8/14/14 11:29 AM

https://greglemond.com/#!/washoe

8/14/14 11:45 AM

Cool, especially that it is claimed made state side.

1799.00 with Thomson seatpost clamp, Chris King headset, and Enve tapered carbon fork. Not bad...


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Building it up yourself? Please note the following: It is both electronic and mechanical compatible and comes with a Thomson seatpost clamp, Chris King headset, and Enve tapered carbon fork. You will need a PF30 bottom bracket, and a 27.2 post. The frame and fork accommodate up to 28c tires.

8/14/14 11:57 AM

I think Lemond should rethink that PF30 BB and just put a threaded one in. I wonder who is making the frames?

8/14/14 12:04 PM

Like colors too.


<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/lemond-public/public/assets/WasoheDi2bike.jpg" width=528 />



Is it me, or does it appear to use a non integrated bottom headset with an integrated top headset??

8/14/14 2:06 PM

I think because the head tube is straight-walled, that the smaller diameter of the upper headset parts are dwarfed by the straight head tube (steerer is tapered).

8/14/14 2:26 PM

That makes sense thinking about it. Wonder how it is implemented...


Also 3 carbon offerings, LTD TDF bikes. See via the bicycles link on the top of page.

8/14/14 6:36 PM

"I think Lemond should rethink that PF30 BB and just put a threaded one in. I wonder who is making the frames?"

I'm thinking that the choice of BB standard might reflect an expectation that Shimano and Campy might soon move beyond their mere ~24mm crank spindles, at which point the 30mm will be wanted.
It might be announced next month at Interbike, who knows?

What an amazingly simple geometric profile this frame cuts with the straight tubes and no lugs. Stark contrast to most others, yet manages to look good in this paint.
So simple, it manages to stand out, and as about the fattest steel bike I've seen.
Manages to blend with that fat carbon fork, in front at least.

8/14/14 6:42 PM

I'm taking a wild guess that Waterford is making it, since they are close to home so to speak. I kinda like the bike in its no bs style.

8/14/14 7:00 PM

I found several articles saying Time is making his carbon framed bikes but nothing about this steel frame.

8/14/14 7:09 PM

Link/Site sez Time.

From page for the carbon frames/bike: "Greg chose TIME to manufacture this exquisite collectors series that commemorate each of his 3 Tour de France wins"


Site also claims hand made in France re: Time/carbon.

Right.. as if... ;)

8/14/14 7:43 PM

I like it. One caveat though is the frame sizes come in odd sizes. Odd as in odd numbered. Not a deal breaker, but it does require a bit more thought with sizing up the right fit.

8/14/14 7:48 PM

it's like any other cookie-cutter TIG'd steel bike on the market, yet those cost less. i'd expect more...something to differentiate.

if i wanted orange, i'd get a salsa la cruz.

if i wanted a lemond, i'd rather get an old zurich or poprad.

8/14/14 9:34 PM

...and if you wanted a cutting-edge steel bike?

8/15/14 5:27 AM

I have a 2006 poprad and find this one attractive but I'm a sucker for orange and I don't like lugs. Our roads are so bad now I rarely ride my road bike anyway.

8/15/14 5:53 AM

<yawn>

The term "cutting edge steel" may apply to knives, but when it comes to bikes, steel is on the verge of becoming anachronistic. There is nothing "cutting edge" about steel frames. It's tantamount to a "cutting edge" slide rule. ;-)

8/15/14 7:42 AM

I note that it says "assembled in USA," but not where the frame is actually made.

It looks a bit reminiscent of my Kona Kapu, though that had a more traditional frame shape. The Kona was cheaper too.

Mine, alas, still languishes and will probably end up sold "as is," but steel was pretty nice on bad roads, and it certainly takes a hit well. Better than the rider.

8/15/14 7:54 AM

8/15/14 7:55 AM

is not the steel that makes it "high-end", but in the assembly/artistry/inspiration.

think pegoretti or baum or english or any one of a number of small builders. now thats high end steel!

this lemond...lookit those welds...guarantee that thing is made by the lowest-cost overseas producer.

8/15/14 7:57 AM

I still love riding my lugged steel Tommasini with the chromed fork legs and rear stays. Even if it weighs 20 lbs.

8/15/14 7:57 AM

Brian - just curious. I know that carbon fiber has come a long way in a short time and will almost certainly continue to improve. But if you were choosing a bike to keep for a lifetime (or for those of us who are older, maybe 20 years), would you go with carbon fiber? Or do you not think in terms of keeping any bike that long?

8/15/14 8:04 AM

It's been over ten years since I bought my last road bike and I'm getting the itch again. I might just take the plunge into the carbon world this time. I totally skipped the titanium and magnesium frame periods.

Maybe bamboo??

If I wait any longer, we'd probably start making frames from spider silk . . .

8/15/14 8:13 AM

I like steel, but nobody ever accused me of being the sharpest tool in the shed....

8/15/14 1:14 PM

"I totally skipped the titanium and magnesium frame periods. "

Oh, man, I think you'll have to start over!

8/15/14 1:25 PM

Cutting edge steel, to me means biggest-diameter, thin-walled tubing with advanced butting that allows the weight of lugs or fillets to be spared.

It also means accommodating a modern, tapered-steerer, full-rooted-carbon fork, and accepting today's most-advanced crankset architechture.

So I think that this LeMond frameset is cutting-edge for the chosen material and tube shape (round), and certainly a lot of riders aren't put off by the perhaps 1-2lb weight penalty of the steel frame that they find attractive.

And I wouldn't be so sure that so many (if any) of the producers of mass-produced, generic frames could build this frame, unless they've invested in tooling/process needed to build it with this grade and type of tube set.

8/15/14 5:17 PM

dddd,your comments make sense, but...

I wonder if at this point most folks wanting a light and nice riding road "racing" type bike are just going to skip steel and go carbon, for a lot of good reasons.

Nothing with steel is going to be as light and have the ride qualities outside of a Sachs or something similar and even then you are buying a name as much the material.

That said, there's certainly a sub-group of roadies that prefer steel and will either migrate towards a Sachs, Waterford, etc... or to a Gunnar or Surly or Soma, etc,.. the
later at price point of easily 50% the cost of a Lemond. Or you buy steel (as I did - a Soma Smoothie) because it provides other options, rack mount, 28mm tires, etc... not available in production carbon.

If you go with a Lemond at that point, you're buying a name and are not getting a Sachs, so why bother.