LeMond Bicycles 2001 Tourmalet

Price Paid:  $370.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Piketown to Blue Mtn Pkwy

Bike Setup:
52-39 up front and 12-25 cassette. All Tiagra drivetrain/shifters and Sora brakes. Matrix Aurora rims/Tiagra hubs that are still silky smooth. 1" threaded stem. Mounted my old Garmin GPS12 on the bars and use with SportTracks. Super value for the money, and 4 stars overall since it's not the latest, greatest 15 pound carbon rocket.

Summary:
I race mountain bikes and got this bike for training, but I am seriously loving it. Best $370 I have spent in a long time.
I replaced the old cables, wrapped the bars, got new Ultegra pedals, cleaned her up, and I'm ready to roll.

Strengths:
Frame fits me like a glove. I have a long torso, so the longer top tube of LeMond is perfect. Once dialed in, the Tiagra components actually shift perfectly. A clean drivetrain is key. Reynolds 853 steel. Likes to go fast. Inspires confidence on fast descents. Retro-cool. You can find them cheap.

Weaknesses:
Not super light. A threadless stem would be nice, but you can get an adapter.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic road bike years ago. My Trek Fuel 98 Mtn bike.

Price Paid:  $930.00 at local dealer

Bike Setup:
replace basket pedals first thing. Upgraded to 105 shipters after breaking one of the Tiagra's in a

Summary:
This was my first road bike. I looked at trek and specialized, but loved the traditional look of steel. At 190 lbs, sacrificing a smooth ride for a lighter alluminum wasn't a big deal to me. Twelve months (and 1800 miles) later I find myself looking for a lighter wheelset. I've never turned a screw in over a year, and this bike shifts smooth as glass everytime.

Strengths:
1800 miles without a repair

Weaknesses:
I'd like to upgrade, but I can't seem to wear this bike out. I don't care as much for the threaded fork.

Similar Products Used:
no prev. experience

Price Paid:  $800.00 at VeloCity Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Allegan County Farmland

Bike Setup:
Double chainring. Could have gone to a triple for an additional $75 but I took the advice of a frien

Summary:
The 2001 Tourmalet is my first road bike. It had a good review in Bicycling magazine, stressing the most important part of a bike, the frame. I was concerned about the rigidity of aluminum frame bikes and I liked what I read about the Reynolds 853 steel of the Tourmalet. I have over 1000 miles on it and I'm very satisfied. In a few days I'll be riding my first century and I think the Tourmalet will be ideal for it.

Strengths:
Steel frame. Nice workmanship. Black paint job is not flashy but the red rims and decals give a really classy look. I bought the bike at year end and I think I got a good deal on it with $200 off list. Everything has worked flawlessly so far.

Weaknesses:
Pedals have clips & straps which I found impractical and awkward. I switched to clipless the first day.
Shifting to the small chain ring makes a rather noisy clang, but it has not failed me yet.

Similar Products Used:
None. First "real" road bike since my JCPenney ten-speed from 6th grade.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
EDIT to previous review:

Don't know how I forgot about this...
Bottom bracket keeps comming loose. First time was in April. I noticed some play, seemed like the threads had backed out and it was loose. Took it to a shop that said I needed a new bottom bracket. got the new bottom bracket and it was good. Took the old one home with me. I couldn't see any play in it at all, so it realy was the threads between the bb and the frame. After a month or so, the new bb started coming loose too. I tightened it and it rode well for a month or so. It started loosening last week again. A Pedros mechanic at Fitchburg said it's a big problem and I should send it back. I'll update this report and let you know how Lemond/Trek handles things. I still like the bike. I'm keeping the rating the same so I don't skrew up the overall score.

Weaknesses:
bottom bracket comes loose.

Price Paid:  $950.00 at belmont ww.

Favorite Ride:
the long way to work.

Bike Setup:
stock, except saddle, tires and spd-r pedals.

Summary:
It's been over a year now. All in all I'm very happy with this bike. I use it for training, racing and commuting. I rode through the winter too, rain or shine. Loved riding in the few snow days we had to. I averaged 12 hours a week from june-november of '01, down to about 2hrs a week nov-december, 5hrs a week building to 10hrs jan to march, and since april, about 12hrs a week.

I'm 155-160, so I think this is a little overbuilt for me, but that's ok, 'cause I want this one to last as a commuter. about half of my riding is with a heavy messenger bag. The wheels must be close to bullet-proof (riding rough city roads, and I also enjoy excursions on flat dirt paths) The rear needed truing once, about a month after I got it. The front broke a spoke about a month ago. I fixed it myself and it seems ok. Changed the chain and cassette in march, the chain was hopelessly overstreched from the winter commuting (I've really abused this bike). The only complaint I have is that the seat killed me. It took me a few months to swap it out...I kept thinking my ass would get used to it, but it never did.

Strengths:
smooth, comfortable, satisfaction of hanging with guys on much more expensive rides.

Weaknesses:
weight, uncomfortable saddle.