Road Cycling - lemond

HI has anyone heard anything about the new aluminum frames from lemond trying to decide wether to get the ne w AL or buy an older steel lemond. Also looking at the new bianchi vigorrille(sp).

any help would be great

later Mike

Buy the Bianchi :D

I bought my wife her Tourmalet last year(steel) and am I glad we did. She absolutely loves it. She test road a 2004 (at the request of the LBS) and did not like it nearly as well. If you can find a 2003 steel Lemond, go for it.

The Bianchi looks good too. Nicely speced bike for the price. Test ride them both if you can.

I'd go for the older steel Lemond. I had a 02 Buenos Aires that I loved. I'm not a big fan of the new aluminum Lemonds. I think the Trek aluminum frames are much nicer. That Bianchi is a nice looking bike though, I've always like them.

why is lemond making aluminum!!! i mean i know they made alu before, but being steel or titanium was like their trademark!!! :(

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the new Lemond line. They seem to have lost there identity. For one thing I think mixing steel and carbon together is, well, stupid. Ti and carbon I sort of get but steel and carbon, done like that, just doesn't make sense to me. They were so well known for doing good steel bikes and it was working for them. Many people knew Lemond was making good steel frames and sought them out when looking for that sort of bike. Sure, the new steel/carbon bikes are supposed to ride very similar, but they are too expensive. A bike that cost $2100 now costs $2450 and has a downgraded wheelset. So, that .3lbs you save by adding carbon to the frame is offset by the heavier wheels and you still have to pay an extra $350 for the whole thing. Doesn't sound like a smart idea to me!

Well, I have one of the new '04 LeMonds that's a combo steel/carbon frame (the Buenos Aires) and I love it. I test-rode more expensive carbon frames and comparably priced aluminum and steel frames, and the LeMond had the best feeling ride in IMO.

I agree the aluminum line badly blurs the distinction between Trek and LeMond, so from a marketing perspective it seems odd, but the carbon/steel works.

My LBS deals in Lemond and Treck and they are quite frank with me. I was in the market for a new ride and really liked the Lemond mostly b/c of the Geometry. So when I whent into the shop they told me they really were disapointed in the new frames AL and Compact. Unfortunatly they only had a Nevada City from last year and I wanted an Ultegra machine. But Those Steel Carbon Lemonds are absolutly beautiful! But indeed very expensive. I think Lemond should at least still offer the 853 steel bikes but I also believe that like any Bike maker they should be on the cutting edge of technology and not be affraid to try something new. Otherwise you risk getting blown away in the market.

so are trek and lemond made by the same company thats what it kinda of sounds like when you are talking about there AL bikes

Mike

One all steel performance frame.

http://www.lemondbikes.com/2004_bikes/maillot_jaune_classic.shtml

What is the world coming too?

Didn't Lemond make thier name in quality performance STEEL bikes?
Sure a company wants to be contemorary or even cutting edge, but with the 04 line it seems like Lemond is throwing the dishes out with the dish water.

The frame alone list for $1299.

Looks like my next bike won't be ANOTHER Lemond. I guess I will have to learn some Italian.

FWIW, there are "classic steel" frames still in the 2004 line:

http://www.lemondbikes.com/2004_bikes/classics.shtml

FWIW, there are "classic steel" frames still in the 2004 line:

http://www.lemondbikes.com/2004_bikes/classics.shtml


The only "classic" steel frames are the Maillot Jaune, Wayzata and Poprad (cyclocross). The Arrivee and the Victorie are Ti. The Wayzata sounds more like a touring geometry, so that really only leaves the Maillot Jaune as their only steel "race" bike, and you are going to have to pay a lot to get it. It truly is a shame - there has to be a good market for a steel frame with decent 105 components just over $1000, doesn't there?

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the new Lemond line. They seem to have lost there identity. For one thing I think mixing steel and carbon together is, well, stupid. Ti and carbon I sort of get but steel and carbon, done like that, just doesn't make sense to me. They were so well known for doing good steel bikes and it was working for them. Many people knew Lemond was making good steel frames and sought them out when looking for that sort of bike. Sure, the new steel/carbon bikes are supposed to ride very similar, but they are too expensive. A bike that cost $2100 now costs $2450 and has a downgraded wheelset. So, that .3lbs you save by adding carbon to the frame is offset by the heavier wheels and you still have to pay an extra $350 for the whole thing. Doesn't sound like a smart idea to me!

Because they race...thus they make racing bikes. Saturn riders rode the spine bikes. Steel give you a nice ride, but it's too heavy to race against the lighter stuff. No racer would ride them.

One all steel performance frame.

http://www.lemondbikes.com/2004_bikes/maillot_jaune_classic.shtml

What is the world coming too?

