Le Mond bikes - anyone know them?

[Hancock]

Does anyone here know or have any experience with a make or model bike called LeMond? I saw two today while I was riding around Arlington. They looked like potentially good touring bikes. They had a traditional diamond frame--by which I mean the top tube was horizontal...it didn't slope downward. They had drop handlebars. They looked as though they'd been through a lot but held up well. I've searched online, but the only Lemond stuff I see is mostly fitness related--trainers.

[John Nelson]

LeMond is a well-known brand, made more well known by Greg's feud with Trek a few years back, in part because of Greg's relentless attacks on Lance. I don't think any new LeMond bikes have been made in the last few years. LeMond bikes have traditionally been racing bikes, although with a longer wheelbase than most racing bikes. Although I'm sure they could be used for touring, I think there would be a lot of better choices. I'm not sure I understand your equating a horizontal top tube with a good touring bike. I'm not sure those two things have anything to do with each other. What makes a good touring bike to me are long chainstays, long wheelbase, rack fittings both front and rear, fittings for extra water bottles, strong wheels, strong frame and low gearing. I not sure how well the LeMond would take racks and panniers. My friend rides a LeMond, and it's great for long weekend rides and supported touring.

[Hancock]

Thanks, John. I wasn't equating horizontal top tubes with good touring bikes. My point was that the bikes looked as though they might make good touring bikes and they happened to have what I consider a traditional frame: a frame with a horizontal top tube as opposed to the downward sloping top tube that generally didn't exist for most of my life.

Thanks for the history on this particular brand. I'm not nearly as excited about it now.

[RussSeaton]

LeMond was a Trek brand of bike from about mid 1990s through mid 2000s.  LeMond stopped racing in the mid 1990s.  LeMond bikes are Trek bikes.  Trek made LeMond bikes.  I'm pretty sure there were no touring models in the LeMond lineup.  Racing and sport touring models only.  Cyclocross too.  Go for a bike ride and you will see a few LeMond bikes.  They are common.  Trek discontinued the LeMond brand of bike after the LeMond/Armstrong feud got too intense.  Trek could not reconcile sponsoring Armstrong as a racer and LeMond as a bike brand and having them feuding.  I would not be surprised if LeMond bikes were just an alternate to Trek bikes and did not add to more revenue.  The brands were essentially competitors.  They did not serve different markets.

[DaveB]

LeMond was a Trek brand of bike from about mid 1990s through mid 2000s.  LeMond stopped racing in the mid 1990s.  LeMond bikes are Trek bikes.  Trek made LeMond bikes.  I'm pretty sure there were no touring models in the LeMond lineup.  Racing and sport touring models only.  Cyclocross too. 

Almost right.  Greg LeMond had bike made under his name by several private builders, including Clark Kent (the bike frame maker, not Superman),  for several years after his racing days and most of his business dealings were failures for one reason or another.  Trek basically rescued him in the mid-90's and put his name on several bike models, including a few specific to the LeMond name that had no duplicates in the Trek-named lineup. 

As noted, LeMonds escalating criticism of Lance Armstrong finally drove a wedge between him and Trek and they discontinued his bikes and the name.

[humunuku]

if i remember correctly, lemonds were more of stable geometry with longer top tubes and lower BB's (not as twitchy as typical race bikes).  They had a bunch of steel frames and a ti one that i can remember.

[DaveB]

if i remember correctly, lemonds were more of stable geometry with longer top tubes and lower BB's (not as twitchy as typical race bikes).  They had a bunch of steel frames and a ti one that i can remember.

The long top tubes were Greg's idea since he had particularly long femurs and thought everyone did.  They were not universally appreciated.  The Ti frames were the Clark Kents. 

[indyfabz]

The Ti frames were the Clark Kents. [/quote]

Interesting. I had a friend who worked at a shop back in the early 90s. He got his hands on one and built it up. First Ti frame I had ever seen.

Saw LeMond at the swap meet at the velodrome in Lehigh County, PA back in probably '06. He was about to take off on a recreational ride with some people. Yes. He was riding a LeMond bike.