Weaknesses: Plastic sleave logo. Mine ripped in a boke case. Would love to get a new one, but I don't know how.
Bottom Line:
I've had this 2004 model since the 2005 season. I love it. I bought it with upgraded wheels (Race light - Bontrager) + full Ultegra 10spd. Now I have Fulcum Racing 3 wheels. Just competed a 200Km ride. It was perfect. I'm not the lightest rider; so I'm not looking for the lightest bike.
Strengths: Lemond Geometry, Smooth ride, Quick handling, Nice colors (I have the yellow)
Weaknesses: None for me
Bottom Line:
This is a great frame! I got his frame used on ebay for $550. I've built it up with Dura Ace 9 spd and Cane Creek wheels. This is not the lightest bike available, but it may have the best ride. It does a nice jobe of absorbing the road bumps but still has a very lively feel
Strengths: Lemond Gemetry
Titanium for under a grand once parts sold on eBay.
Weaknesses: Ultegra-105 mix
Bottom Line:
This bike is great as mentioned above the worst part is the parts spec on the bike. I have replaced all but the frame from this purchase it now has a full Campagnolo Chorus drivetrain with Zipp 303's for racing and Mavic Open Pros to Chorus hub with DT Revolutions. The bike had the feel of steel yet responds much better.
Strengths: Ti brushed finish will look good down the road. Lifetime warranty. With the outboard bearings bottom bracket really stiffened the bottom bracket up.
Weaknesses: Cheaper decales, welds on the frame are not top notch. Stock Bontrager Race wheels are junk.
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for over a year. This is one great Ti bike. To bad Lemond over priced the bike for what you got and this killed the bike. This is the 2004 model. Lemond only made this bike for 2 years 2003, 2004. The frame has an oversize down tube which helps making the frame stiffer. All tubes Reynolds straight gauge tubes. This frame is not a sprinters frame but if you are going to ride long miles/tour stages this is what it was made for.
Ti is super smooth and has a ride quality all on its own. I have changed everything out on the bike. The stock fork is a straight blade which helps make the bike fall into turns faster. The stock wheels Bontrager Race wheels are junk and the TTT The The stem and bars are made for someone with small hands. Why Lemond stop making full Ti bikes is dumb on their part. They should have at least one full Ti bike in the line up. The reason this bike did not sale very well was that is was way over priced for what you got. 2003 was $2750.00 retail and it was not full Shimano Ultegra some 105 thrown in and had crappy Bontrager Race wheels. 2004 price was dropped to $2500.00 and still same as 2003 model. This bike would be a great deal at $1999.00 full Ultegra and use Bontrager Race Lite wheels. Lemond are you reading this... Build it correctly and we will buy it...
Bike Setup: Dura Ace 10spd, Thomson x-2 stem, Thomson Masterpiece setback seatpost, Easton EC90 carbon bars, Flite Trans, Chris King headset, Chris King 32 spoke hubs/Mvaic xp 33s, King Ti cages, Speedplay X-2s
Strengths: Greg LeMond and his geometry- he knows a thing or two about racing bicycles.
Handbuilt by Greg's two builders in the USA.
Titanium - what it may SLIGHTLY lack in terms of stiffness or lightness, it well makes up for in ride quality and longevity.
Ultegra - just about as quick and snappy as top drawer Dura Ace, it's bombproof and has a down to earth pricetag.
Bontrager Selects - spin up like eggbeaters and compliment titanium well.
Shrewsbury Bicycle Shop, NJ - thanks for finding me the right bike!
Weaknesses: Stick on decals have no place on a handbuilt ti frame; otherwise, the bike is flawless thus far.
Bottom Line:
I didn't plan to purchase the LeMond Arrivee from Shrewsbury Bicycle Shop. My recent purchase from them was a carbon fiber road bike. To my surprise and disappointment, I couldn't appreciate the ride quality of carbon because it didn't provide any feedback from the road. I brought the bike back and explained to Warner that I was looking for a bike which could absorb road shock, yet remain stiff and provide communication between the rider and the road. I must compliment Warner and his staff. They took the bike back without question and placed a special order for the LeMond. What a fantastic bike this is! The LeMond has classic road geometry and styling which is similar to a club racer's bike of old, yet it's thoroughly modern. The brushed Ti finish shines up like a new coin, and the welds are meticulous. The only disappointment with the frame was the cheap stick on decals. They have no place on any ti frame. I have a 55 cm frame, which boasts a roomy 56.5 cm top tube. I swapped the 110mm stem for a 90mm stem before my first ride. The bike is spec'd with mostly Ultegra parts, with a few 105 bits dotting the drivetrain and BB shell. The LeMond's maiden voyage was a fast century at the Jersey Shore. I knew after the first corner that this was MY bike! It literally rides like a magic carpet. It's very compliant, so much in fact that you think it might be a tad mushy or sluggish. Not so. The bike flies up climbs because the frame is actually quite stiff under heavy pedal pressure. The laid back seat angle places the rider behind the BB shell, which recruits the large hip extensors and generates more force with each pedal stroke. Despite the laid back angle, the bike is well behaved in the corners. It is very responsive, but it waits for the rider's input, rather than taking off by itself. It glides along the flats at speeds that are much higher than I perceive, because it does an excellent job at soaking up the vibes. The Bontrager paired spoke wheels are an excellent compliment to a ti frame. They are laterally rigid, which counterbalances the softer ride quality of ti. At the end of a century on a hot and windy day, I felt very strong without any soreness because of the bike's silky ride quality. This bike is pure butter!
Bike Setup: Mostly Ultegra with a few 105 bits dotting the drivetrain and BB shell.
Bontrager Select Wheels.
TTT The Bar/The Stem.
Speedplay X/3's
American Classic AL Seatpost with Terry Fly Y saddle
Conti 700x23 Gatorskins
I know this sounds stupid, but, I have a friend who is looking at these bikes.
[URL=http://www.roadbikereview.com/2003,Road,Bike/LeMond%20Bicycles/PRD_138810_4338crx.aspx]http:/ Read More »
Just purchased my Lemond a few days ago. LBS gave me a sweet deal on the bike(it was the last one in the shop) however, I was a bit skiddish on purchasing it because I haven't seen Read More »
