Is there a way to verify a Colin Laing bicycle?
09-15-17, 06:10 PM
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Is there a way to verify a Colin Laing bicycle?
I don't know much about these bikes and my friend is planning on giving me one this weekend but I was wondering is there is a way to verify a Colin Laing bicycle. I don't know if he left like a signature mark on the bike?
11-20-17, 08:49 PM
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
02-10-18, 02:05 PM
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Colian Tandem bike
I just picked up a white/yellow/orange tandem bike that has Colian brand decals on it. While trying to find parts for it, I've discovered that Mr. Laing is a rather interesting man and I have also discovered that this bike seems not to exist. Can you help me out? I'm new to this forum, so please forgive any violations that I have committed.
02-10-18, 04:12 PM
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I just picked up a white/yellow/orange tandem bike that has Colian brand decals on it. While trying to find parts for it, I've discovered that Mr. Laing is a rather interesting man and I have also discovered that this bike seems not to exist. Can you help me out? I'm new to this forum, so please forgive any violations that I have committed.
02-11-18, 08:03 AM
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My Colian and Colin Laing exist and are superb, there is a beautiful Colian Reynolds 531 blue/silver fade on the Tucson Craig's List at this moment.
02-11-18, 09:32 AM
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02-11-18, 10:25 AM
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You need ten posts before you can post photos, but even if you want to 'just enjoy it', you will find out that photos are much appreciated here!
02-11-18, 10:38 AM
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02-11-18, 11:52 AM
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I think you can post pics directly from your computer. the 10 post limit applies to external links.
Or just make a few more posts.
Or just make a few more posts.
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02-12-18, 03:22 PM
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02-13-18, 07:16 PM
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Thank you so much for your time and information. I've spoken to Ian as well and I offered to bike to your family to place in your "museum", if you guys want it. If not, I'll ride it as long as it'll hold my fat butt!! Guessing by the Reynold 531 decals, and the fact that it's a custom made bike, I'm guessing that it'll hold up, and hold its value, longer than I will!!
02-14-18, 01:17 PM
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My father handbuilt all the frames he made over his lifetime. Never used a table jig at all... free standing etc, the old fashion way taught by the 3 Taylor Brothers.
We don't have a museum of bikes my Dad built. In fact, I only have two of his left in the family as we sold most all of the other ones. If I was you, I would use it and ride it for many years to come. I would say you have a lot of life left in that frame.
Really glad to hear you spoke with my brother too - he is continuing the family frame building under his own name.
cheers
We don't have a museum of bikes my Dad built. In fact, I only have two of his left in the family as we sold most all of the other ones. If I was you, I would use it and ride it for many years to come. I would say you have a lot of life left in that frame.
Really glad to hear you spoke with my brother too - he is continuing the family frame building under his own name.
cheers
02-19-18, 07:28 PM
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My father handbuilt all the frames he made over his lifetime. Never used a table jig at all... free standing etc, the old fashion way taught by the 3 Taylor Brothers.
We don't have a museum of bikes my Dad built. In fact, I only have two of his left in the family as we sold most all of the other ones. If I was you, I would use it and ride it for many years to come. I would say you have a lot of life left in that frame.
Really glad to hear you spoke with my brother too - he is continuing the family frame building under his own name.
cheers
We don't have a museum of bikes my Dad built. In fact, I only have two of his left in the family as we sold most all of the other ones. If I was you, I would use it and ride it for many years to come. I would say you have a lot of life left in that frame.
Really glad to hear you spoke with my brother too - he is continuing the family frame building under his own name.
cheers
I greatly appreciate all of your time and the information that you have given me. If I may ask, is there a Serial Number somewhere on these bikes, and is there any type of production numbers available anywhere? While trying to figure out what I had purchased, and then finding info on you and your family, I can’t find much info. Do you have any information as to how many tandems were built under the COLIAN brand name?
