Class Act - Greg Lemond

[sc_rufctr]

It's one of my many bikes... A Trek SU300 "Pavement Bicycle".

I bought it on a whim about 15 years ago. From memory it was about $1,500 AUD and it's preformed very well.
I use it when I feel like cruising the beach path near my house.

Here's one but this isn't my photo. I'm think about repainting and rebuilding it into something special.
I've started to collect some NOS Campagnolo OR* and Paul parts for it. (*Campagnolo Off Road from 94-95)

[black_falcon]

Have an E500 that Greg was purportedly the original owner of, PO said the family used the car for their Ski trips and it had the factory roof rack installed when he bought it.

[Tobra]

I got a chance to meet him back in the 80s, when he was recovering from that shooting accident. Very polite, quiet guy.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I got a chance to meet him back in the 80s, when he was recovering from that shooting accident. Very polite, quiet guy.

I read about his accident in "*Bicycle Guide". There was a picture of him sitting on a hospital bed and his back was pock marked. The story never really made the MSM news down here.

(*This one but no this issue)

[look 171]

I don't think it made it to mainstream news here neither. I only read about it through Winning Mag or Velonews.

Just look at how things changed over the years. Bike shoot out were DeRosa, Sannino and such. Now, its Specalized, Cannondale, or Trek.

I love to read about the Pogliaghi. I have only seen one at a race back in the mid 80s. Never seen another since but all others listed there have been seen through the years. Those will always be real racing bikes to me. I still have to wipe my drool off when I think about them.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by look 171

I don't think it made it to mainstream news here neither. I only read about it through Winning Mag or Velonews.

Just look at how things changed over the years. Bike shoot out were DeRosa, Sannino and such. Now, its Specalized, Cannondale, or Trek.

I love to read about the Pogliaghi. I have only seen one at a race back in the mid 80s. Never seen another since but all others listed there have been seen through the years. Those will always be real racing bikes to me. I still have to wipe my drool off when I think about them.

Here's something to drool over.

NOS Campagnolo Record OR hubs (8 speed Exadrive). I bought them from a German Fleebay seller. I plan to build them using 700c rims for the Trek. (There's plenty of room for the bigger wheels) I intend to build a modern Gravel Bike using mostly Campagnolo Off Road plus some choice Paul and Thomson components.

Note: The rear axle is 135mm spacing.



Standard 100mm spacing for the front.

[look 171]

Those are pretty hubs. Campy always has all the nice shiny, polished parts, much better then Shimano or Suntour or other Italian co. Too bad that was about the time, I switched over to Shimano due to their index shifting not working. Shinamo 8 speed was flawless but not the prettiest that's for sure.

[sc_rufctr]

All true and I've had all the brands over the years but my Campy builds always get the best returns.

I picked up another frame the other day. It's a Giant Cadex CFR3 from around 1994. It has carbon tubes for the main triangle glued into alloy lugs. The BB is titanium. The rear triangle is all alloy. (Not bad for a give away) I'm thinking I may strip it back to raw carbon, paint the alloy parts matt grey to match the Titanium BB. Then clearcoat the whole thing after applying new decals... Then finally equip it with a full SRAM RED ETAP group. (wireless electric shifting)

American frame + American components

(I'll update my "Italian Tools" thread with some photos)

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/road/series/sram-red-etap?filters=&sort=Relevancy&page=1

[John Rogers]

Back in the day, waaaay back I guess when Greg was a Junior Worlds Champion he came along to race in the two day classic put on by the San Diego Bicycle Club, the Willows Road Race and the UCSD Criterium which was in early March if I remember? Greg just road along out at Willows (before the casino was put in) but in the UCSD race he jumped off the front even though the pack was flying it seems! He ended up lapping the whole field then sat on the back of the field and shot the bull. At the finish the rider threw up his hands and thought he had won until Greg walked up to the podium and said i should be in 1st place!!!! Some really hurt feelings that day.

I have these track wheels if anyone is interested, the glue is still on the rims!!??

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

All true and I've had all the brands over the years but my Campy builds always get the best returns.

I picked up another frame the other day. It's a Giant Cadex CFR3 from around 1994. It has carbon tubes for the main triangle glued into alloy lugs. The BB is titanium. The rear triangle is all alloy. (Not bad for a give away) I'm thinking I may strip it back to raw carbon, paint the alloy parts matt grey to match the Titanium BB. Then clearcoat the whole thing after applying new decals... Then finally equip it with a full SRAM RED ETAP group. (wireless electric shifting)

American frame + American components

(I'll update my "Italian Tools" thread with some photos)

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/road/series/sram-red-etap?filters=&sort=Relevancy&page=1

Sounds like you are going to ride that bike? Those are very soft and nice riding bikes, that's if they don't come apart. One of my fav. is the Look KC171 of course. Similar, but a few years newer then the Cadex. All carbon but lugs. I always ended up grabbing that bike for rides. Its if good enough to Jalabert, good enough for me. Its long gone now.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

Back in the day, waaaay back I guess when Greg was a Junior Worlds Champion he came along to race in the two day classic put on by the San Diego Bicycle Club, the Willows Road Race and the UCSD Criterium which was in early March if I remember? Greg just road along out at Willows (before the casino was put in) but in the UCSD race he jumped off the front even though the pack was flying it seems! He ended up lapping the whole field then sat on the back of the field and shot the bull. At the finish the rider threw up his hands and thought he had won until Greg walked up to the podium and said i should be in 1st place!!!! Some really hurt feelings that day.

