Here’s some pictures of next years Lemond bikes, which we saw recently at the Trek trade show. The big news is the new Triomphe series of carbon frames. They claim 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. It starts oversized and vertical at the headtube, to resist frontal forces, then transitions to horizontal, almost flat, then becomes exceptionally wide at the seat tube. This design is intended to resist twisting through the entire front triangle. The top tube does not stop there: it flows seamlessly into the seat stays and into the compact dropouts. It’s a very similar flow for the down tube into the chainstays too.

Where the top and down tubes intersect the seat tube, they have a 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 stiff, transferring all pedal input into forward motion.

Expect a 55cm frame to nodge the scales round to 950g. Impressive. Look out for more from Lemond soon…

Hydroformed top and downtubes		We like the new paintjobs
	Unfussy dropouts	Wide wishbone – should be stiff
White and red – yumm…	Beautiful seatclamp. Beautiful…	TT bike with internally routed cables