I Love My LeMond
It's old. Seven years, now. Several thousand miles. The paint's fading, too. But I love it.
A couple times this summer, including today, I took my LeMond Zurich out for simple 20 mile rides. Most of the time I run or load up the mountain bike. But on a couple road rides I chose to head out Wolf Pen, around the Ford plant and back through Anchorage. The weather's been so hot, and it's felt so good to climb the Wolf Pen hills, roll the Anchorage flats and just sweat.
Running's easier. You need not find the helmet, gloves and air pump. You just lace up the shoes and go. But every time I run my body reminds me the next day I'm no longer 20. I don't get those next-day-aches on the bike.
Today I had one of those rides on the Zurich that remind me why I bought it. I didn't hammer the flats, I didn't jump on the hills and I didn't sprint for any green signs. Not today. I just rode. Smooth efficiency. That's the road bike.
Sure, new models are probably five pounds lighter. I could likely add two more gears, as well. But I don't need them. The LeMond's Reynolds 853 steel will likely outlast me. The Zurich's components are well-tuned, and today was just one of those days to enjoy a lazy road ride. Get out the door for a coffee ride, we used to call it. And that's just what I did.
A couple times this summer, including today, I took my LeMond Zurich out for simple 20 mile rides. Most of the time I run or load up the mountain bike. But on a couple road rides I chose to head out Wolf Pen, around the Ford plant and back through Anchorage. The weather's been so hot, and it's felt so good to climb the Wolf Pen hills, roll the Anchorage flats and just sweat.
Running's easier. You need not find the helmet, gloves and air pump. You just lace up the shoes and go. But every time I run my body reminds me the next day I'm no longer 20. I don't get those next-day-aches on the bike.
Today I had one of those rides on the Zurich that remind me why I bought it. I didn't hammer the flats, I didn't jump on the hills and I didn't sprint for any green signs. Not today. I just rode. Smooth efficiency. That's the road bike.
Sure, new models are probably five pounds lighter. I could likely add two more gears, as well. But I don't need them. The LeMond's Reynolds 853 steel will likely outlast me. The Zurich's components are well-tuned, and today was just one of those days to enjoy a lazy road ride. Get out the door for a coffee ride, we used to call it. And that's just what I did.
posted by Erik Eckel at 5:03 PM
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