Didn't Lemond make thier name in quality performance STEEL bikes?
Sure a company wants to be contemorary or even cutting edge, but with the 04 line it seems like Lemond is throwing the dishes out with the dish water.

Maybe they didn't sell enough of them to continue the line. Most companies are not in the habit of continuing to manufacture things that do not get purchased.

What's the $$ on that frame? I am asking because why buy a stock steel bike when you can have one made from scratch by Serotta for a mid-two thousand dollar price? There's no geometry to worry about because it's YOUR geometry.

Well, I have one of the new '04 LeMonds that's a combo steel/carbon frame (the Buenos Aires) and I love it. I test-rode more expensive carbon frames and comparably priced aluminum and steel frames, and the LeMond had the best feeling ride in IMO.

I agree the aluminum line badly blurs the distinction between Trek and LeMond, so from a marketing perspective it seems odd, but the carbon/steel works.

LeMond is making aluminum in sloping top tubes. Trek just started making their SL bikes with sloping top tubes (they are doing, for example, the 1200 and what they call the 1200C), and I have yet to see one. And we sell a ton of Trek bikes. But it appears that the alum LeMonds are not available in conventional geometry. That's off the website.

LeMond is making aluminum in sloping top tubes. Trek just started making their SL bikes with sloping top tubes (they are doing, for example, the 1200 and what they call the 1200C), and I have yet to see one. And we sell a ton of Trek bikes. But it appears that the alum LeMonds are not available in conventional geometry. That's off the website.

I just bought a 2004 LeMond Tourmalet today. It fit me better than the CAAD5 I had tested earlier, looks great, I bought it from my LBS, it's American (at least my LBS guy thought these frames were made in Wisconsin), and I asked my LBS to match a price from another dealer and he beat the price by $50. So I got it for $140 off MSRP.

Prior to 2004, LeMond made two bikes that utilized the 853 Pro (ovalized) steel - the Zurich and the Mallot Jaune. The Zurich, which can still be had for around $1800 represented the best value - it's all ultegra and a is equipped with a decent wheelset The current "classic" frameset is named for the MJ as it was the top of the line 853 Pro bike. The new carbon/steel models are more expensive and in some cases not as well eqipped as their predecessors. Also, the carbon/steel technology is fairly new and unproven. If you can swing it, go for the 2003 Zurich. The frame is world class. The ride is super smooth. And, if you should eventually chose to upgrade your components you can go with high quality aluminum - which due it's stiffness is better matched to srteel - intead of shelling out the big bucks for "comfort enhancing" carbon parts.

Lemond is owned by Trel\k and operates somewhat independantly at the same facility. This means that there is a large customer support network and that LeMond has access to Trek'ssubstantial technology (thus the carbon). I can tell you from first hand experience that Lemond stands behind their warranty. I buthchered (long storey) the decals on my Zurich and they resprayed it at no cost.

Although I've herd some good things about them, I would not buy an aluminum Lemond. If you want a good aluminum bike buy a Cannandale.

Although I've herd some good things about them, I would not buy an aluminum Lemond. If you want a good aluminum bike buy a Cannandale.

I didn't like the feel of the CAAD5, but if Cannondale made an Optimo framed bike in my price range I would have bought it instead. I picked up that LeMond for $1049, and the R800 CAAD7 was $400 more and came with pretty much the same components.

I didn't like the feel of the CAAD5, but if Cannondale made an Optimo framed bike in my price range I would have bought it instead. I picked up that LeMond for $1049, and the R800 CAAD7 was $400 more and came with pretty much the same components.

Fair enough - I really don't have much first hand experience w/ the aluminum bikes. I only meant to suggest that anyone considering aluminum should test ride a (caad7) 'dale. if nothing else it's a good point of reference.

I would however recommend purchasing the Zurich over an aluminum Lemond (and the Bianci) if at all posible.

Fair enough - I really don't have much first hand experience w/ the aluminum bikes. I only meant to suggest that anyone considering aluminum should test ride a (caad7) 'dale. if nothing else it's a good point of reference.

I would however recommend purchasing the steel Lemond over the aluminum (and certainly the Bianci) if at all posible.

I tested the R1000, it was a *deee-lux* ride, very nice just out of my price range. Maybe it'll be my next bike in a few years.

What's the price on the Zurich?

The only one in that price range I thought is the Poprad and it's a cross bike and the Wayzata (also in my price range) is a flat bar road bike. The others...way expensive.

I tested the R1000, it was a *deee-lux* ride, very nice just out of my price range. Maybe it'll be my next bike in a few years.

What's the price on the Zurich?

The only one in that price range I thought is the Poprad and it's a cross bike and the Wayzata (also in my price range) is a flat bar road bike. The others...way expensive.

Yes you are correct. Sorry, but I got the impression that you knew the price difference. New (left over) Zurich's go for around $1,800 - about the same as a the r1000. Both are excellent.

