buzzybelmondo

anyone have any info about this builder?

East Hill

No? Yes? Did we get photos somewhere else?

East Hill

gilamnstr

Hey,

i live in Tucson and i ride a LaBan i purchased at a consignment shop here in town. as i rode it around town i learned more about rick laban. apparently he made ~100 bikes. my serial number is 54. originally he started building in the back of fair wheel bikes,and uberspandex dork centrum here, and rented someone's garage. i've heard from another bike builder in town that he now makes jewelry in sta fe, nm.
the bike i own is really really great. the whole group is durace and it's totally smooth. for me the geometry, which is a 54 is just perfect. the bike turns heads all the time because of it's beautiful lines and unique features.
do you ride one?
cheers,
C

yellowjeep

Pictures!

dannyg1 

Yeah guy's. We want pic's from the both of you.

aglaeca2

I bought a bomb-@$$ frame from a bike co-op during my 10 years in Tucson. Since Fairwheel Bikes was one of my bike shops at the time I had it in there and the owner id'ed it as a Laban frame. Although it has the initials "PW" cut out of the BB shell and no other identifying marks on it he was able to id it from the lugs. In subsequent years I ran into a couple of guys with Laban frames that were "Laban" decaled and they had very similar lugs, so I guess I'm inclined to agree. I'd heard he was doing steel work in TX, but this was about 7 years ago.

aglaeca2

Sorry, I saw this years late. I'm apparently not allowed to post pictures.

cb400bill

Pic Assist - https://www.bikeforums.net/g/picture/27980544

cyclophilia 

Rick worked as a mechanic at Fairwheel Bicycles in Tucson Arizona in the ~late 1970s - early 1980s.

He is one of three (at least three) Fairwheel Bikes alumni to build high quality steel frames under his own name.

Mike Walton, who had trained as a machinist and worked at Fairwheel as a mechanic, built "Walton" frames - very nice quality.

Glenn Berry, one-time manager of the shop, built "G.J. Berry" frames.

Ron Cipriani did a lot of the painting for these builders. Ron was Andy Gilmour's main painter for several years.

These builders were the generation immediately after Jim Pickering, Colin Laing, and Andy Gilmour.

This generation of

Century Bob

I have one that I have restored. I bought it from the original owner who built it up with full Campy C record. I live in Tucson and it is surprising how many people still know of Ric Laban when I show up at the typical cyclist beer/coffee spots.

Century Bob

Finally got my 10 posts, here is my LaBan.

obrentharris 

With "PW" cut out in the bottom bracket, if the frame construction is first rate, I would be contacting Peter Weigle to find out if it is one of his.
Brent

Smokinapankake

Rick LaBan co-authored a book published by Kalmbach Publishing about building an N scale model railroad. Titled "N Scale Model Railroad That Grows", it is a step by step guide to build your first N scale model railroad. The "About the Authors" section mentions that LaBan had built bicycle frames in another life.... I often wondered if there was any truth to that.

aglaeca2

Someone had that idea. Ralph said it wasn't. Not Peter Wilke either.

aglaeca2

Since mine doesn't have a decal or number on it, and that is mid to late 80s it may be a pre-series before he started production numbering.

aglaeca2

Cool

aglaeca2

In 2007 I ran into a guy on the UofA campus who had a blue one.

aglaeca2

I contacted Weigle. He confirmed what Ralph said: he never had anything to do with my frame.

aglaeca2

I'm envious of your paint job. Presumably that's not your only road bike? I miss the typical cyclist coffee/beer spots in Tucson.

aglaeca2

These are some of the interesting bits.

My seat stays are different from century bob's.

Race number braze on's make a good place to latch in my frame pump.

No internal cable routing, but some cool cable guides.

And this weirdness.

Century Bob

I kinda question if that is a LaBan frame. I dont see any common details. My lug work is very simple. Very clean and thin but plain and simple compared to yours. My bottom bracket does not have any cut outs and the serial # is stamped in with a common number punch. I have seen another Laban frame here in Tucson and its details were just like my frame. My frame is 88-89 vintage, yours looks quite a bit later than that so things could have changed. I`m not an expert, I only know my bike and bought it from the original owner who had it custom built.

gspremington

Hi. New to forum. Just picked up a used LaBan frame and trying to learn more about the maker and the bike's history. This seems like the only place with recent discussion on the internet.

This frame has LaBan decals but no sticker identifying the frame material. It does pass the magnet test. It has a 54 stamped on the bottom bracket, no cutouts. It also has stamped a '01?" and a '117'. The ? is too faint to make out but could be a 0 as in 2010? And the next sequence would mean this is Rick's 117th bike? I read he made around a 100 somewhere. Bike is in good shape, some paint scratches. Has 600 headset and ultegra drivetrain if that helps with time period. lugwork and details are clean and thin as described by Century Bob

Just looking to see if any Tucson, Fairwheels or LaBan owners have any other intel they can share on these frames. Happy to post pictures if i can as a new member.
Looking forward to getting it built out and start riding it.

Century Bob

My frame is Tange Prestige. I am not an expert at all, however I dont think he was building in 2010. Pretty much late 80s and early 90s. My frame is size 52. It is stamped 52 and 046( I think) indicating sequence number.
I bought my complete bike from the original owner who said it was built upstairs at Fairwheel bikes.

gspremington

Cool. Thanks for the reply. No stickers for guidance on frame, so wonder if Tange was his usual or preferred frame material. Is there any way to know or determine after the fact if not labeled?

Your model info helps. This is a 54 then though looks larger to the eye. Maybe the 01? sequence means 2001 ... pretty sure on 117 so possibly at end of his design run. The Ultegra shifters are 6500 series (1997-2005 model) though could have been added after. Thanks again.