LeMond Bicycles Wayzata

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Bike Line Delaware

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ridge Parkway

Bike Setup:
See description above

Summary:
I purchased this bike to replace a 1974 Peugeot PX10 which I used that year to ride 5400 miles from California to Maine hauling 40 lbs of gear. At 50 years young, I no longer like the drop down racing handlebars. In fact, I've noticed that 95% of rider that I've seen riding in the last year ride on the tops of the bars, not the bottoms. My last long distance bike trip was in 1981, so I wanted to get back into riding and the Wayzata looked like the perfect bike. I purchased it in mid May 2002 and made the following changes before it left the dealer: 1.) Replaced stock seat with my "74 Brooks Professional, 2.) Upgraded the Front & rear deraillers, crank & chainrings with Shamino 105 set 3.) Replaced pedals with Shimano PDM324 (one side std. cage / one side SPD) for riding with or without cleats) After about a week I replaced the stem with a Zoom adjustable ATB stem 120mm (if my neck gets sore I raise it higher... riding into the wind I lower it) and installed a Topeak Panoram cycle computer. After riding with the Cane Creek bar ends for 11 months, I recently replaced them with Profile Long bar ends AND wraped them with black cork handlebar tape (NICE)and a left side bar end mirror (no more neck strain). I also have a quick release Topeak rear rack which I can put on whenever I need it. I LOVE RIDING THIS BIKE! Very comfortable, with some of the thanks going to my '74 Brooks saddle. The shifting is so smooth and I love having three chain rings in the front. ..makes it quick to downshift at a stoplight. The Rapid fire shifters are more convenient and faster to shift than brake lever shifters.
I'm planning to ride it 650 miles to the Maine coast this summer. It will be my first long distance trip in 22 years. We plan on traveling very light with motels every night. I may put different tires on it but it is set up the way I like it. Ride on!!!

Strengths:
Versatility, yet light weight, A Sport Utility Bike

Weaknesses:
Would prefer a normal fork

Price Paid:  $899.00 at Penn Cycle

Favorite Ride:
West bank of the Mississippi River

Bike Setup:
Panniers, rack, taillight, Mr. Tuffy tire liners.

Summary:
This is an absolute joy to hop on each day. It has about 750 surburban and urban commuting miles on it so far without any problems. I park it in the basement garage where I work and have been warned by biker friends that I need to keep it locked because this bike apparently tempts the most honest of people. I'm not an expert on component groups. I just know what works and this bike is a smooth shifting nice riding cycle that does just that. I am still more than a little nervous going past the 4 blocks of metal recyclers (scrapyards) on my route with the skinny road tires that come standard on the bike. I've installed Mr. Tuffy liners and have been flat free so far (except where the valve stem seperated from the body of the tube). I suspect I'll eventually need to upgrade to a sturdier road tire but haven't found the need to do it so far. The straight handlebars with the bar ends are a back saver which starts to be a concern if you're hitting middle age. My commute is 26 miles round trip and this bike has taken alot of the exertion out of the trip. I've added some panniers and a rack so I've slowed it down a bit but I wanted to get the change of clothes, lunch and other work papers and materials off my back. It's a trade off that I'm willing to make. I can't say enough good things about this bike. I'll ride it hard 3 or 4 days a week to work and then take it out on weekends. It's been a pleasure to ride

Strengths:
Steel ride is strong but smooth. Shifting is faultless. Handling is suberb. The more upright position is less of a pain in the back and neck. It's less money than what you'd think.

Weaknesses:
Bontrager wheels are good but the 23c road tires can cause you to hold your breath and grimace when you hear the tinkle tinkle tinkle of broken glass and scrap metal.