There are plenty of great bikes - though none of them are steel - out there in your price range. In fact, it's pretty amazing what you can get for around $800 these days. I have heard good things about Giant nad Specialized in this range all though I have no first hand experience. Whatever you choose, there's nothing that beats a new bike.

Yes you are correct. Sorry, but I got the impression that you knew the price difference. New (left over) Zurich's go for around $1,800 - about the same as a the r1000. Both are excellent.

There are plenty of great bikes - though none of them are steel - out there in your price range. In fact, it's pretty amazing what you can get for around $800 these days. I have heard good things about Giant nad Specialized in this range all though I have no first hand experience. Whatever you choose, there's nothing that beats a new bike.

I'm looking forward to getting my Tourmalet, it should be in early next week, I'll be posting the usual pics etc.

I just bought a 2004 LeMond Tourmalet today. It fit me better than the CAAD5 I had tested earlier, looks great, I bought it from my LBS, it's American (at least my LBS guy thought these frames were made in Wisconsin), and I asked my LBS to match a price from another dealer and he beat the price by $50. So I got it for $140 off MSRP.

Nice looking bike. I like the "minimalist" approach they take with decorating their frames.

This thread reaffirms that my purchase of an 03 Zurich was a stroke of luck. I considered waiting for the 04 models but finally went for the steel Zurich. Having seen the new Zurich (very sexy) I'm still very happy with the 853 Pro steel. Think I'll be keeping it for a very long time.

To the person with the Tourmalet, that bike is made in Taiwan, as are the other aluminum Lemonds. Weld quality is very similar to that on Specialized Allez models. Rather large and ugly in appearance.

What's wrong with a Bianchi???

I just bought a 2004 LeMond Tourmalet today. It fit me better than the CAAD5 I had tested earlier, looks great, I bought it from my LBS, it's American (at least my LBS guy thought these frames were made in Wisconsin), and I asked my LBS to match a price from another dealer and he beat the price by $50. So I got it for $140 off MSRP.

It appears as though Shimano has brought back the silver 105 groupset for the 2004 model year - good move, methinks.

The whole LeMond line has a "cleaner" look as far as decaling/cosmetics compared to recent model years, I think.

Here's my Buenos Aires:

Maybe they didn't sell enough of them to continue the line. Most companies are not in the habit of continuing to manufacture things that do not get purchased.
What's the $$ on that frame?
I am asking because why buy a stock steel bike when you can have one made from scratch by Serotta for a mid-two thousand dollar price?
There's no geometry to worry about because it's YOUR geometry.


Thanks for the comments but an economics lesson isn't necessary. I certainly hope that Lemond's product choices are made on sound buisness principals. I understand a company must keep up with current technology and provide products that the market will purchase, and I'm not surprised by the new products, just the seemingly rapid and radical departure from previous product lines. Although I have no quantitative data to back it, my own experience at thousands of organized bike rides seems to indicate that, Lemond is behind only Trek in number of road bikes present. But maybe thats just here in the southeast.

You must have missed my second post. :) I think $1299 is high for a frame from Lemond. But once again I am basing this on thier products from previous years which were (mostly) high value, quality, performance steel bicycles. Even though I own a custom steel mtb, I have no need for custom geometry. Quality stock frames have always been sufficient. My 99 Zurich rides like a dream. I wish only the best to Lemond, I just don't like seeing the availability of quality steel bicycles continuing to diminish.

When i think LeMond,i dont think aluminum. Also for a price to compare, a friend of mine crashed his 02 cervelo prodigy so cervelo has a crash replacement program that really just sells you the frame at cost but its better then nothing,anyway all they had in a 48 was a 04 super prodigy in team colors for $650 w/the fork.Reg price was $999 and thats a pretty nice frame.

I test rode a '04 Zurich and the thing rode like a dream. Very little road buzz, but with plenty of road feel. The Lemond geometry is perfect for me, too.

But, now that I have saved more than enough for a Zurich, I am wondering if I shouldn't upgrade to the Victoire Ti/Carbon. It's a $1000 difference in price. Or, perhaps, I should go with the Maillot Jaune Steel/Carbon and get the 10 speed DuraAce.

Decisions, decisions.

Probably will stick with the Zurich.

I test rode a '04 Zurich and the thing rode like a dream. Very little road buzz, but with plenty of road feel. The Lemond geometry is perfect for me, too.

But, now that I have saved more than enough for a Zurich, I am wondering if I shouldn't upgrade to the Victoire Ti/Carbon. It's a $1000 difference in price. Or, perhaps, I should go with the Maillot Jaune Steel/Carbon and get the 10 speed DuraAce.

Decisions, decisions.

Probably will stick with the Zurich.
Ride all of them and report back.