Ben Lawee, a Long Beach bike-shop owner and importer, created the Italvega brand in 1970 and renamed it Univega in the mid-1970s, when Miyata in Japan took over production, according to Classic Japanese Bicycles. Univega's Alpina Pro was first shown at a trade show in September 1981, and the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame lists it among the first fat-tyre bikes widely available for under $1,000. Lawee sold Univega to Raleigh in 1996.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1970 as Italvega; Univega from the mid-1970s
- Based
- Long Beach, California
- Ownership
- Sold to Raleigh 1996; Derby Cycle absorbed Univega 1996
Univega models
Years show the earliest and latest evidence found so far, not exact production dates.
Mountain bike
Sources for this brand
Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.