The story of Land Shark bicycles is inseparable from that of its founder, John Slawta. Slawta’s early ambition was to become a professional artist. He received a scholarship from the Pasadena School of Art and Design, but got sidetracked by his hobby—building bicycle frames in his parents’ backyard tool shed. His frames attracted a cult following among cyclists who admired his precisely brazed frame joints and exotic paint jobs. He named his bike frames after the protagonist in an old “Saturday Night Live” skit that played off the “Jaws” movies.
Building bikes became serious business for Slawta and Land Shark in 1986 when he was asked to build several for a group of professional riders, including Andy Hampsten, Roy Knickman and Steve Hegg. Slawta responded by building what became some of the most sought-after bike frames available. A 1988 letter from Andy Hampsten, then riding in Belgium on one of Slawta’s bicycles, hangs on the wall in John’s Land Shark fabrication shop. “Thanks for the bitchin’ bike,” says Hampsten, who went on to win the Giro d’Italia riding his Land Shark.
Word spread from professionals, fanatical amateurs to weekend warriors, celebrities, and the rest of the cycling world. Clients include actors Harrison Ford, Woody Harrelson, Michael Nouri, Olympic volleyball great Karch Kiraly, ex-Laker Billy Thompson, former SF 49er Dwight Clark, and the list goes on.
As Land Shark grew, John moved his shop from Los Angeles, CA to Medford, OR in 1991, and continues building every Land Shark frame himself. Many are surprised to find that Land Shark is something like an army of one. “They ask me if I’ll tell the painter how to paint it, “ chuckles John, “and I tell them that I’m the painter, too.” Riders appreciate being able to talk directly to the man who’s building their dream machine. “You tell him what you’re looking for,” says Land Shark owner Glen Gann, “and he knows what to do.”
Even now, the most sophisticated custom bicycle frames rely not on computerized gizmos, but rather the work of a seasoned craftsman who combines mechanical talents his artistic flare. Slawta hand brazes all Dedacciai steel alloy frame joints, fusing the thin walled tubes with a small bead of brass. The specialized steel is too sensitive for traditional welding, and as John notes, “brazing is to ordinary welding like fine china is to plastic plates – it’s a little heavier but A LOT more appetizing.” Steel/carbon-fiber combination and all carbon-fiber frames from Land Shark require their own unique fabrication methods, perfected by Slawta.
Land Shark
frames are as technologically advanced as is possible, but what really
makes these bicycles unique is the paint finish supplied by Slawta. John
expresses himself artistically with his bike frames. “My goal is
to get people to react,” John says, “I like people to see
the bikes and have to respond. I like people to look at my paint jobs
and not know how I could possibly have done it.” At a time when
many bikes are in staid, traditional colors, John’s Land Shark bikes
are an art show on wheels.
