EraserXIV

anyone have any info on the 2002 Lemond alpe d'huez? i looked online and found some specs, but i could not find an approximate weight of the actual bike. also, i was wondering if anyone had first hand experience with it and could tell me some stuff about it.

I have a chance to potentially buy it from a friend for around $650, but I feel that's kind of steep for a 7 year old bike. Should I try to barter it down a bit? What's a more reasonable price for it? I recently heard from another friend who picked one off of CL for under $500. Should I be shooting for around $450 or would something like $575 be more realistic?

Alternatively, I could just spend the $650 and buy a new 2009 Jamis satellite (down from $950 MSRP). Compared with the Lemond, would be the better deal, and which would translate into better performance on the road?

I know that the Satellite only has Tiagra components, while the Lemond has 105 components, but does the fact that it's 7 years old make it a washout?

EraserXIV

i'm sure someone here has ridden a 2002 lemond alpe.. or at least knows something about its performance or approximate value?

kayakdiver

The Jamis does come with a lifetime frame and one year parts warranty. The components are decent. Lemond is not being produced any longer. Don't know if that will hurt or help resale down the road.

Ride Among Us

My 4 year old Lemond Croix de Fur is similar and I love it. The steel is ox platnium and super light + strong. Its a very fast bike in general in the way it transfers power. I kind of paid a lot for it, too. The newer Lemonds don't have the ox platnium.

songfta

The big plus of the LeMond will be the frame tubing (provided it's still in great shape, frame-wise): the Reynolds 853 tubes are really nice, with a great ride and relatively light weight for steel. The Reynolds 520 on the Jamis (which was the tubing used on the seatstays and chainstays of many steel LeMond frames) is a bit heavier and less stiff - the difference is really a matter of taste.

I would check the LeMond frame for rust, though: if the frame wasn't treated with FrameSaver or wasn't well maintained, rust can cause structural issues. Also check the rear dropouts for any signs of fatigue. Also check out the drivetrain on the LeMond: it's much higher end than the Jamis (Ultegra, I think), but might be showing signs of age after 6+ years of riding. The Ultegra brifters, in particular, can wear out (the 9-speed models had some issues over the years, IIRC). But if the drivetrain is in good condition, it should shift very nicely - possibly smoother than the Tiagra setup on the Satellite.

Also keep in mind that the LeMond has a 1" steerer on the fork, which is worth noting if ever you need to replace the stock unit that came with the bike. 1" forks are becoming increasingly rare in terms of high quality in the aftermarket.

The only other consideration is the frame geometry, which is very different: the 2002 LeMond steel bikes were a more stretched-out, less upright geometry, whereas the Satellite is more upright and comfort-oriented. The closest equivalent in the old Jamis lineup was the Eclipse, no longer made (unfortunately), though the geometry of the Xenith and Ventura series is close.

The bottom line: if the LeMond is in great shape and its geometry is right for you (test ride - it's not for everybody), it's a lot of bike for the money. The Jamis will have a better support network, and is a good frame for upgrading components over the long-run, but it's not as high end, all things being equal.

FYI: I rode a 2002 LeMond (Tourmalet, almost the same frame as the Alpe d'Huez but with a steel fork) and loved its ride quality. I rode it until the frame broke (still have the frame, might get it repaired someday). I own a 2006 Jamis Eclipse, which is my backup bike. Its ride is similar to the LeMond, with a more responsive back end due to full-carbon chainstays.

Hope this helps!

EraserXIV

The lemond has 105 components and is in really nice condition from the pictures I have seen. The geometry I'm not really too sure about though. I'm 5'6" with a 29" inseam, but on the geometry fact sheet that he sent me, it says the top tube is 53.2cm with a standover of 76.7cm (30.2 in). The top tube I'm not too worried about, although I prefer inbetween 52-53cm, but the standover of 30.2in is getting me worried. Should it be okay?

I still haven't taken a look at the bike in person because the seller is still asking $650 (I haven't actually tried to barter down too much) so I have not sat on it.

But before I go and take a look at it, I want to know approximately what price I should be shooting for when I negotiate with him. I'm pretty sure $650 is way too steep, but I'm not sure how much lower I should go. I'm thinking more around $400-$500.. any thoughts?