LeMond Bicycles Etape

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Gumtree.co.uk

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Lemond etape

Summary:
I have recently bought a lemond etape and it is great. Much better than it's closest rival (trek 1000) which I have previously owned. The lemond etape is a great entry level bike for a great price.

Strengths:
Carbon forks, very light, great value

Weaknesses:
Original seat

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1000

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Jerry and Sparky's i

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
RAGBRAI and Door County, WI

Bike Setup:
Stock 57cm, saddle upgrade, eggbeaters

Summary:
This is my first road bike and I must say it is awesome. My first season of riding I participated in RAGBRAI and absolutley loved this bike. I have received so many compliments on the bike and I have really gotten into road biking since with friends. I definitely recommend this bike for newcomers!

Strengths:
I love LeMonds frame design; very efficient and surprisingly light. Having carbon forks and seatpost is awesome considering the price. Very comfortable bike.

Weaknesses:
The position of the shifters isnt so good considering being in the drops. Wheels are a bit overweight as lots of weight can be shed there.

Similar Products Used:
Trek equivalent

Price Paid:  $650.00 at Bicycle Sports

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
RAGBRAI

Bike Setup:
Stock, Specialized saddle, Eggbeater peddles, Mavic Aksium wheels

Summary:
The Etape, like many other reviewers, was my first road bike. For the price it is a great bike to start on. I found this bike to be comfortable, stable (even on rapid (45+ mph) descents), fun to ride, very reliable, relatively quick, surprisingly light, and fun to ride. Has a stiff bottom bracket, good geometry, and is very responsive. I now have 2500+ miles on mine and it's still pulling strong.

I would recommend this bike to anyone getting into road riding because it is a quality bike without the sticker shock associated with some other bikes. The Shimano grouppo is precise, reliable and mechanically very sound, however mine does need frequent adjustments and the front derailleur is aggravating. However if you know you're going to ride thousands of miles a season, spring for a bike with higher level components, if you don't you'll be buying them later and putting them on the Etape. To keep the price down Lemond used lower end components (I didn't say cheap components just not SRAM Red / Dura Ace quality, or price) which wear out faster and are heavier. These components are perfectly acceptable but if you just totalled your Pinarello Prince this might not be the bike for you. Finally, if you don't like riding this bike you won't like any road bike and you saved youself some $$$.

I did upgrade the saddle and it was a big benefit. I also put on a Mavic wheel set which was huge, making the bike much lighter, faster, and laser straight. Going with the eggbeaters vs. strap on peddles was also a big help.

My main complaints are the stock saddle, thumb shifters, and the front derailleur. The thumb shifters are annoying and inconvenient but have been reliable and mechanically I have no complaints, I just don't like not being able to shift from the drops. The front derailleur only makes 3 of the 4 shifts; I've adjusted it, the bike shop has adjusted it several times and it never works right.

Overall a great bike for the money, I recommend it to anyone genuinely interested in cycling, if you buy this bike you won't be disappointed.

Strengths:
price, relatively quick, light for the price, stable, and comfortable

Weaknesses:
saddle, thumb shifter is annoying, front derailleur

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Owen's Cycle, Chatta

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

Bike Setup:
55cm lemond Etape, Carbon fork, Shimano 24sp, Bontrager components

Summary:
I'd been riding for years and wanted to take the plunge into road. Riding down a mountain road one day I met a car head on, both of us doing roughly 45mph according to the police report. Apart from taco-ing my wheel/tire, some crankset, shifter, and brake damage my bike was unscathed. The frame and fork were flawless (minus some roadrash). After a year of recovery I jumped right back on my Etape and began riding again, and it preformed perfectly (obviously with newer versions of the previously mentioned components.).

Strengths:
Durable aluminum frame and carbon fork.

Good geometry for long comfortable rides.

Weaknesses:
Great for beginner riders, but the original components can be lacking for the more experienced rider, but accepts new/more advanced components easily.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1000

Price Paid:  $640.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
STP

Bike Setup:
Stock gruppo
Mavic Equipe Wheelset

Summary:
This was my first road bike and is great as an entry level road or commuter bike. This bike is very comfortable. I love Lemond's geometry. I was surprised to get a carbon fork for the price.

Strengths:
Price
Comfort
Giving you the feel of a road bike
Looks (many asked me if it was a full carbon bike)

Weaknesses:
None for this price.

Similar Products Used:
2007 Lemond Chambery (Carbon / Aluminum)