New 2006 Lemond Zurich
#1
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New 2006 Lemond Zurich
I have had my Zurich for almost a week and have ridden it about 100 miles. 30 mile rides have never been so easy. Great bike and the frame material and fit/geometry is making the riding experience much more pleasurable and efficient than the oversized 54cm Aluminum ride I had before. I knew I would appreciate the difference between a cookie cutter Alu frame and a well made steel/carbon frame.
I have also dropped the belly (about 40 lbs) since last "season" (I live in Florida, not really an offseason), so I am sure that helps, but I never knew the hoods and drops were so much fun!
Having all Ultegra sure is nice as well. The Race Lite wheels seem very solid and provide a great ride. The only thing I don't like is the Bontrager saddle. Feels okay, but has absolutely no style. Selle Italia or Fizik will replace it soon.
Looking forward to many great rides on from what I understand from many of you is a great bike. I will post pics, but the pics I took can't shrink down to under 100mb.
I have also dropped the belly (about 40 lbs) since last "season" (I live in Florida, not really an offseason), so I am sure that helps, but I never knew the hoods and drops were so much fun!
Having all Ultegra sure is nice as well. The Race Lite wheels seem very solid and provide a great ride. The only thing I don't like is the Bontrager saddle. Feels okay, but has absolutely no style. Selle Italia or Fizik will replace it soon.
Looking forward to many great rides on from what I understand from many of you is a great bike. I will post pics, but the pics I took can't shrink down to under 100mb.
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I picked up a 2006 Lemond Buenos Aries last November. I'm not a big fan of the Bontrager components but I agree that the the steel/carbon frame is where it's at.
And yeah, get a new saddle ASAP.
And yeah, get a new saddle ASAP.
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#7
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The saddle will go soon. Love the bike. Here are some pics-also added a pic of my favorite riding partner's trusty steed.
#13
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Originally Posted by slowgo
I have had my Zurich for almost a week and have ridden it about 100 miles. 30 mile rides have never been so easy. Great bike and the frame material and fit/geometry is making the riding experience much more pleasurable and efficient than the oversized 54cm Aluminum ride I had before. I knew I would appreciate the difference between a cookie cutter Alu frame and a well made steel/carbon frame.
I have also dropped the belly (about 40 lbs) since last "season" (I live in Florida, not really an offseason), so I am sure that helps, but I never knew the hoods and drops were so much fun!
Having all Ultegra sure is nice as well. The Race Lite wheels seem very solid and provide a great ride. The only thing I don't like is the Bontrager saddle. Feels okay, but has absolutely no style. Selle Italia or Fizik will replace it soon.
Looking forward to many great rides on from what I understand from many of you is a great bike. I will post pics, but the pics I took can't shrink down to under 100mb.
I have also dropped the belly (about 40 lbs) since last "season" (I live in Florida, not really an offseason), so I am sure that helps, but I never knew the hoods and drops were so much fun!
Having all Ultegra sure is nice as well. The Race Lite wheels seem very solid and provide a great ride. The only thing I don't like is the Bontrager saddle. Feels okay, but has absolutely no style. Selle Italia or Fizik will replace it soon.
Looking forward to many great rides on from what I understand from many of you is a great bike. I will post pics, but the pics I took can't shrink down to under 100mb.
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#15
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What size is that frame? I've got the same bike in a 55, and yours looks way smaller. The blue tape looks cool - I've wanted to switch from black ever since I bought mine (3,700 miles ago), but they never have it in stock, and I just keep re-taping it with black.
Only complaint I have is the rear race-lite wheel.
Only complaint I have is the rear race-lite wheel.
#16
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Originally Posted by rooftest
What size is that frame? I've got the same bike in a 55, and yours looks way smaller. The blue tape looks cool - I've wanted to switch from black ever since I bought mine (3,700 miles ago), but they never have it in stock, and I just keep re-taping it with black.
Only complaint I have is the rear race-lite wheel.
Only complaint I have is the rear race-lite wheel.
I have a 2004 Zurich - but I wish I had the yellow decals like the 2006.
Out of curiosity, what don't you like about the race-lite?
