Lemond Titanium

[jhcakilmer]

Just wondering if you guys know anything about the titanium frames that Lemond use to sell, back a few years (I think they only sold them for a couple years.....04/05).

I know about the frames back in the 90s with Clark Kent, but am wondering who welded the newer ones, and if they are any good?

Thanks

[caleb]

I rode one of the yellow ones (Vittorie?) and thought it was very nice, but that might partly have been because the geo suited me. I don't know who welded them. Sorry I don't have any more to offer.

[Marcusaurelius]

I liked the arrivee because it had a standard headsey, some of the later models had an integrated headset which I really didn't like. Some frame were made with double butted titanium I believe.

I suspect the Ti frames were made at Trek's waterloo facility since this is where all their steel frames were made.

[quehill]

I remember hearing that the Arrivee (sp?) was welded overseas and I think they used straight gauge tubing. The Victoire and the Tete were butted 3/2.5 and were welded in Waterloo.

Cheers

[Walter]

LeMond Bicycles #1 had their ti frames made by Sandvick. Company #2 had theirs done by Clark Kent. I had one of those. Company #3 was Trek and I have no idea who did theirs.

[dookie]

the ti/carbon 'spine' frames (was that the tete?) had a bad habit of cracking at the DT cable stops.

[MarcusPless]

the ti/carbon 'spine' frames (was that the tete?) had a bad habit of cracking at the DT cable stops.

Is this cracking limited to the ti/carbon frames, or are the steel/carbon frames also prone to cracking? A friend's ti/carbon Lemond frame recently cracked where the chain stay meets the bottom bracket. He was going to have it welded (he really loves that frame), but I don't know if the repair was successful.

[dwightskin]

I know about the frames back in the 90s with Clark Kent, but am wondering who welded the newer ones, and if they are any good?

Thanks

The newer ones were welded by Trek welders and used the Reynolds titanium.

They were really a great titanium frame, the tubes were butted and shaped a bit and the welds looked top notch (not moots or merlin, but better than airborne). They also had some nice partial paint jobs.

But the world was shifting just as they were released. Who would want a bike with a level top tube? Why build a bike out of all one material?

But for an off the peg ti bike, it should be a great ride for years to come.


Dwight

[dookie]

Is this cracking limited to the ti/carbon frames, or are the steel/carbon frames also prone to cracking? A friend's ti/carbon Lemond frame recently cracked where the chain stay meets the bottom bracket. He was going to have it welded (he really loves that frame), but I don't know if the repair was successful.

i have only seen it on the ti/carbon spine bikes, but i've seen at least three with the same issue. they were all team bikes for a domestic men's elite team, so admittedly they led a hard life.

[jthurow]

I have an early Tete de Course. Absolutely love it. Part of that is b/c it fits me well. Beautiful welds too.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2619107463_03c2827a47.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2619924726_f4be0fce32.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2619897188_7eedcc5c4e.jpg

jimi

[Dekonick]

A Legend it is not.

[flickwet]

Just thought you should know, like you didn't?

[dannyg1]

Nothing shabby about those welds.