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TECH NEWS

LeMond launches steel Washoe

Three-time Tour de France winner offers new bike in Reynolds 853 steel

Greg LeMond is launching a new Reynolds 853 bike called the Washoe, handmade, hand painted and assembled in the US.

The Washoe is built to the LeMond frame geometry that Greg arrived at during his years as one of the world’s most successful pro racers, and each frame size is said to have its own dedicated butting process so that they all ride the same across the board.

The Washoe is compatible with both electronic and mechanical shifting, the bottom bracket is Press-Fit 30 standard, and it takes a 27.2mm seat post. The frame and fork accommodate tyres up to 28mm.

Speaking of the fork, the Washoe is fitted with the top-end Enve Carbon Tapered fork.

“It completes a bike that our customers will be happy to ride on their most epic rides, regardless of terrain,” LeMond said. “The Enve fork enhances the way the bike climbs and responds out of the saddle. You quickly realize ‘I can ride this bike anywhere’, and it rewards you for doing exactly that.”

Rather than using decals, each frame and fork is hand painted. The only decal used is the Reynolds 853 logo near the bottom of the frame.

LeMond says that a 57cm frame weighs 1,535g without paint, 1,705g with paint and about 7.4kg (16.18lb) built up with the Dura Ace Di2 kit and Hed Stinger 3 wheels.

The Washoe is named after the county in Nevada where the USA’s only Tour de France winner (1986, 1989 and 1990) grew up and began riding.

The Washoe is available in seven sizes from 49cm to 61cm as a frame and fork ($1,799) or as a complete bike. There are four different complete bikes ranging from a Shimano 105 version priced at $2,599 to a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 model at $5,999. Campagnolo versions will be available later in the year.

The frames will be made this month and LeMond expect to ship the bikes in early September.

For more information go to the Greg LeMond website

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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13 comments

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Beaufort | 9 years ago
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Frameset for just £1k sounds like the way to go.

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giobox | 9 years ago
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This thing is awesome, but why oh why did they go PressFit30? Not really in keeping with the rest of the design, and for most specs will need adapter cups. It's not like it's a carbon racer looking for the last word in bottom bracket stiffness either.

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euanlindsay replied to giobox | 9 years ago
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Or it is in keeping with the rest of the frame being Di2 compatible and having a 44mm headtube. Its very much a modern steel road bike.

Also you don't need to adapter cups to then insert another BB into it. You can by a very nice Praxis or Wheels Mfg BB that presses in and hey presto you are ready to install your cranks.

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Flying Scot | 9 years ago
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I like the jersey, but don't understand why campag versions come later...as all the prototypes were campag.

No doubt an issue with the Italians or the importer!

Also I did like the Lemond casual wear if anyone from Lemond is reading this!

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Some Fella | 9 years ago
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I really liked the matching Lemond jersey he was wearing on his Eurosport show.
I hope they start selling them

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step-hent | 9 years ago
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Looking slick! I'm so glad Lemond is producing bikes again. Be really interested to see a ride report and find out if the ride matches the look. If I didn't already have a steel frame on the way, I might be making space for one at home!

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chokofingrz | 9 years ago
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I'm all in favour of this bike but let's be honest - it's not going to be sold in the UK is it?

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Wow, that's nice. Be interesting to know how it rides, and how much it sacrifices to 953.

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euanlindsay replied to notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Quote:

Wow, that's nice. Be interesting to know how it rides, and how much it sacrifices to 953.

It will probably gain a load of comfort over 953 and sacrifice a little stiffness. Makes sense to be 853. Cheaper too.

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CJSTEVENS1955 | 9 years ago
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Looking forward to seeing some beautiful machines from Lemond. Would be awesome to get some replicas of the La Vie Claires and Z's

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glynr36 | 9 years ago
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I'm not normally a fan of metal bikes, but that is nice!

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davecochrane | 9 years ago
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GodDAMN that's nice.

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DaveE128 | 9 years ago
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Classy. Even has a sensible headset design  41

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