#17
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Originally Posted by slowgo
I have had my Zurich for almost a week and have ridden it about 100 miles. 30 mile rides have never been so easy. Great bike and the frame material and fit/geometry is making the riding experience much more pleasurable and efficient than the oversized 54cm Aluminum ride I had before. I knew I would appreciate the difference between a cookie cutter Alu frame and a well made steel/carbon frame.
I have also dropped the belly (about 40 lbs) since last "season" (I live in Florida, not really an offseason), so I am sure that helps, but I never knew the hoods and drops were so much fun!
Having all Ultegra sure is nice as well. The Race Lite wheels seem very solid and provide a great ride. The only thing I don't like is the Bontrager saddle. Feels okay, but has absolutely no style. Selle Italia or Fizik will replace it soon.
Looking forward to many great rides on from what I understand from many of you is a great bike. I will post pics, but the pics I took can't shrink down to under 100mb.
I have also dropped the belly (about 40 lbs) since last "season" (I live in Florida, not really an offseason), so I am sure that helps, but I never knew the hoods and drops were so much fun!
Having all Ultegra sure is nice as well. The Race Lite wheels seem very solid and provide a great ride. The only thing I don't like is the Bontrager saddle. Feels okay, but has absolutely no style. Selle Italia or Fizik will replace it soon.
Looking forward to many great rides on from what I understand from many of you is a great bike. I will post pics, but the pics I took can't shrink down to under 100mb.
#18
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Originally Posted by gcl8a
Out of curiosity, what don't you like about the race-lite?
The front wheel's actually done pretty well - although it could use a truing.
#20
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Yeah, its a 51cm. My Felt, which is a good bike, was a 54cm. That was my first road bike, so I thought I was fit okay. You never really know until you put some long rides in. Never able to get out to the hoods and numb-o-rama! The Lemond bikes on closeout seemed like a great way to get away from aluminum for decent money. Steel and carbon really does provide a smooth ride, and the frame has some unique appeal about it. Nothing else like it out on the road. I was looking at the Versailles, but not too fond of the cream paintjob, though. Since the Buenos Aries aren't availale anymore, I thought the Versailles was my only choice and I started looking toward other options. Cannondale Synapse, some Specialized, and a Trek Pilot 5.2. The Pilot felt too much like a hybrid with road bars. The Synapse bikes are pretty nice and C'dales can be built up to be sweet looking.
I was able to get a great deal on the Zurich ($1699), so for $500 more I got all Ultegra, better fork, and wheels that didn't need to be immediately upgraded (slight case of OCP). Taking it out in the afternoon tomorrow for a 40-50 mile ride on the Suncoast Trail (80vette, do you ever ride the Suncoast?). Can't go on Saturday (HAVE to play golf).
The one thing I am a little disappointed with is some peeling of the paint on the fork, where the steerer tube and fork are joined just below the headset. Also the clearcoat is peeling off the nude carbon just below the seatpost clamp. Oh, well. I just need to ride it and not look at it so much. By the way, do bike frames get "broken in" at all?
I was able to get a great deal on the Zurich ($1699), so for $500 more I got all Ultegra, better fork, and wheels that didn't need to be immediately upgraded (slight case of OCP). Taking it out in the afternoon tomorrow for a 40-50 mile ride on the Suncoast Trail (80vette, do you ever ride the Suncoast?). Can't go on Saturday (HAVE to play golf).
The one thing I am a little disappointed with is some peeling of the paint on the fork, where the steerer tube and fork are joined just below the headset. Also the clearcoat is peeling off the nude carbon just below the seatpost clamp. Oh, well. I just need to ride it and not look at it so much. By the way, do bike frames get "broken in" at all?
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There were a lot of Versailles floating around at the end of the year, several closeouts with this unique all red paint job. I guess they were trying to dump all of their left over carbon/steel frames at the $900-$1000 pricepoint.
Anyway, I wanted a Lemond carbon/steel spine frame before they discontinued them. I would have preferred the zurich but the buenos aries was the only bike left in my size and the orange paint sold me.
I've logged a couple hundred miles on it and I have to say that I'm impressed with the ride.
Anyway, I wanted a Lemond carbon/steel spine frame before they discontinued them. I would have preferred the zurich but the buenos aries was the only bike left in my size and the orange paint sold me.
I've logged a couple hundred miles on it and I have to say that I'm impressed with the ride.
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