LeMond Bicycles Big Sky SL

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Trek Store

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Wabash Trace

Bike Setup:
All stock, no upgrades yet. I might change to a fixed stem eventually.

Summary:
This is my first roadbike. At first I was initially looking at some paved trail bikes (Trek FX series) and the salesman talked me into trying out a roadbike. I really like the upright position of this bike and I think I'll want to go to a fixed stem after more riding. This bike is light and fast. It was a brand new leftover and I got a great deal on it.

Strengths:
Lightweight, strong, great components for the money.

Weaknesses:
Unfortunately they don't make it anymore (as mentioned already).

Similar Products Used:
Trek FX series Fitness bikes, Hardtail Mt. Bikes.

Price Paid:  $1050.00 at Team Active, Cereal

Favorite Ride:
Leelanau peninsula, MI

Bike Setup:
stock

Summary:
I bought my Big Sky SL in August '04. It has been a great bike and I plan to ride it for many more years. Even though it's not the lightest road bike out there, its relaxed design and creature comforts makes it easier to ride longer distances. I've ridden several centuries with it. 3600 miles so far and the 105 equipment has held up well, as well as the Bontrager Select wheels.

Strengths:
28c tires, gel seat, suspension post, and a longer head tube make it a comfortable ride.

Weaknesses:
Lemond doesn't make it anymore!

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Maplewood Bicycle -

Favorite Ride:
Defiance To Augusta on the Katy Trail

Summary:
Being a natural complainer - I've spent the last 6 months trying desperately to find something about this bike to be unhappy about. But I gotta tell ya... No luck yet.

Light? It's weighs less than a bird-fart.

Climb? Like a Tibetan Sherpa.

Looks? The clear-cloated brushed aluminum and black decals generate whip-lash inducing head turns.

Rims? The Bontrager Selects are truly a thing of beauty.

Tires? Bontrager Hardcase 700x28 are a *truly* rare animal - a very thin tire that is virtually indistructable. I'm so happy to finally have a tire that makes me feel good whether I'm riding fast on a paved track - or trekking on crushed gravel. Man.

Components? No... Shimano 105 isn't Dura-Ace - but it sure isn't anything to turn your nose up at either. Good luck finding another bike in this price range with 105 on it. Almost everything sub $1000 has the groddy Sora stuff on it. Period.

And the extras... I mean come on.

CRZ Seat.
Alloy SUSPENSION seat post.
Bontrager handlebars.
STI shifters.
Tektro Cross Breaks in ADDITION to the STI shifters.
6061 Aluminum.
A freakin' CARBON FORK.
Powercork on the handlebars.

Dang dude...

I'm not sure what else you could want in a bike in this price range.

Let me close this with two words:

Upgrade Worthy.

Strengths:
I defy you to find another bike for 1100 bucks that comes with 105 components AND all the little extra's that this one does.

Weaknesses:
Eh. My respect for Greg Lemond dimishes a little each time he starts publicly badmouthing Lance Armstrong.

Price Paid:  $1050.00

Favorite Ride:
LeMond Big Sky SL

Bike Setup:
this is a high intensity bike thrown together with comfort.

Summary:
I've been riding and racing bikes for 24 years now, and I thought that I had the perfect bike. I used to ride the Trek OCR1 and I thought that was a wonderful bike. Then I had a friend introduce me to the LeMond Big Sky SL. I was skeptical at first with the drop in components. But when I took this bike for a spin...WOW, it was like magic. It is a light-weight bike, but it climbs like a goat. Living right by the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, I thought I'd give it a real test and ride to Lake Tahoe. The only thing that was disappointing about that ride was that it didn't last long enough. I thought that I had the perfect bike in Trek, but now i know that I own the perfect bike in the LeMond Big Sky SL.

Strengths:
This bike is sooooooooooooo perfect when it comes to riding, you just wouldn't believe it. The way the handlebars sit make the ride more comfortable. The seatpost is suspended so the ride won't be as bumpy as it is with other bikes. But Most importantly is the weight and how easy it is to climb any mountain... big or small.

Weaknesses:
This bike knows no such word.

Similar Products Used:
there is no other bike that can even compare.

Price Paid:  $1150.00 at Bike Doctor Waldorf,

Favorite Ride:
Lemond Big Sky series

Bike Setup:
Mavic Open Pro hand built wheels. Specialized road saddle.

Summary:
Finally, there is a road bike that is comfortable for the "big" guys. The paint job on this bike is absolutely beautiful. It's relatively light, fast, and all 105 componentry. With wide drops, gel tape on the handlebars, I can ride all day and not feel it. Lemond did a great job with this bike.

Strengths:
Paint job and frame are unbeatable at this price. 105 components. Bontrager race lite tires.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Trek, Giant