Similar Products Used:
Previous bike was a 16 year Bianchi Boardwalk. I rode a Specialized Sirrus on a couple of test rides but liked the Lemond alot better.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
as delivered except tires switched to 28 Michelin TransWorld City (puncture resistant)

Summary:
This is an excellent bike. I've used it for >3 months, riding approx. 100 miles /week. I use it to commute to work and for recreational rides. It is a great commuter bike. I switched the tires to more durable and puncture resistant ones, since I don't use the bike for racing. This way, I can also use it on surfaces other than the road (gras, gravel etc...). I've had two flats this far (one was an extremly sharp nail). The bike has a very smooth ride and a good steel frame with Reynolds steel and a comfortable riding position. Saddle is ok, not great. I would prefer a better group than the Tiagra, even though I haven't had any real problems with it this far. This bike is an allrounder and I can recommend it for anyone for commuting, for recreational riding or even for some more competitive riding.

Strengths:
Steel frame, riding position, versatility, bar ends useful. Pure fun to ride!

Weaknesses:
Tiagra group, handle bars too wide

Price Paid:  $0.00 at the Route, River Fal

Favorite Ride:
LeMond Wayzata

Summary:
I purchased the Wayzata about a week ago, and have put over 200 miles on it. I am attempting to reduce my bicycle collection to just one, wonderful, versatile bike.

Strengths:
This is the do-all bike. I rode a few days with its stock road-tires....loving it, and then I switched to a Michelin Cyclocross tire....it feels great. The geometry allows for a long, comfortable ride...no sore necks. The ride is smooth, zippy, and great for climbing hills. I'll race anybody....I'm the king of the road!!

Weaknesses:
The only thing I am somewhat bummed about was the difficulty in mounting a rack. There is no way to mount a rack, without using clumsy brackets....it frustrated me, because I got the impression this was supposed to be a "do anything" bike. So I threw out a few curse words while mounting the rack, but I can't be mad at the bike for long....because it is a joy to ride, and that's all you really need.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bookoo Bikes, Chanha

Bike Setup:
Stock except for bigger tires and fenderse

Summary:
First let's have a pronounciation guide. "Wayzata" is pronounced "Wah-ZEH-tah" Not: "Way-ZAY-ta". I live in Excelsior Minnesota, which is on the other side of Lake Minnetonka from Wayzata. Our 'around the lake' ride (28 miles - it's a big lake) goes through this bike's namesake - the closest town to Greg's house.

I have a photo posted at: www.dkfnews.org/wayzata.jpg

Looking at the spec for this bike one might wonder what the marketing guy was drinking when he thought this one up: Cyclocross frame, MTB handlebars, aero wheels, road bike gruppo with a triple. The catalog/website attempts to wax poetically: "In the cycling world, this bike may be better known as a 'townie' bike. Not a racer, but fast transportation and just plain fun to ride."

What's it really good for? Spring beater. It's perfect. The only change I've made is the 23c Continentals just don't cut it. 35-38c touring tires are the ticket - and fenders too. Since it's a cyclocross frame there's ample clearance. In the old days of the late 70's and early 80's we'd hang fenders on our race bikes for foul weather riding. Can't do that with today's race bikes; no clearance and no eyelets.

In Minnesota, the winter/spring riding is less than ideal, melting snow, cold, wet. Normally we'd ride our slow, poor handling mountain bikes on the road. If you've experienced that albatross around your neck, you'll understand the pure pleasure I have when my buddies are pedaling downhill trying to keep up with my coasting Wayzata. I'm not kidding here, I've never heard so much bellyaching - they're jealous .

I don't mean to pigeon hole this bike though, it is a Swiss Army knife. I'll be using it to tow the kiddie trailer on the hardpacked gravel paths, riding with the wife, and so on. And when the weather improves and guys start switching over to road bikes for training, I'll slap the 23c tires back on and I'm still right there.

The part spec works fine; keep in mind this is no Dura Ace flyweight. But compared to a mountain bike it sure feels like a Dura Ace bike.

This is one of those if the shoe fits, wear it. I wonder; if I ride to Greg's place if he'd autograph it for me??

Strengths:
Jack of all trades

Similar Products Used:
'01 Trek 5200 for nice weather.
Owned countless Italian race bikes in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Raced in Europe in '83.