02-21-18, 05:32 PM
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In the old days, he would stamp a number on the bottom bracket of each bike. That number was kept in a brown book - frame number, size, model and customer name. When Dad moved back to England in 1992, he sold the shop. I thought I had grabbed the book and put it in my house. I have since moved 3 times, and tried to find the book and have not. So to tell you anything about how old, who made for, how many made since at this time, I cannot. I really can tell from the stickers we got those from England during my trip in 1990. So probably during that time frame this bike was made.
During the 1990's until he retired, he mostly made road frames. Maybe 10-30 more were tandems, a couple of mountain bike frames etc.
I would just ride the bike and enjoy it.
hope this note helps a bit.
cheers
For tandems, in the old days again, he used to handwrite the name of the customer on the boob tube. I don't see that on your photo.
During the 1990's until he retired, he mostly made road frames. Maybe 10-30 more were tandems, a couple of mountain bike frames etc.
I would just ride the bike and enjoy it.
hope this note helps a bit.
cheers
For tandems, in the old days again, he used to handwrite the name of the customer on the boob tube. I don't see that on your photo.
03-02-18, 09:28 AM
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Stuart,
I snapped a few more pics for you to check out. I have NO idea what that purple is. I'm hoping that can get it off without damaging the original finish.
I snapped a few more pics for you to check out. I have NO idea what that purple is. I'm hoping that can get it off without damaging the original finish.
03-05-18, 10:37 AM
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On the old photo's, I don't see any purple. If you are saying the frame has some purple paint on it, it is the name of the person on the toptube? The old names of the people on the boob tube? If so, those were hand painted after the main frame current with model paint. You could strip that off with some thinner, but be careful not to take the full finish off.
cheers
Stuart
cheers
Stuart
04-09-19, 10:55 AM
#22
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Thread resurrection!
I have also recently come into owning a vintage Colian...and I, too, can verify that tri-color Tandem frameset as being 100% authentic.
I was the Asst. Mgr of the Tempe Bike in the Warehouse on University next to the train tracks in the early 90's and remember seeing
that bike displayed everyday coming into work. I'm not sure if Colin or Ian would remember me, but I was there when Alan Brown was
managing the place.
I"ll post pics of my ride when I get home from work, but it's great to be here on BF and re-connected with that part of my life again.
-=S=-
I have also recently come into owning a vintage Colian...and I, too, can verify that tri-color Tandem frameset as being 100% authentic.
I was the Asst. Mgr of the Tempe Bike in the Warehouse on University next to the train tracks in the early 90's and remember seeing
that bike displayed everyday coming into work. I'm not sure if Colin or Ian would remember me, but I was there when Alan Brown was
managing the place.
I"ll post pics of my ride when I get home from work, but it's great to be here on BF and re-connected with that part of my life again.
-=S=-
04-15-19, 02:16 PM
#23
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My COLIAN
This is how I got it on 600 hubset a 105 rdrl and
I’m first going to complete the Suntour Cyclone groupset (except for the 600 hubs) and bump up the shifters to Accushift, which is in line with the vintage.
One thing of note: most frequently, it’s the owner/client’s name on the top tube...but this is Colin’s name. Any possibility that this may have been his personal bike, or did he paint his own name on other frames?
04-22-19, 09:31 AM
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This would have been Dad's bike back in the day. No need to put his name on the top tube. He would write the customer's name on the top tube if they wanted it. Looks like this frame needs the plastic cable guide for the bottom bracket.
cheers
Stuart
cheers
Stuart
Likes For selaing:
04-26-19, 04:23 PM
#25
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YES, I have the cable guide! I just pulled it off the get to the serial number on the BB shell...and get rid of those nasty 8spd RSX brifters. I'll post the "after" pics once the Cyclone group is complete.
wow. No wonder it's in such great shape: it's probably never been out of AZ, and (other than the scratches) it looks like it's always been indoors. I'm gob smacked (for you Brits).
