LeMond Bicycles Nevada City

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Houston bike lane

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
lemond

Summary:
I bought this bike to lose weight it has been strapped on the back of my semi truck from alberta canada to florida i have rode this bike from coast to coast whenever i can i now use it for going to work about 30 miles a day had to change the tires kept getting flats and added new pedals other than that this bike has been flawless i love how it responds and has never let me down it has a lot of miles on it, some good dings also have crashed a few time but it just adds to the character everytime i get on it i feel like i could go fo ever i hate getting to work so i have towait 8 hours to get back on it again great bike will take it to the grave.

Strengths:
everything

Weaknesses:
having to get off it to go to work

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Pignon sur Roues

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
lemond nevada city 2005

Bike Setup:
I only use the top 4-5 gears and I have a hard time getting on the top one without having the chain rubbing against the front derailer, so I took it off. I'm thinking of changing the back bracket wheel to a smaller, harder one. As I mentionned above , I changed the regular pedals for clip pedals... that was a bit hard to get used to (I crashed 4-5 times on busy streets while being completely stopped... very hard on the ego!). I added one bottle holder and a small pump to the frame... The pump also contains an emergency tire repair kit. Since I go to work with this bike, I also have a lock attached to the frame, which I take off when joy-riding.

Summary:
Price paid is in Canadian dollars... The bike was actually on sale because it was last year's model. Original price was 1000$!

I was totally out of shape (20 lbs overweight) when I bought this bike. I simply changed my eating habbits to healthier food, whilst not sacrificing quantity. It's been 3 months so far and I've already lost 5 lbs! This bike is completely responsible for my metabolism raise. I love riding the bike so much that I'm enthusiasted whenever I get a chance to go for a big ride. The ride is smooth,l even on my trashed Canadian roads. I realize now, the Canadian dollar being what it is, I paid WAY too much for the bike (should've ordered it from the States!), but I'm still 100% happy with my purchase. Mine came with regular non-clip pedals, that I traded for clip pedals. I find the bike responds very nicely to any type of work... climbing, tight turning, flat, etc. The bike definetly got me hooked to cyclism. I ride it 6 days a week. I'm in my happy place on that bike. My next bike will definetly be another Lemond.

Strengths:
Handle bar is very comfortable. The Shimano gear responds extremely tightly. The bike is a very good choice for anybody who's looking for a non-specaliazed, versatile bike. I'd say it's biggest strength is its quality/price comparison.

Weaknesses:
I had a bit of a hard time getting adjusted to the seat... the first few weeks riding the bike, my rear was in pain for the first 10 minutes every time I would get on the bike, but I'm guessing that would've been the case with any seat, me not being used to road bikes. Also, I;ve came very close to crashing on a few occasions while riding in the rain, the stock tires don't seem to work very well in rain. Not a big flaw, though, they can be replaced for better tires for about 60$ Canadian. (comparable to 35-40$ US) Other than that, it's almost impossible to find a new one by now, and Lemond stopped production of the Nevada City in 2006 (I might be wrong, but I think the 2005 Nevada was the only one?). A bit of a disappointment. Maybe another model fits the same niche.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first ever road bike!

Price Paid:  $550.00 at Scott's Bike's

Favorite Ride:
Any road

Bike Setup:
Shimano everything very nice and a Selle Italia seat. The rest is stock, up grading to a lighter and more expensive bike very soon so I didn't want to go ovre board with the first one.

Summary:
This is a very sweet bike to start out with. First road bike, switched over from MTB and I'm loving it. I can ride this bike for a long distance and still want more. Any type of road is good hill, down, flat. I get looks and good comments on the bike from the paint job to the bike itself.

Strengths:
I never want to get off the bike

Weaknesses:
I haven't found any yet. The only thing is when you get this bike switch out the stock seat for some other seat. Stock one is very uncomfortable, plus it don't go with the bike

Price Paid:  $550.00 at at the hub in athens

Favorite Ride:
athens

Bike Setup:
stock, with egg beaters. love the egg beaters. love the bike.

Summary:
this bike is more than i ever hoped for. i paid $600 (550 plus tax) at an lbs, hoping to get something better than the crappy leaderbike that i got on ebay. i was really surprised. i expected an ok ride, heavy, rough riding, but its about the rider, not the rig, right? when i started riding it however, i realized the geometry, with the sloping top tube, was the best fit that i could possibly find. the ride was every bit as good as the trek 5200 that i test rode, and the lemond caused me no numbness in my hands or crotchular area, whereas the trek did. the ride is smooth thanks to 700*25 tires at 100psi, and the frame is stiffer than any ive ever ridden. my scale is always off, but i weighed it several times, and think the 59cm (im 6 foot 3 inches) is about 21-22 pounds with 2 bottle cages and egg beaters on it. it came with clip pedals stock, but those scare me, so off they went. the stem is straight or can point up a few degrees, which is very comfy. this is the first bike that hasnt caused me any pain, and at the same time i cruise around 19-20 mph over 50 miles or so. so it aint slow. havent crashed it yet, but so far but 500 miles on it the first week, and have no complaints in any way. i suppose some ppl will think its heavy, but i think the extra 3 pounds is well worth the $1000 i saved.

Strengths:
carbon fiber fork, stock seat is so very comfy. super stiff frame, lemond geometry cant be beat for tall people. price is insanely low for al/carbon bike!

Weaknesses:
none yet. stock pedals had to go. but at least it came with pedals.

Similar Products Used:
trek 5200-17lbs but $2500. leaderbike (735 frame with ultegra) 19 lbs and horrible company, steel bianchi trofeo, awesome '90s bike.

Price Paid:  $600.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
anything long and flat

Bike Setup:
stock except for Selle Italia SLK saddle, Look 396 pedals, and Ritchey WCS stem

Summary:
The Nevada City is a nice little ride for the price point. I bought on as a training bike that I could thrash on without worrying. As a stock bike, it's not really light but it does perform well. It feels stable at high speeds and reacts quickly to evasive action. The parts spec isn't anything to write home about. The saddle had to go. The stem clamp was over-machined and did not hold bar securely. About 5 miles in to the first ride I noticed that the bar was slowly slipping until my chest was almost on the stem. I had to ride to the shop to get it replaced. The seals on the front wheel hub was also squeaking horribly with every rotation. I had to shoot grease in there to quiet it. However, the shifting was flawless and the drivetrain has been problem free. The carbon fork does look nice with a blue paint job that fades down to gloss coated carbon fiber. It does help with viobration damping but a carbon seatpost could help it do a better job. This bike does have an AL frame after all. Despite a few problems, this bike is definitely great for a beginner, a commuter bike, or someone wanting a bike to train on.

Strengths:
Steady, reliable

Weaknesses:
Cheap saddle, slight QC problem with the steam and hub seals

Similar Products Used:
trek 2300 (my baby), specialized allez