LeMond Bicycles Poprad

Price Paid:  $975.00 at Local Bike Shop

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Commute Home

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
I found a brand new 2006 model on closeout at an LBS--drove straight over to purchase that night! Awesome value, and a very fun bike. Steel frame is plush compared to my Cannondale R5000 I was commuting with. I now choose the Poprad for commuting and weekend hop arounds. I like the extra inside brake levers. Wheels and frame can take the hits of bad roads, railroad track crossings, gravel trails, and gentle curb jumps. The bike has performed flawlessly and exceeded expectations for comfort. I have even taken it on some local dirt single track & fire trails without issue (aside from higer gearing).

Strengths:
Frame, Frame, and Oh, the Frame!! Just a smooth ride. Nice and soft. I guess it has been a while since i rode a steel frame.

Weaknesses:
Saddle is a bit uncomfortable. I am still shopping for a new one.

Similar Products Used:
I have never owned a Cyclocross bike, only street or mountain dedicated machines.

Price Paid:  $1550.00 at Old Town Bike Shop

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Cheyenne Canyon Trails

Bike Setup:
stock w/ compact cranks

Summary:
The frame is not as refined as Lemond’s previous high-end steel frames. For the price of the bike it should be. Non-ovalized tubes result in a lot of bottom bracket sway, and cable routing problems indicate of a lack of practical design consideration. Poor tolerances and quality control problems on a fork whose design is not very great to begin with—the Bontrager Satellite Elite—need attention.

Strengths:
Set up for touring as well as cross. That’s great. No rim-wear with disk breaks. High Quality steel. Comfortable to ride. Exceptional off-road handling.

Weaknesses:
1. This bike retails for more than the comparably outfitted 2003 Lemond Road bikes built exclusively with Reynolds 853 steel. Both this frame and the old frames are high quality steels, but the older frames were much stiffer around the bottom bracket as tubes were ovalized, chain stay shapes were more refined, etc. Less attention to detail on this frame and obviously more cost savings to Lemond.
2. Very disappointing rear brake cable routing design. Riding gritty trails in rain, the cable housing over the bottom bracket clogs in a very short period of time and doesn’t allow the cable to release. What cross rider would choose this design?
3. This fork is less than satisfactory. I’ve replaced it once via warranty because either the crown was drilled incorrectly or the carbon was inserted incorrectly and, because of this, the fork was visibly misaligned (although still true at the dropouts and entering the headtube). There is also a lot of flex in this fork…way too much. Bontrager retails this fork for $300. For this price, the tolerances on this fork should be exceptional and the design should be more sophisticated so as to reduce flex.

Similar Products Used:
2003 Lemond Zurich (a great bike)

Price Paid:  $1049.00 at Richardson Bikemart

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Cherry Pie Hill, Mineral Wells, TX

Bike Setup:
Specialized TriCross (2006 and 2006 Sports and Comps), Trek X01, Cannondale, Bianchi, Kona Jake the Snake, Cross Check

Summary:
Wanted a crossbike for bad weather training, pulling my kid's trailer (can't do that on my carbon racing bike) and a cross race or two in the fall. After testing the Specialized TriCross (2006 and 2006 Sports and Comps), Trek X01, Cannondale, Bianchi, Kona Jake the Snake, Cross Check, etc. I found the Poprad to be the smoothest riding bike and best parts mix for the money.

Strengths:
Smooth steel ride, but not too heavy. 105 gruppo (the new 105 really is almost as good as Ultegra now), cross specific 48/36 crank.

Weaknesses:
Must test ride since sizing is very different than other models I tested, for racing I will probably put on a faster wheel set.

Price Paid:  $999.00 at Another Bike Shop, S

Model Year:
1999 or older

Favorite Ride:
hwy9, summit rd, 84 to hwy1 to Santa Cruz

Bike Setup:
stock: shimano sora, matrix aurora, bontrager. changed cluster to 13-28 for hills.

Summary:
Poprad takes the pain, smiling thru the bumps & gravel & all! Full group of original parts (except tires & chain) still holding up after 150-400 mi/week for 6yrs. Great bike to commute to work, hit the trails, or climb mountains with.

Strengths:
Faster & more comfortable than any road bike I tested. Reynolds steel frame is very comfortable & forgiving, so I can spend more hours on singletrack on this ride than my aluminum full suspension!

Weaknesses:
I'd race wheels lighter than Matrix Aurora's, but after all I've ridden them through, they still hold up! (hardly a disappointment.)

Similar Products Used:
I own 8 bikes, but Poprad definately gets more use than all the rest combined.

Price Paid:  $1199.00 at Metro West Side Bike

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Beth Page SP/Up the Hudson

Bike Setup:
Stock.

Summary:
I live in a small apartment, and can't accumulate bike as I'd like to, so this one had to fit all bills. Don't compete. Ride on the road (60-70mi on weekends, centuries, etc.), commute by bike, and wanted to get back into off-road riding. A cross bike seemed the obvious choice. Poprad had a good combination of quality kit, steel frame, and classic styling--all important to me.

Hadn't gotten off-road until last week, and really discovered how versatile the bike and stock kit are. Banged it around on some single-track, and it performed flawlessly--no drivetrain issues, true wheels (!), grippy tires, smooth ride.

Strengths:
Steel is smooth and strong. Shimano 105 drivetrain is smooth. Bontrager wheels are pretty sweet--light and strong.

Weaknesses:
Fork chatter at first, but swapped out the pads for Eagle Kool-Stop dual compound, and problems solved--no squeal (unless wet), and no chatter.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first cross bike.