LeMond Bicycles Poprad Disc

Price Paid:  $1599.00 at Chalet Sports, Bozem

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Poprad

Bike Setup:
mostly stock, sahorter Thomsen stem and Thomsen aluminum seat post. I didn't like the Bontrager carbon seat post.

Summary:
I live in the country. I previously rode only mountain bikes, but terrain requiring a mountain bike is at least 10 to 20 miles into the mountains so I decided I could ride a cx bike on the dirt gravel and rough highways that surround me. What really surprised me was how able the bike is on really quite rough terrain. Honestly even for fire roads the poprad gives a more efficient and responsive ride and is far more inspiring than a full suspension XC bike. FOr really rough terrain jumps and rides among the redwood roots like I encounter in Santa Cruz, CA my full suspension bike is indispensible but for everything else this disc poprad is amazing.

Strengths:
Fast, efficient and reasonably decent groupo for the money. Amazing versatility. I even ride it in the snow.

Weaknesses:
none... except my first Bontrager carbonfiber fork was slightly skewed and weak. They immediately replace it and this one has been great. True it is pretty flexible but it appears to be plenty strong and the give in the fork combined with the steel frame is the key to its astounding ride in the rough.

Similar Products Used:
custom built road bikes and mountain bikes... Haro full suspension made by Intense.

Price Paid:  $1199.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Around the Lake

Bike Setup:
Stock except compact crankset

Summary:
I have the 2008 Poprad Disk. This bike has been used as a trail bike, commuter, and wet weather club rider. It is the most versatile bike I've owned. I went with disk brakes as this bike seldom sees dry weather and I burned though brake pads and rims with my last rain bike. Don't judge the disk brakes until they have had a chance to break-in. If I only rode pavement, I would say the fork is a bit flexy, but it really works well for the urban trails and mountain fire roads.

Strengths:
Versatility, Nice Steel Ride.

Weaknesses:
None yet.

Similar Products Used:
Salsa La Cruz, Traitor Reuben

Price Paid:  $1290.00 at Bike Rack, Omaha, NE

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere

Bike Setup:
New seat
Road tires
Everything else is stock

Summary:
This is my first road bike and I did a lot of research before I made the purchase. I considered the Trek Portland, & Surly Long Haul Trucker, but the Poprad met all my criteria. In the end I loved the steel frame and sweet look of the Poprad. The disc brakes work great and the rest of the components work flawlessly. I did notice that the front fork is very flexy, but it hasn't been a problem for me. The stock seat sucks, I replaced it first thing.

Strengths:
Good quality components
Disc breaks are easy to adjust
Light for a steel frame
Built by Trek

Weaknesses:
Weak wheels on a cross bike
Flexy fork

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Pedal Power

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
anything

Bike Setup:
stock, but for shifters.

Summary:
Overall, I think this is a GREAT bike. I'm not a cyclocrosser, just a committed commuter. I ride around alot of big hills, and the discs are working well. I have barend shifters instead of on levers. Otherwise, stock.

Strengths:
Nice balance of strength and weight
as others said, I just want to go ride.
sweet paint
sweet bike

Weaknesses:
fork is REAL flexy, but it sure looks sweet. Will likely replace, someday.
Brakes are good, but hard to fine-tune

Similar Products Used:
nothing like this

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at CottonWood Cycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
any thing off of CR 240

Bike Setup:
Stock, new Koobi seat, MichMud2 tires

Summary:
I love this rig, strong and gets the job don e. I have a 1000 miles into it and this thing makes me want to ride. I just get excited to ride it. Its good. Doesn't cost too much to get into the whole cross thing and all the stock parts make it a one stop shop for cross. Nothing else out there is as good at this price point. Get one

Strengths:
Steel Frame is solid, Brakes make the difference on the Steeps

Weaknesses:
Stock components, Makes you want to upgrade, But they're solid, and you really don't need them. Unless you're a weight weenie

Similar Products Used:
Various MTBs for 20 years