LeMond 8 carbon road & gravel bikes are finally right here, unveiling that revolutionary US-made carbon expertise they’ve been teasing us with for years. That first got here to life in a collection of ultra-stealthy e-bikes, however now LeMond is getting again to his correct road racing roots. While they’ve hinted at extra environment friendly carbon fiber manufacturing processes since 2016, these new road bikes are all about premium light-weight efficiency, and include premium value tags to match…
LeMond 8 distinctive carbon aero road bike
c. LeMond
Greg LeMond’s 8 second come-from-behind Tour de France victory modified his life, not solely within the apparent level of constructing him a winner of the world’s greatest road race, but additionally in making him understand the facility of straightforward however transformative change. It was admittedly his adoption of recent aerobar tech that actually received that race, in order that 8 started to represent revolutionary tech for him.
Now, he’s calling the LeMond 8 road bike “the most transformative change to carbon fiber frame construction” because the first carbon bike frames of the Nineteen Eighties & 90s.
Revolutionary carbon fiber bike tech
In 2016, we had been invited to Knoxville, Tennessee to get a sneak peek of what LeMond promised could be their future of carbon fiber. Not simply carbon fiber although, however domestically produced carbon fiber that had the potential to revolutionize industries outdoors of the bicycle world. Of course, the subsequent era of carbon bicycles was additionally at all times on the menu.
Having partnered with the Oakridge National Laboratories, LeMond initially got down to develop “the holy grail of carbon fiber,” or carbon that may very well be produced at $5 per pound. At that value, carbon fiber would really be cheaper to provide than utilizing aluminum.
Since then, LeMond has relocated the bicycle operations to a brand new facility in West Knoxville, the place these new road bikes will apparently be made shifting ahead.
US-made carbon innovation
Now, on the skin, the brand new LeMond 8 road bike seems fairly just like most of the fashionable aero road bikes we’ve seen in recent times. But inside is a singular LeMond 8 MatrixCore combining a carbon sandwich with an ultralight Xenecore increasing foam. That guarantees extra equal inside strain when molding the carbon (vs. detachable mandrels or inflatable bladders) and in addition stays inside the finished bike to additional damp vibration.
Together with the froth core, LeMond incorporates inside strengthened carbon truss constructions that add power & stiffness at key body junctions, whereas sustaining mild & skinny carbon wall sections which might be immune to exterior harm. The ensuing LeMond 8 framesets are mentioned to be “some of the strongest and safest frames in the world” with out including pointless weight.
With extra management of particular person fiber placement and focused assist of key parts, the LeMond 8 was in a position to be constructed with no metallic inserts in any respect. Even threaded water bottle bosses & backside bracket threads are lighter & stronger in carbon, with simply metal bolts the one metallic that attaches to the carbon bike. It even will get a carbon fiber direct mount derailleur hanger.
The carbon T47 backside bracket itself is exclusive, interlocking a exact threaded carbon lattice cylinder by co-molding it into the body throughout ultimate manufacturing. Classically fashionable threaded BB with no weight penalty.
Attached to the entrance of the body, a monocoque 1-piece carbon handlebar+stem cockpit and built-in fork share related building with inside structural ribs, and MatrixCore foam within the case of the fork. Again, heavy metallic inserts that threat galvanic oxidation are all however eradicated, and riders are left with absolutely inside cable routing integration and even a system to guarantee that the bars & fork are at all times completely aligned.
Tech particulars & Geometry
The LeMond 8’s geometry is described as “True Road Feel”, with a variety of eight inventory sizes (47-62cm). Each measurement will get tailored tube dimensions, size-specific chainstays, headtube angles & fork offsets to end in related Trail figures for all riders. “Every rider benefits from the same optimal setup… for a consistent ride and feel quality throughout the line, no matter the size.”
The LeMond 8 is an aero road bike and incorporates a diminished frontal profile and aerodynamic Kamm tail tubing profiles. It additionally doesn’t damage that every one cables are routed absolutely inside, though the bikes are hydraulic disc brake AND digital shift solely.
The bike incorporates a distinctive proprietary aero seatpost & channel clamp designed to unfold clamping drive over a wider 66mm part of the put up. A facet profit is that equipment like a taillight and/or saddlebag may also be connected through the channel.
The LeMond 8 has beneficiant 32mm all-road tire clearance (with full builds providing 25/28/30mm tire choices) and options 12mm thru-axles, flat mount disc brakes, an possibility for a conventionally built-in 2-piece bar & stem setup, and is obtainable in Tour Blue with silver graphics or Classics gray with Maillot Jaune yellow logos.
What is Team LeMond?
c. LeMond
The debut of the LeMond 8 additionally brings with it the Team LeMond digital biking membership, and the tease of that gravel bike too. Included in your LeMond 8 buy is membership membership that can even get you invitations to occasions with Greg LeMond, like this summer season’s 4-day driving expertise in Chatel for the arrival of the eighth stage of the Tour de France.
You additionally acquire early entry to new LeMond merchandise, plus annual membership biking package and members-only quarterly Town Hall Zoom calls with Greg. Oh, and there’s a Team LeMond Pro Deal. Once you personal one LeMond 8 as a Team LeMond member, you’re going to get a 50% low cost off the subsequent LeMond carbon framesets, wheelsets & new carbon fiber parts you purchase over the subsequent 3-4 years (in restricted numbers).
What’s subsequent?
In that point, there can be a LeMond 8 Aero Gravel Frame, a second-generation LeMond 8 road bike by 2025, two units of carbon wheels, and extra “new LeMond Carbon Fiber New Components”.
LeMond 8 bikes – Pricing, choices & availability
2022 LeMond 8 body package
The new LeMond 8 is on the market to pre-order with a large deposit now in certainly one of two choices. For a $6000 deposit and a ultimate complete value of $8500 / 9500€ you’re going to get a carbon LeMond 8 road bike body, fork, 1-piece handlebar/stem, seatpost & 47mm deep wheelset. You might want to provide the part construct package.
2022 LeMond 8 Dura-Ace full
Or for a whopping $9500 deposit on the best way to a ultimate complete $12,500 / 13,900€ price ticket you’re going to get an entire carbon LeMond 8 road bike constructed up with a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12 groupset.
Global deliveries to North America & many of the EU from in the present day’s pre-orders are slated to start this July 2022 on a first-come, first-served foundation with precedence given to finish bikes.
