Lemond Comes Back
For many years LeMond bicycles, a division of Trek bicycles, were incredibly popular. But until recently, if you wanted a LeMond, you needed to look for a used bike, as they were out of production. A quick search on Bicycle Blue Book is like a tour through the iconic athletes past, with bikes named for the locations of his greatest exploits – Chambery, Alpe d’Huez, Buenos Aires. But now Greg LeMond is introducing his limited-edition line of carbon fiber road bikes, designed by LeMond and manufactured in France by longtime partner TIME Sport International. The new LeMond debuted at Interbike 2013 and includes three models based on colorways from his three Tour de France victories in 1986, 1989 and 1990. The line will be outfitted with Campagnolo 80th Anniversary Record components.
“My interest in the bicycle as a machine, with its design, details and innovative possibilities, never went away after I retired from racing in late 1994,” LeMond said. “For a time I lost my creative outlet, but like form coming back to a rider who was weakened, I have rediscovered my creativity and passion for the bike. Ive traveled the world, observing carbon fabrication in more detail than ever before, and Ive refined my ideas. When I landed in Vaulx-Milieu, France to meet with Jean Marc Gueugneaud and Roland Cattin of TIME Sport International earlier this year, I had done my due diligence. I spent countless hours traveling, sitting in meetings and standing on factory floors, but I saved TIME for last for a reason: I would now be able to view everything they were doing through a discerning eye.”
LeMond and Gueugneaud go back to 1985, when the young French engineer and designer built a carbon fiber bicycle for LeMond and his La Vie Claire teammate Bernard Hinault. After leaving Look, Gueugneaud launched TVT, a custom carbon fiber manufacturer, which provided production bikes for LeMond, Pedro Delgado and Miguel Indurain. LeMond won three Tours and one world championship on TVT framesets.
“I’m very fond of my history with Jean Marc and his bikes, but I needed to see what he and Roland had accomplished since the early 90s; I needed to see how they were doing it now, LeMond added. The level of design and craftsmanship poured into their products today is unsurpassed. The balance of strength, weight, durability and ride quality in what they build puts them atop the podium as the premiere carbon constructor.
For these reasons I have chosen Jean Marc and TIME to partner with me in my newest endeavor: the relaunch of the Greg LeMond Bicycle Company.”
Bicycle Blue Book is the web’s most trusted source for used bike values. Reposted from peloton magazine, with permission.
