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FIRST LOOK: LeMond's Triomphe

Final selection

The Latest LeMond bike has just been revealed at the Tour of Georgia, here’s the press blurb:

The latest LeMond bikes in the Triomphe Series claims to achieve a combination of ride quality and durability by applying a brand new Min/Max philosophy of design. This philosophy maximizes the use of tube shaping and minimizes material usage. It’s what gives these bikes their unique look. It’s a design of dramatic transitions, each with a defined purpose. Function drives form.

The first thing you’ll notice on the Triomphe Series is the top tube. The tube starts as oversized and vertical at the headtube to resist frontal forces. It transitions to horizontal, almost flat, yet exceptionally wide at the seat tube. This design feature is intended to resist twisting along the entire front triangle. The top tube does not stop there. It flows seamlessly into the seat stays to the dropouts. It’s a very similar flow for the down tube into the chainstays.

Both the top and down tubes, as they intersect the seat tube have maximum width in the horizontal plane, and minimum vertical height. The maximum width uses triangulation, the strongest geometric shape, to keep the head tube in the same plane as the seat tube. This results in precise and predictable handling. It also keeps the rear of the bike exceptionally stiff, transferring all the pedal input into forward motion.

The minimum vertical height of the top and down tubes at the seat tube intersection has two major benefits. First, it offers a measure of compliance, allowing some deflection of larger road bumps. Second, it is the most conservative and spare use of carbon material for less weight

The Min/Max philosophy is also applied to the rear triangle. The chainstays are asymmetric because the drive and non-drive side stays are tasked with different functions when the bicycle is under pedaling load. Each is engineered to handle different forces and clearances. Chain force wants to twist the rear wheel in the dropouts. To prevent this twist the non-drive stays are maximized/oversized horizontally to resist the lateral movement of the twist. The driveside stays, in line with the drivetrain, are vertically oversized to resist drivetrain pull (the vertical movement of the twist). The driveside also needs to provide proper clearances and chainline for flawless shifting.

The attention to detail on the Triomphe continues into fit and performance features. The carbon fibre tubing is size specific, which is unique in the production carbon bike world. That means that each frame size is engineered to have a similar ride quality, sizes at the ends of the size range don’t suffer performance drawbacks. Also the bottom bracket drop is size specific, meaning that we get each rider as low as possible for optimum corning speed. If someone is pedaling through a corner they all have the same cornering angle. Each Triomphe size also gets a dedicated chainstay length which results in the quickest handling bike possible for each size. The Triomphe platform has been designed so that each and every component of the frame is optimized to deliver premium ride quality and strength at a minimum weight.

Final selection

LeMond Geometry:

The LeMond Geometry is unlike most stock and “custom” frames out there. And while the differences may be small, together they have positive effect that almost every rider will notice from the very first pedal stroke. The LeMond Geometry puts the rider behind the pedals, bringing the most powerful leg muscles on line for optimal power. The position also is more aerodynamic and opens the rib cage for better breathing. Most important is a balance of body weight between the seat and the hands, making both more comfortable. A 55cm LeMond has the same geometry as Greg’s ultra-stable Tour winning bike.

Key Points:

• Frame optimized to minimize weight and maximize rider power output
• Internally molded headtube for precision internal bearing fit, higher strength, and lighter weight
• Headtube junctions shaped for maximum frontal strength
• Exclusive intermediate biased carbon fibers for a stronger structure with less material
• Asymmetric chainstays counteract chain torque twist
• Size specific front triangle tubing means ideal ride quality for all sizes
• Size specific bottom bracket height for same cornering characteristics on all sizes
• Size specific chainstay length shortest possible for best power transfer on all sizes
• Proven LeMond Geometry is confidence inspiring and predictable
• 850 gram Triomphe Ultimate / 950 gram Triomphe
• Available in 7 models in 2007 (5 men’s & 2 women’s)

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