Road Cycling - Gunnar-LeMond-Marinoni-Marin

Newbie here about to be fit measured for a new road bike. My current choice list for purchase are the steel models (Roadie, Zurich Maillot Jaune, Piuma and Treviso) of the above makers. I'm also open to other suggestions. If possible, I intend to test ride all. Bike will be used for long, fast, hard rides as cross training to supplement a big (5'11 230#), long torsoed rider's marathon training and possibly for duathlon events. In context of the above, anyone care to pass on their views on the relative build qualities and ride characteristics of the above frames? Thanks for your insights and help.

i ride a marinoni leggero. one of my buddies rides a piuma. another one rides a 7-year-old squadra. marinoni makes amazing bikes. i know of no one who has one who has ever complained about anything.

i'm sure all of the other models are great bikes, but my heart goes to marinoni.

I'm currently riding a Lemond Maillot Jaune, and love it... I wanna say that the Zurich and MAillot Jaune are the same frame, both 853 pro steel, and I'm pretty sure the same dimensions... The maillot Jaune is usually built up with DA, and the Zurich with Ultegra.... My MJ has Ultegra, and it is all good with me... Remember that fit is most importanta (as I'm sure everyone will tell you on here) The Lemonds do seem to favor people with Longer torsos such as youself... check them all out...

Jeff

I also currently ride a Lemond Maillot Jaune, and love it also... The Lemonds do seem to favor people with Longer torsos such as youself... I am 5'11 and 240 and ride a 55CM and it fits me great !

Do yourself a favor and buy a used Maillot Jaune ! I did and saved about $1K and got a great bike with low miles, look on
EBAY and have a local shop (of your choice) check the bike out before you buy !

Jim

The steel Bianchi's are nice too. :D That's what Im ridin'.

Originally posted by velocipedio
[B]i ride a marinoni leggero. one of my buddies rides a piuma. another one rides a 7-year-old squadra. marinoni makes amazing bikes. i know of no one who has one who has ever complained about anything.]

Thanks for your response. So far I've not received a reply to my email to the US Marinoni representative. I was looking for US dealerships, pricing and frame geometry information that is not available at the Marinoni site. If you know of another link that may provide that info, please post it. If I can't get the info, then, I'll try Marinoni in Canada or drop the bike from my list. Thanks!

Jeff and Jim... Thanks for the info. I've confirmed that the MJ and Zurich have the same frame but different groups. Have spotted some MJs but no Zurich's in my area. Learned that both models will be going to a steel and carbon frame in 2004. :( May have to go with what is available in my size after I get measured or look for used. No responses from Gunnar or Marin owners. I wonder if that's a sign??

George

I plan to build a LeMond MJ in the relatively near future as I'm going to plunge on a modern bike. My body specs are almost identical to jknotz and I also will use a 55cm. I don't see how you can go wrong there.

Don't know much about Marin at all but Gunnar comes out of Waterford and there's alot of endorsement right there. I doubt you'll have any quality problems.

www.roadbikereview.com is a great resource or checking out reviews of bikes.

Gunnar makes great bikes. I rode one all last year and loved it. We had a good amount of customers on their bikes and I have yet to hear a complaint. If you ever find yourself riding in Southeast Wisconsin you'll see a fair amount of Gunnars. Also, you can get a color of the month that is a Waterford paintjob (read: amazing quality and neat colors) for no extra charge. If you want a 1-1/8 headtube for a Gunnar you will have to pay extra, though.

Originally posted by Waldo
If you want a 1-1/8 headtube for a Gunnar you will have to pay extra, though.

Waldo and Walter....Thanks for your input on the Gunnar. It looks like my choices may end up being between the LeMonds and Gunnar. I haven't been able to get more info on the Marinoni or find any Marin Trevisos in the area.

By the way, educate a newbie here. What are the pros and cons of the 1" vs 1-1/8" head tubes? Thanks!

Have you looked at Orbea's steel frame? Triple butted with carbon seatstays. Not sure how the geometry compares to what you're looking at, but it's worth a look. Beautiful bikes.

