Just wondering if anybody is familiar with the 04/05 Lemond OCLV/steel frames.
Reason I ask is because I just purchased one. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my aluminium Giant TCR for awhile to the carbon version but this 04 Lemond frame came along at less than half the ebay prices for the TCR carbon so I couldn’t resist. It’s the Buenos Aires model, but all the frames are the same, the models are chosen by the components.
I really liked the TCR but I find the aluminium a bit harsh on long rides and I’ve experienced high speed wobble on fast decents on occassion. Also since I don’t use the TCR for triathlon any more, I’m willing to try out another road bike model. A few guys in our roadie group ride Lemonds and they claim the bikes are rock solid on high speed decending.
I’m aware of the slack Lemond geometry with the top tube normally being a bit long so I compensated by getting a model one size smaller than I would normally ride, but the top tube length is the same.
I expect combination carbon/steel frame to ride smoothly but I’ve always wondered about the wisdom of combining two different materials.
Is anybody have first hand experience with these particular frames? Here’s the frame.
I sell them and have ridden my friends steel/carbon and ti/carbon Lemonds on a few occasions. I absolutely love both bikes (the ti/carbon frame is the fastest bike i’ve ever ridden - and I’ve ridden my share of bikes).
The bike feels almost entirely like a steel bike, but it is much lighter. You can catch a twinge of the carbon when you stand on the pedals. The bike is a little stiffer than an True Temper frame would be alone.
Nice idea on Trek’s part, those are nice bikes. One question on the geometry choice however, the seat angle on the middle sized bikes is really not that slack, certainly steeper than the Giant. However, if you plan to sneak the seat a bit forward to mimic the position of the Giant in terms of seat angle, you’ll effectively shorten the cockpit. Sounds like you ride/rode a medium Giant and went with a 55cm LeMond rather than a 57, or perhaps you ride a Large Giant and went with teh 57 over the 59. Either way take a look at the cockpit on those bikes vs. top tube when the saddle is set in the same position relative to the BB and I think you’ll find the length very similar. I used to ride with the Extang/LeMond cycling team and have had the chance to put many miles on the LeMond frame, I then went to the Ford No Bondaries/Giant team and discovered that on paper the two bikes that fit me the most similar looked completely differnent on the geometry chart.
Enjoy the ride, you’ll love the “carpeted” ride the LeMond offers over the aluminum TCR, the extra length in the chainstays is nice for ride quality/drivetrain noise as well.
You know, when I saw these new Lemonds for the first time I thought it was such a cool way to create a bike out of multiple materials. The carbon/metal junctions are quite substantial (long) and there’s so much CF used that I have to assume it negates the added weight of the epoxy. (unlike CF stays) I’ve never ridden one, but I’d really like to. I’d like to hear the design rationale behind these frames, why CF is used where it is and steel used where it is. Cool bikes. I’ve heard a couple favorable reports.