Price Paid:  $2899.00 at Chalet Sports

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Lewis & Clark Cavern Loop

Bike Setup:
55cm Frame, Full Ultegra SL, Bontrager Race Wheels, WTB Rocket V SLT saddle, Thomson X2 Stem (100 x 10)

Summary:
This frame is simply amazing. Very responsive to power input. Just a touch more on the pedals and you really feel the bike take-off. Once I swapped to a 100mm 10degree stem the geometry was perfect for me. The bike feels stable at high speeds and handles well in the corners. It really shines on long climbs and out of the saddle sprinting. The Bontrager wheels feel lively & smooth but I only have Shimano R550's to compare them to. Overall, I think this is one great machine and a terrific overall value. Hope Trek keeps making these frames after the split from Lemond.

Strengths:
Very smooth and responsive frame. Light weight and great price.

Weaknesses:
Uncomfortable seat but that is a very personal choice.

Similar Products Used:
Felt Z25, Trek Alpha 1000

Price Paid:  $2600.00 at Cycles Unlimited

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Queen City Century

Bike Setup:
Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels, Fizik Arione saddle, Fizik bar tape, FC-700 compact crank,Ultegra pedals.

Summary:
I stick to my earlier review of this bike, it's great! With just over 4500 miles it's still in great condition. No problems at all. I just purchased a Trek 5.2 Madone because it's stiffer and a little faster but the Zurich is no slouch. I'm large, 6'3' 220lbs, the Zurich can take it trust me! Durable, smooth riding, and fast, if you are thinking of pulling the trigger on one do it. With a real good wheelset this bike comes alive.

Strengths:
Frame geometry, long top tube and head tube, great for fitting. Ultegra components, durability.

Weaknesses:
Bontrager race saddle sucked! Bontrager Race wheels are a dog but good for training.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Tarmac Expert Double, Cannondale Synapse.

Price Paid:  $2600.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Ultegra SL. Upgraded wheels to Ksyriums. Fizik Alliante saddle.

Summary:
Bike is the 2008 model, with the Ultegra SL group. The ride is incredibly smooth and stable, and sprinting and climbing are fanatastic. Was also considering the Madone 5.2, but I love the understated look of the Lemond--the paint job and basic black and white color scheme are classy. At $2600 (before credit for the wheels), it was about $700 less than the selling price of the Madone 5.2. The geometry appears very similar to the Madone performance fit model. 57 cm frame has a 57.5 cm effective top tube, and a 72.5 degree seat angle. The bike is one of the best values out there. It's just a shame more shops don't stock them (compared to the rows and rows of Treks that are out there). I special-ordered mine, and I've yet to see another Triomphe-series Lemond on the road. Put a nice set of wheels on this bike and you will never see the need to upgrade.

Strengths:
Ride quality, appearance, price, uniqueness.

Weaknesses:
Stock wheels (traded them out). Fork is the heavier Race Lite version, rather than the Race X lite used on the Madone 5.2. But then, the bike is a lot cheaper, and it's not weight that I'll ever notice.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5500 (rode for the last 7 yrs).

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Price Paid:  $0.00 at CBCKnoxville

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Stock bike-Ultegra kit--swapped Bonty wheels for Ultegras

Summary:
I purchased the new full carbon Zurich and was immediately blown away. Phenomenal power transfer,the unbelievable damping quality of the frame and stiffness were like nothing I had ever ridden.

Strengths:
Light weight, no lateral flex, outstanding value!

Weaknesses:
Zero.

Similar Products Used:
Felt, Giant, I am a former shop employee and have ridden a lot of bikes--nothing came close for me

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Wheelworks Boston

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Harvard to Harvard

Bike Setup:
57 frame; complete shimano ultegra, incl pedals; bontrager bar, seatpost, tires and wheels; specialized toupe 143.

Summary:
to begin with, this is a review of the full carbon zurich with the new triomphe frame.

this is my first carbon bike and i am extremely impressed by the difference to my old pinarello aluminium bike. the three most noticeable differences are (a) weight, the frame alone only weights about 950g, (b) the stiffness of the bottom bracket area, and (c) comfort. quite frankly, i did not really expected that lemond would be able to combine stiffness with comfort but as far as i am concerned the combination (ie the overall characteristics) is brilliant and absolutely spot on. i am 6.3 (190cm), weight about 170lb (78kg) and race in the eccc. in other words, i am a relatively big and strong guy. yet i never had the impression that the frame should be stiffer in places and i feel less fatigued after long rides and/or on rough roads. part of the comfort, it has to be said, might also come from the bontrager bar (gel) tape and the specialized toupe saddle.

shimano ultegra works perfect; i had a used dura ace group on my old bike and do not feel a difference whatsoever). in my opinion, unless you are sponsored or are a person who always needs to have the top group, there is actually little reason to opt for dura ace. ultegra works equally well, it is only marginally heavier and parts are much cheaper to replace (eg after a crash or due to normal wear). i was also pleasantly surprised by the bontrager wheels. yes, they are not the best wheels out there and relatively heavy too but they are ideal for training and good enough for cat5-2 racers. (in fact, i actually wonder if it worth the bother for non-professionals to buy specific racing wheels.) so far there is only one part i am not entirely happy with (for full disclosure: I already swapped the bontrager saddle for the specialized one when i purchased it): the bontrager seat post tends to slip into the frame and you really need to tighten the collar almost to the max. the same holds true, albeit not as extreme, for the innovative single bolt clamp that holds the saddle. (i wonder if this is why usps/discovery team always used ultegra seat posts?)

in conclusion: this is the best bike i have ever ridden. compared to some other carbon bikes out there it is intelligently constructed (the frame comes with a lifetime guarantee) and not even outrageously expensive. in other words, the lemond zurich is a steal and should serve its owners very well for many, many years.

Strengths:
weight, stiffness, comfort, quality, even the price

Weaknesses:
bontrager seatpost and saddle (the latter however is a very individual choice).