I gotta put in my vote for Serotta. I have an older Special Nova X and it's a great ride. You should check out the CSi (I prefer lugged frames) or the Colorado III. Good luck on whatever you choose.

I concur with GoSteel (as I also have Nova X).
However CSi is a great ride but getting very expensive, has
faux headtube lug (in 1 1/8 steerer) and steel fork is
upcharge. For the $ of the CSi I'd look at a Kirk or Vanilla.
OF the 3 above, go with the Marinoni, classic Italian design/heritage with the sensibility of CDN$.

Marty

A lady on another forum just finished the PBP ride on the Marinoni she got this year. I believe they did an extensive measuring, then built the frame to those measurements. I don't think the other brands will do that for you.
My Lemond Zurich rides nice, but if I hit the Lottery, I'm building up an old Trek 420 steel frame from the mid-90s. It's a 25 pound bike, but building up from the bare frame would give me a quality bike with a sweet long distance ride.

Thanks Impreza Drvr, GoSteel, lotek and Dchief. The Orbea and Serrota will bust my budget. I finally heard from the US Marinoni rep and he is ending some info on pricing and purchasing in the US. Long Rider I'll check out the Bianchi's.

Got fitted today and based on geometry a 56cm Gunnar and 55cm LeMond will work for me. The problem will be finding an 03 LeMond Zurich or MJ. According to the LBS that fitted me and sells LeMonds, LeMond will not have an all steel model in their O4 lineup.

Strider-the 1.125" headtube is nice for aluminum steerers as with them a larger diameter tube allows you to thin the material wall out to optimize strength and weight (and stiffness). This was, and continues to bem more pertinent for the MTB world (witness the new 1.5 "standard"). With carbon steerers, you actually end up a bit heavier. Lemond still will have a steel frameset available for 04, but you are correct that there will not be any complete bikes. Lemond is out of 03 steel bikes in many sizes, and with 55 being a common size, it could be difficult to scare one up.
Our shop also deals in Bianchis and they've got some sweet steel bikes as well. The tubesets in your price range are similar to what you'd find on the Gunnar, so expect similar ride qualities.

Thanks Waldo. Your insights have been very helpful. I learned today that Gunnar will be modifying their tube sets in 04 models, going from being round to a round/oval shape with the oval at the ends. I assume this is to provide greater strength and rigidity. The Gunnar dealer expects to have them in about two weeks. He has an 03 Roadie in my size at another store. I'm going to try a test ride to see how it will compare to the 04 model. The same dealer also handles Bianchi so I'll check those out as well. Thanks again for your help.

I really like the gunnar.Very nice and smooth riding frames.I bought one not to long ago.However ride the gunnar and the lemond and see what fits YOU better.

I have a 2002 Lemond Poprad and 2003 Victoire. Both are very comfortable and built very well, Definately worth every penny.

Hi,
I ride (used to ride) a Marinoni Piuma Plus; one test ride after shopping for 6 months and I was hooked. I bought it, then recently t-boned a cop illegally traversing a 4-lane roadway on an alley, but that's beside the point.
Point is: Sammamish Valley Cycle in Redmond, WA. (425-881-8442) sells Marinoni's; there's another guy in the Boston area too.

Good Luck, you'll love whatever Marinoni you choose...

Gunnar makes great bikes. I rode one all last year and loved it. We had a good amount of customers on their bikes and I have yet to hear a complaint. If you ever find yourself riding in Southeast Wisconsin you'll see a fair amount of Gunnars. Also, you can get a color of the month that is a Waterford paintjob (read: amazing quality and neat colors) for no extra charge. If you want a 1-1/8 headtube for a Gunnar you will have to pay extra, though.

Gunnar went to 1 1/8th headtube in 03 or 04.

The Roadie has been redesgined for 05 with a semi compact geometry resulting in weight savings in the headtube area, along with Waterford stay's and a new for 05 straight blade steel fork is available.

My Custom color 05 (French racing blue) should be here in about a week.

It's a nice modern design in steel.