View Full Version : Idea for LeMond bikes
LegendRider
04-12-2008, 06:37 PM
I think LeMond needs to team up with Craig Calfee. Calfee's race bikes are great (I owned one), but they are stagnating as a business - bamboo not withstanding. Greg could market custom carbon bikes and stay in touch with the racing community while Craig pursues his interests.
Elefantino
04-12-2008, 06:52 PM
LeMond carbon bikes were rebadged Calfees in the early 90s.
Don't know if their deal ended amicably.
LegendRider
04-12-2008, 06:54 PM
LeMond carbon bikes were rebadged Calfees in the early 90s.
Don't know if their deal ended amicably.
I know - I had one. Nice rig. I seem to recall it ended on decent terms.
Elefantino
04-12-2008, 07:01 PM
"Carbonframes filled a big purchase order from international cycling champion Greg LeMond who wanted 18 frames for Team Z. Carbonframes relocated to Reno after entering an exclusive licensing agreement with LeMond Bicycles. LeMond rode in the leader's yellow jersey on his Carbonframe. Craig got his 15 minutes of fame with coverage on CNN, the Associated Press news network and National Public Radio. The companies parted amiably two years later."
big shanty
04-12-2008, 07:01 PM
Given the fond feelings for LeMond demonstrated here among "real cyclists", I think it's pretty clear that Greg LeMond's powers as a brand are pretty strong. Makes me think of the Parlee site a few years back shortly after Tyler Hamilton's doping bust (pre-chimaeric twin claims).....there were some great photos of Tyler riding a Parlee up Mt. Washington, and some copy about how it's the bike he would ride all the time given his druthers. I think LeMond could easily hook up a high-end manufacturer and re-invent his image, not be pigeonholed by his history w/ (pretty damn good but not necessarily sexy) TREK-made bikes. Shave a few pounds off him, 2-3 days beard growth, some split-tone (read: Rapha-ish) photography....that dude will move some f'in bikes.
M.Sommers
04-12-2008, 07:11 PM
Given the fond feelings for LeMond demonstrated here among "real cyclists", I think it's pretty clear that Greg LeMond's powers as a brand are pretty strong. Makes me think of the Parlee site a few years back shortly after Tyler Hamilton's doping bust (pre-chimaeric twin claims).....there were some great photos of Tyler riding a Parlee up Mt. Washington, and some copy about how it's the bike he would ride all the time given his druthers. I think LeMond could easily hook up a high-end manufacturer and re-invent his image, not be pigeonholed by his history w/ (pretty damn good but not necessarily sexy) TREK-made bikes. Shave a few pounds off him, 2-3 days beard growth, some split-tone (read: Rapha-ish) photography....that dude will move some f'in bikes.
Elvis would pop some yellow jackets, cut down on the peanut butter and banana sandwiches, put on some shades, slip into a rhinestone skinsuit and would pull off a comeback. GL doesn't have to comeback, just so much as he needs to clip-in...lose 25lbs, stand next to a bike and sing. Would stores that are contracted to sell TREK be allowed to sell LeMond?
Fixed
04-12-2008, 08:10 PM
bro how about a serotta lemond 2 classic american racing names imho
cheers
stevep
04-12-2008, 08:35 PM
calfee is too small for this.
it might be more of a giant or merida project that would make sense.
a dynamite carbon lemond along the development lines of the top of the line giants would be a killer scheme i thk.
i thk something will happen with this...
maybe not for a year or so.
michael white
04-12-2008, 08:40 PM
calfee is too small for this.
it might be more of a giant or merida project that would make sense.
a dynamite carbon lemond along the development lines of the top of the line giants would be a killer scheme i thk.
i thk something will happen with this...
maybe not for a year or so.
sounds about right to me. give it a year to cool down.
Fat Robert
04-12-2008, 09:00 PM
distribution
that is the issue that mesed up the pre-trek iteration of his company
he has these options, as far as I, an industry-know-nothing, can tell:
1) hampsten-model: subcontract production, control design, niche-market a handmade boutique bike. works on a small-builder scale. not a model to pull what lemond bikes and lemond fitness were pulling under trek.
2) find a new big corporate daddy: specialzed, cannondale, or (?). unlikely. these makers already have high-end lines, although the lemond fitness line might make for a way to get product into the gym market. the downside is that lemond inc. is damaged goods for a big bike company to pick up.
3) rebuild lemond cycles: if if if if if he can create and maintain a distribution network. the problem is he'd be trying to be mr. medium sized. a small boutique maker can cut it if the product is competitive in the boutique market -- the distribution network is, for example, mr. sachs garage. a big maker can make it because they have the resources to market and distribute their product, and they can keep their production costs down per unit. a medium sizer -- like lemond cycles in the early 90s -- has all the economic challenges of the small framebuilder with none of the advantages of the major bike maker. good luck.
I hope he can pull it off. I've always wanted a bike with his name on the downtube -- it just never worked out at any given time.
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