markwebb

If you own a Lemond steel/carbon bike where they blended the cockpit so some tubes are carbon/others are steel (like the 2004 BA) let me know what you think of your bike:

1) Does it ride smooth? As smooth and easy as a Ti bike? Smooth meaning less road noise/buzz.
2) Weight. I've heard they weigh in around 20 pounds, which would be 3-4 pounds heavier than a comparable Ti or all-carbon bike.

If you have an all 853 Zurich from 2001 or MJ from 1999, thanks - but that won't help me. I need feedback specificaly on the carbon/steel blended Lemonds.

Thanks !!

Sparky Bird

I have the 2004 Lemond Buenos Aires. The size 57 comes in at about 20.5 pounds. It rides very smooth with michelin pro2 tires. I read these forums every day and dream about getting a more expensive and lighter bike. However, those thoughts die down after each time I ride the Lemond because it is hard to imagine any bike is going to offer a significantly better ride. Sometimes I ride the bike without the saddle bag and water bottle to simulate what a lighter bike might feel like. I don't really notice any difference.

I am keeping this bike even if I get a full carbon one later. The frame might end up being a collector's item. It would make a great conversion.

FatguyRacer

I just weighed up an all steel Zuirch w/Wound-Up carbon fork and it came in at 19 lbs 13 oz with Look Keo Sprints and Nuevation M28Aero3 wheels. It's only weight weinie part is a set of FSA Pro Team Issue ISIS carbon cranks. The rest is D/A 9sp.

The ride is pretty darn nice (i love steel), but not as nice as my dead IF Crown Jewel. It's not Treks' fault. IF is a pretty high standard to be holding a bike at the Lemond's price point to.

Oops. I just read you last sentance.

Never mind.

rooftest

1. Yes
2. Mine ('06 Zurich) weighs in at around 19.5 pounds, which may be about a pound heaver than a "comparable" bike. Given the components (Ultegra) and price of the frame, I don't consider a 1000 gm carbon racing frame to be "comparable."

The frame survived two very hard impacts, so I'm convinced these frames are strong.

My only complaint is that the bottle cage holder on the steel towntube has wigged free, so the resulting rattle can't be fixed without some work (welding.)

I am replacing this bike with an all-carbon (racing - a significant step up) one in January, but will keep it as a spare.

mollusk

You just need a new rivnut. It is a pretty easy job.

Added in edit:

Actually you may only need the rivnut to be tightened. That is a super easy job.

rooftest

No - the threaded part that "receives" the bolt has wiggled lose from the frame. So, the cage is as tight as possible, but it still wiggles and rattles due to it's connection to the frame. Once I have a "second" bike, I can have the local shop deal with it.

Randallissimo

I just bought a used 07 all carbon Zurich from a guy who got it as a warranty replacement from the factory when his carbon/AL Zurich frame broke. He didn't want another one so they worked out a deal to get him a custom paint carbon replacement frame. FWIW.

I think it was carbon/AL, but it might have been carbon/steel.

smurf hunter

My all steel frame (carbon fork) CDF weighed 20.5lbs on the shop floor. I've since changed the saddle, wheels and tires and don't have an exact weight for it now. This is my fair weather, long distance bike. If you lost the mediocre Bontrager triple crankset, and upgraded to all ultegra (is mostly 105) it'd probably drop another pound.

You'd be hard pressed to find a smoother frame than some of the all steel LeMonds.

dalava

My 2005 Sarthe weighs in at a tad under 19 lbs with Neuvation M28SL wheels with Gatorskins, Speedplay Zeros, Thomson post, Ritchey Pro stem/handlebar, Campy UT Veloce crankset, and all Campy Veloce drivetrain. I was actually very surprise how light it weighs.

mollusk

The threaded part is the rivnut. They can be tightened back up to the frame. There is an expensive tool that you can buy or you can get a M5 machine screw and a nut to do the job.

Also look here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/60905-bottle-cage-braze-problems-advice.html

saibiker

I have a related question on the Lemond steel frames. Is there any difference between the 853 steel used on the BA, Zurich, Sarthe? If the frames are the same, is the only diff in the grupos for each bike?

evenslower

I've got an 04 BA like Sparky Bird. It seems to get the most use of my bikes.

Its right at 19lbs. pretty close to how it came stock (9sp Ultegra) with pedals/cages. I had a lighter Easton fork on it for a while but preferred the way it handled with the stock Lemond fork so I went back. I think the Easton had a different rake which made the bike twitchy and it flexed like a noodle on fast descents. That was a few years ago though.

It mutes road buzz pretty well. I've never been bothered by vibration from the road surface. I did a century last weekend on mostly chip seal roads and it wasn't even a consideration. Handling is very stable (with the stock fork). Can't think of anything negative to say. I would pick up a carbon/ti version in a heartbeat if the right deal came along just to try it.

rooftest

ahhh - now I see what you mean.

Thanks for the heads-up - I will look into it.

smurf hunter

In my case, the frame is not reynolds 853, but True Temper OX platinum - which is basically equivalent, but a competing brand of metal. I've also seen late model LeMond CX bikes with the same True Temper label, and thus assumed that was the steel of choice for the entire brand.

Honestly I wouldn't get too hung up on raw materials of frames. Geometry and personal fit will make the biggest difference. Additionally, just because different all steel frames used the exact metal, the welding technique, tube diameter and wall thickness are all factors that affect performance and weight.

grinderbob

Ti isn't that much lighter than steel. But even the lightese carbon frame won't be 3-4 pounds < a steel frame.

markwebb

No, actually there is a big difference in weights between a steel bike and a carbon or Ti. But ut depends on steel.

The Litespeed that I was riding weighed in just over 17 pounds. My new (bought it 3 years ago) Mercian with 531 steel weighed in with same wheels at just under 23 pounds. That's a 5-6 pound difference. That's a large difference I could actually feel climbing hills.

Those Lemonds, from the response here, with carbon and Tru Temper steel mix, weight in at around 19 to 19.5 pounds. Lighter than the 531 lugged beauty, but still almost 3 pounds heavier than a Ti Litespeed. The info posted heere has been very helpful. I am thinking twice about the Lemonds because of the weight.

slide13

Those weight differences are due to more then just the frame though, keep that in mind. The steel/carbon MJ frame comes in at about 3.5lbs for a 57cm. My guess is that is less then 1lb heavier then a comperable Ti frame and in many cases less then that. It could be 1.5 lbs or a little more over a carbon frame though, but still nowhere near a 3lbs difference. Other components make a difference though and that doesn't take into account the fork weight differences either. Just something to think about though.

grinderbob

bottomline is you aren't going to save 3-4 pounds just by swapping the frame.