawta, 2008}}
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John Slawta, 2008 [[https://www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com/c23-bicycles/154-only-a-dolphin-maam-0|handbuiltbicyclenews]]((BTW, many of Che Guevera's formative experiences were done by [[https://www.armenianexplorer.com/article/che-guevara%27s-first-journey-on-a-motorized-bicycle|bicycle]].))

{{gavia.jpg?400|Andy Hampsten, 1988}}
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Andy Hampsten, Gavia Pass, on his way to winning the 1988 Giro d'Italia
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[[https://www.pinterest.com/pin/235805730468226710/|pinterest]].  See also: [[https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/giro-ditalia/forgotten-story-andy-hampstens-1988-giro-win/|outsideonline]]
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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 =====
Frame #5.  Updated components, fillet brazed frame and stem, biplane forks, internal cables for the stem and top tube, brazed on shoulder straps ((One of the earliest example of brazed on straps for a MTB.  There was perhaps only a single maker in 1982 who had these: [[mantis:start#s1982|mantis]].)), pirate motif stickers with at least five skulls and cross bones, rack mount bolts on top of the fork, two bottle cages on the down tube, bottle cage on the stem, brazed on front derailleur, integrated seatpost bolt.  Paint scheme inspired by Pink Floyds [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meddle|Meddle album]].

{{meddle.jpg?200|1983 }}
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Pink Floyd Meddle album cover, [[https://www.amazon.com/Meddle-Pink-Floyd/dp/B019VQS9R4|amazon]]

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<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|1983 }}
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1983
[[ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10209052645492425&set=pcb.927434244011394|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 =====
Frame #10, 24" wheels, built for Jennifer Kraft Slawta.
Possibly a 1983, given Slawta's frame building speed.
Shimano XT M700 v1 derailleurs (1982-84), biplane fork, integrated Campy seatpost bolt, integrated cables in the stem and top tube, pump peg, shoulder strap braze-ons.
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<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 }}
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1984
[[ https://www.facebook.com/cultmtb/posts/pfbid028BYJcXwBDTLax2kTY1Cr3ZCEHqQWZfkofcxd3bfa9sSjPW4JWwHNgwfLiTmyadnUl|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Dirt Shark =====
Shimano M700 v2 (1985), u-brakes, Magura brakes, fillet brazed Tange Prestige frame, Shimano 600 headset, SunTour XC-II pedals (1983-87), Shimano FC-B124 crankset (1986-87).
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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Dirt Shark}}
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1986 Dirt Shark
[[ https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/1987-land-shark-dirt-shark-39620#|pedalroom]]
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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 1987 Dirt Shark =====
#87387.  Shimano Deore XT M730 derailleurs & cranks, Mavic Rando M4 rims, American Classic hubs, fillet brazed from Tange Prestige tubing.

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<div column 45%>
{{1987.jpg?300|1987 Dirt Shark}}
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1987 Dirt Shark
[[ https://www.cultmtb.com/Bikes/Land-Shark-Dirt-Shark-368-1987/|cultmtb]]
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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Dirt Shark =====
1988 Dirt Shark
Frame #88510.
Shimano XT M730 (1986-88), M732 (1989), fillet brazed frame/stem/fork w/Tange Prestige tubing, internal top tube cabling.
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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Dirt Shark}}
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1988 Dirt Shark
[[ https://www.facebook.com/dirtysundaysbike/posts/pfbid0HvNoPBxp1nSoquXMvggnYR93z1eFiPqVgmiUjr6GZy7Z2v9eHjpozARRsSGgHi8el|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Dirt Shark =====
Full Campy Euclid (1988/9 thus), original Mavic RM-20 rims w/new tires.
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<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Dirt Shark}}
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1989 Dirt Shark
[[ https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k1121442841|yahoo.co.jp]]
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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Dirt Shark =====
1990 Dirt Shark
Shimano XT M732 (1989), fillet brazed frame/stem/fork w/Tange Prestige tubing, internal top tube cabling, custom pump.
Frame #901091.


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<div column 45%>
{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Dirt Shark}}
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1990 Dirt Shark
[[ https://www.facebook.com/cultmtb/posts/pfbid0EttQXcjbxCJYMHsKGkKhkQyCAkvDW9reoJMqq8AfmCyBQF4FYz3M8GSuajCJ6Cgbl|facebook]].  See also: [[https://www.facebook.com/cultmtb/posts/pfbid02L7Hi3ahPBE3e83k8ABhpuoe4LttWXQ6QELgYhFSFkZN55xroL37NCHVRjuyrFdPxl|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Dirt Shark =====
Unknown rear derailleur, but probably a Shimano MT-60a front crankset (1990).
fillet brazed frame/fork, internal top tube cabling.
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"Smell the bacon" decal.

</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Dirt Shark}}
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1991 Dirt Shark
[[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/43773932186/permalink/10157946449532187|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1992>
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===== 1992 Dirt Shark =====
Pirate decals, and blinged beyond recognition - but the paint remains.
Fillet brazed frame/fork/stem, internal top tube cabling.  Tange Prestige tubing.

</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1992.jpg?300|1992 Dirt Shark}}
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1992 MTB
[[ https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3574244/|pinkbike]]
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