LeMond Bicycles 1999 Buenos Aires

Price Paid:  $1049.00 at Blue Ridge Cycle Wor

Favorite Ride:
Strawberry pickin' out by Falls Lake

Bike Setup:
Bright yellow '99 LeMond Buenos Aires, Shimano 105 Group, Avocet FasGrip Road tires on original Mavi

Summary:
This is my first 'real' road bike coming from loaded touring style. What a treat - light (comparatively) and sprite! The Buenos Aires has let me focus on building up my speed, something I was unable to do effectively with my touring bike.

Strengths:
So smooooooooth and quiet - simply glides everywhere it goes. Am very happy with the 105 Groupo and the '99 version's threaded head set.

Weaknesses:
Don't really like the anodized red rims and swapped out the anatomic bars covered in yucky red cork tape. Minor issues, however.

Similar Products Used:
Not terribly similar, but a 2001 Bianchi Volpe and '93 Trek 520.

Price Paid:  $850.00 at found brand new on E

Favorite Ride:
that long winding concrete road north of town

Bike Setup:
Stock 105 group, Rolf Vestor wheels, TTT bars

Summary:
As my first true road bike, this is a keeper!
Soft riding frame gives a comfortable ride over the long haul.
A great mix of functionality and beauty! The stock gloss black paint really turns heads.
I have to be a better rider to keep up this this ride. It IS the bomb!
This bike is so responsive that it almost jumped out from under me the first time I put the coal to her!

Strengths:
long top tube and supple ride. 105 group is tops!

Weaknesses:
Took a while to get used to the stock seat, but I (and my posterior) are coming around!

Similar Products Used:
Trek hybids modified to road bike componants

Price Paid:  $1275.00 at didn't yet

Favorite Ride:
anywhere without semis

Bike Setup:
stock except for flite seat

Summary:
I want this bike!!!!!!!!!! This is I think thw nicest bike under $1500 that I have ever ridden. If you dont like crazy-looking wheels, dont get it. People ask you if you're missing spokes. That makes me giggle. The paint looks cool.

Strengths:
not harsh frame, quality components, price

Weaknesses:
the seat doesn't fit my posterior. i think I'll get a flite.

Similar Products Used:
Giant OCR 1, TCR2, Bianchi Giro

Price Paid:  $1199.00 at Al's Bicycles of Norman

Favorite Ride:
Franklin Road east and south to Hwy 9 in Norman

Bike Setup:
Stock with a Flite Deck computer system. This computer was the only accessory I could find to improve on perfection.

Summary:
This bike is my baby!!! It sleeps in my room so I wake up and it is the first thing that I see. Fast, smooth, responsive ride with top grade components and a great name to back it all up. Lemond outdid himself with this one. Great price. I caught it toward the end of the season and got a price break off the suggested retail. This bike was a gift from God!!!

Strengths:
A totally awsome bike!!!! I love this bike, and the quality dealer that the company picked to sell it. It fits me to a "T". From the yellow paint, San Marco saddle, Mavic wheels, Continental Grand Prix tires, it is plain perfect. Smooth ride supplied by the great frame. Very responsive at speed. SMOOTH.

Weaknesses:
The only weakness that my bike has is the rider. It deserves better!!!!

Similar Products Used:
Allez.

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at River City Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Sequim to Seattle

Bike Setup:
As per Manufacturer, except for Matrix Aurora wheels, Hutchinson Gold tires, Dura Ace front wheel hub

Summary:
Riding this bike is exciting, liberating and worth bragging about. The experience feels like somewhere between swimming and flying. Most of the credit goes to the frame, I think, and the dependable if stodgy wheel set I added to the bike. But the 105 shifting is as slick a unit as I have ever experienced. I don't know if I will upgrade when this drive train wears out. The price was great, especially when you see what the 2000 goes for. When I need a new bike I will consider buying the same model and brand. It's a modern Classic.

Strengths:
Steel frame, easy shifting, comfortable for someone with long torso, cool yellow paint, comfortable seat, forgiving fork

Weaknesses:
the fancy Mavic wheels are slick, but the rear wheel potato-chipped on me after about two hundred miles when I took a sharp corner at about 20 mph. Lemond sent me a new rim, but I had to pay for the spokes and rebuild.

Similar Products Used:
Bianci--test drive, top tube too short; Cannondale--test drive, aluminum too stiff for my 200 lbs