LeMond Bicycles Tourmalet Triple

Price Paid:  $500.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
2002 Tourmalet

Bike Setup:
Specialized Alias saddle
Crank Brothers Candy peddles
Conti 700X25 tires.
All stock otherwise.

Summary:
I bought this bike used (but in new condition) from a local bike shop in my hometown. Someone had traded it in and I happened to be there at the right time. The bike didn't have a scratch on it. I put a new saddle on it, flipped the stem, and replaced the pedals. I love this bike. There are certainly other new, high tech, light weight options out there but, to me, this bike is a perfect match for me. If you can still find one I'd certainly recommend it.

Strengths:
Ride, handling.

Similar Products Used:
1998 Tourmalet

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Upgrades from stock: Shimano R540 pedals, FSA 39-tooth middle chainring, Specialized BG S-Works saddle, rear wheel (105 hub, Ultegra 12-25 cassette, DT 14/15/14 spokes, Mavic CXP22 rim), Specialized Mondo Pro 700x23c tires, Ultegra brake pads and shift cable guides

Summary:
An update to my original review. The Tourmalet is still ticking along quite nicely. The frame has been through one major crash (broadsided by another LeMond rider who hit me going 25+ mph) that bent the left seatstay, but didn't dent it. LeMond and an independed framebuilder deemed it fine. Otherwise, I've replaced and upgraded components here and there, including the rear hub, which isn't really built for heavy-duty riding (it's been overhauled and is now my spare). But most of the stock gear is stil running fine. I will install an Easton EC-70 fork in the next week. But it's rolled over 3,400 miles without a whimper.

Strengths:
Durable, comfortable Reynolds 853 steel frame.
Components are quite durable over some heavy riding.

Weaknesses:
Tiagra rear hub bearings wear out under high-mileage riding.
Stock IRC tires wear out quickly.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

Bike Setup:
stock, flight deck computer, selle italia saddle, conti grand prix tires

Summary:
This was my first road bike. I got it for a cross country bike ride raising money for the ACS a few summer back [hopkins4k.org]. It is not the fastest bike out there, not the lightest, and not the coolest looking, but it has never let me down. I now have more than 10,000 miles on it. The frame has soften a bit but it still good for commuting and riding with friends who are slower riders. My cross country trip allowed me to test this bike on every condition possible: cold and rainy, constant wind, dessert heat, mountain climbs and 50mph desents. It held up great. This is not a racing machine, but for training and touring it is a great value. The steel frame and relaxed geometry allowed me to be comfortable in the saddle on 135 mile days as well as just commuting on the bumpy chicago streets. While on the trip i also took two high speed falls [one at 45+mph when I was sideswiped by a truck], the paint scratched a bit and the shifter took some scratches but the frame remained intact and everything still worked great... I don't know a tougher way to test it than that. If you are looking to get into cycling this would be an excellent place to start, or if you ride a lot and want to save your top bike from a lot of training wear and tear, this would also fit the bill.

Strengths:
inexpensive
durable
steel frame

Weaknesses:
heavy
wheelset and components arn't race worthy

Similar Products Used:
Lemond Beunos Aires, Trek 5200, Merckx team

Price Paid:  $650.00 at these online classif

Favorite Ride:
up along the PCH -San Diego

Bike Setup:
Ultegra 12-27 cassette, Dura Ace double crankset, Sram PC-69 chain. Nightrider HID, Axiom wireless. Everything else is stock. Excellent value!

Summary:
The Tourmalet is an excellent choice for fitness riders who are thinking about racing. I love the fit, I love the fact its 853 steel, and the classic color scheme on mine.

Strengths:
853 steel! As a mtb'er turned roadcyclist, I would only settle for steel. It starts with a good frame, because components are typically upgraded later. I thought I needed the triple at first, but now that I am in shape, I am swapping out the Tiagra triple for a Dura Ace 53/39 and putting on an Ultegra 12-27 cassette on back. This will eliminate the inherent redundancy in a typical triple setup, yet still give me those low gears I need to power through San Diegos mountains. The thing I like best about this bike is that it'll GROW with me. I can upgrade to better components and the bike will only get better.

Weaknesses:
The stock tires were pretty weak. I now have Kevlar beaded Tecnos on there, much better.

Similar Products Used:
No other roadbikes tested. Only considered steel roadbikes and this one stood out above the rest for entry level roadbikes.

Price Paid:  $1195.00 at Murfreesboro Outdoor

Favorite Ride:
LeMond Tourmalet Triple

Bike Setup:
Stock....Changed out saddle....Thinking about Ultegra of full 105 upgrade.

Summary:
This is a really fun bike. It's great for club rides, or a little road race from time to time. The finish on my 2002 Tourmalet is better than the one that came on the 1999 Tourmalet I had prior (even though I liked the yellow of the '99 better). The 1999 had a paint cracking/chipping issue around the seat post clamp and made me nervous about long term ownership. BUT, the 2002 has a 105 and Tiagra mix on components, where my 1999 had what I feel was a superior group, and better wheels. My 2002 is a 55CM frame where the 1999 Tourmalet was a 57CM frame. I have found on the LeMond bicycles that you must drop down a frame size due to the extended length of their top tube....it's a good thing....as long as you know it before you buy.

Strengths:
Fun to ride. Durability. Great finish.

Weaknesses:
For the price, should have 100% Shimano 105 group. Saddle is not worthy.

Similar Products Used:
1999 LeMond Tourmalet, Cannondale (various), Centurion Ironman ( that bike still rocks ! )