I have these track wheels if anyone is interested, the glue is still on the rims!!??

Haven't seen those in some time. Soldered and wires spokes.

[jorian]

Originally Posted by look 171

Haven't seen those in some time. Soldered and wires spokes.

How would you 'true' the wheel if the spokes are soldered?

[John Rogers]

The wheels are trued and let sit and even rode on a bit then trued again then soldered. Those spokes are stainless, stainless wire to bind them and a special alloy solder to fasten them together. They are for track use only as they have NO flex, about as stiff as some of the carbon fiber wheels made today. If you wreck then all joints are unsoldered, bad spokes replaced and all done over again. With these wheels I won my first track sprint race in 1984 against Bob Zumwalt JR won was veteran national champion at the time. I nearly flipped the bike end over end as I started to try and coast which you can NOT do on a track bicycle! Those Campy hubs were made in 1979 and still have original bearing, smooth as silk in them with Campy grease!

[look 171]

84, good old Gorski days down there. Rode the track for two years with the urge of Rick Denman. I was 17 then and discovered I was too small, too skinny. Some of the San Deigo guys would come up to the Encino track. Good times. I never had a pair of soldered wheels. Too damn poor without a real job.

[John Rogers]

I was a nuclear chief in the US Navy still!

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by look 171

Sounds like you are going to ride that bike? Those are very soft and nice riding bikes, that's if they don't come apart. One of my fav. is the Look KC171 of course. Similar, but a few years newer then the Cadex. All carbon but lugs. I always ended up grabbing that bike for rides. Its if good enough to Jalabert, good enough for me. Its long gone now.

I've checked all of the lugs, joints and tubes. Everything looks good. The old Alan/Vitus glued frames failed regularly but by the time Giant introduced the Cadex series they had solved most of the problems. The Titanium BB is interesting. There's just a tinge of gold corrosion on the inside between the threads.

I still ride about 175 km every week but my legs (and arse ) aren't what they used to be and I still have some belly fat. Maybe I need to lose a little weight? I was considering an E Bike purchase but I've shelved that idea for now. Maybe in 10 to 15 years... I'm "only" 55

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I've checked all of the lugs, joints and tubes. Everything looks good. The old Alan/Vitus glued frames failed regularly but by the time Giant introduced the Cadex series they had solved most of the problems. The Titanium BB is interesting. There's just a tinge of gold corrosion on the inside between the threads.

I still ride about 175 km every week but my legs (and arse ) aren't what they used to be and I still have some belly fat. Maybe I need to lose a little weight? I was considering an E Bike purchase but I've shelved that idea for now. Maybe in 10 to 15 years... I'm "only" 55

Well, you have a year on me, old man. Old bike racers never die. If we get passed or see another rider up the road, its on. Up until COVID, I was still hanging out with the hammer heads every Saturday morning doing our 50 mile ride. We participate in the no wait policy. Get dropped? See ya, better luck next time. Ride when possible during the week to keep what form I have left hoping to hang on come Saturday. My ass is ok, callused from 30 years of sitting on that damn saddle. I find after 52 to about 53, there's no power coming out of them. Say a 1/4 mile hill. Everyone is on the saddle until the last half, off the saddle, gone. There are times I just can't hang (Riding during the week helps tremendously on that section),put my head down and chase. Its a horrible chase for two or three miles until the hills starts again. A couple lights helps shorten the pain if they get caught.

Where I come from, having that pot belly means wealth. You should keep it. Since Covid 19 lbs, that exactly what I got. 10 freaking lbs from eating crap and lack of riding. I haven't touch the bike since February (rode three times).

Bought my younger kid an e-bike. He couldn't keep up with the speed or distance but want to come along. With him on that e bike, I have work my ass off. They are fun.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

I was a nuclear chief in the US Navy still!

How does that work? You were stationed in SD for those times? Are you allow to get off base to race in the velodrome, crits or ...?

[sc_rufctr]

BTW: My friend Darrell in Queensland still builds wheels the old fashioned way.

[jorian]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

BTW: My friend Darrell in Queensland still builds wheels the old fashioned way.

That is a work of art!