K-Man
12-14-2007, 12:26 AM
http://www.dirtragmag.com/images/karlspoprad.jpg
This is the same Lemond Poprad that I reviewed in Issue #120, back in 2006. I liked the bike enough to purchase it after the test. I use it as my primary road machine, for everything from long training rides to tooling around on errands.
Oh yeah, the occasional CX race, too....
http://www.dirtragmag.com/images/Karl_CX_Barrier.jpg
Here's an excerpt from my review, (http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=753&category=stuff_reviews) which originally appeared in Dirt Rag #120 (http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/issue.php?thumb_issue_number=120)....
The Poprad retails for around $1300. Only you can decide if that equates to affordable, vis-à-vis your personal finances. I can help you decide by covering exactly what you get for your hard earned dough. First and foremost, there's the True Temper OX Platinum tubeset. On the road and the cyclocross race course, I appreciate the lively feeling that this fine heat treated steel chassis delivers. The Poprad frameset takes the edge off of road and trail irregularities, yet feels laterally stiff when carving hard turns on the cyclocross course. Stomp the pedals and the feeling is pure acceleration. Yeah, nice frame.
Thirteen hundred smackers also gets you a very functional parts mix. The Shimano 105 (9 speed) front/rear derailleurs and shifters worked through muddy and snowy race courses without a missed shift. Sure, there are fancier 10 speed road groups available, but I'd rather have 9 speeds than 10 on a muddy, gear-clogging race course. The Poprad sports a healthy dose of Bontrager components: Race Cross GXP 46/38 crankset, Select wheelset, CX Race handlebars, Jones CX Race tires, Select stem, Carbon seatpost and Race Luxe saddle. Avid supplies the Shorty 4 cantilever brakes. You supply the pedals.
Out of the box, without pedals, the Poprad weighs in at 21.6 lbs. which, while not feathery, is certainly a raceable weight in my book. Lemond could have made a lighter bike out of aluminum alloy, but remember that this bike is not designed for the elite level cyclocross racer. It's made for guys like me who race cyclocross over the winter to stay in shape, and train on a road bike throughout the year. I feel that the True Temper OX Platinum frameset represents a good balance of durability, weight and affordability.
This is the same Lemond Poprad that I reviewed in Issue #120, back in 2006. I liked the bike enough to purchase it after the test. I use it as my primary road machine, for everything from long training rides to tooling around on errands.
Oh yeah, the occasional CX race, too....
http://www.dirtragmag.com/images/Karl_CX_Barrier.jpg
Here's an excerpt from my review, (http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=753&category=stuff_reviews) which originally appeared in Dirt Rag #120 (http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/issue.php?thumb_issue_number=120)....
The Poprad retails for around $1300. Only you can decide if that equates to affordable, vis-à-vis your personal finances. I can help you decide by covering exactly what you get for your hard earned dough. First and foremost, there's the True Temper OX Platinum tubeset. On the road and the cyclocross race course, I appreciate the lively feeling that this fine heat treated steel chassis delivers. The Poprad frameset takes the edge off of road and trail irregularities, yet feels laterally stiff when carving hard turns on the cyclocross course. Stomp the pedals and the feeling is pure acceleration. Yeah, nice frame.
Thirteen hundred smackers also gets you a very functional parts mix. The Shimano 105 (9 speed) front/rear derailleurs and shifters worked through muddy and snowy race courses without a missed shift. Sure, there are fancier 10 speed road groups available, but I'd rather have 9 speeds than 10 on a muddy, gear-clogging race course. The Poprad sports a healthy dose of Bontrager components: Race Cross GXP 46/38 crankset, Select wheelset, CX Race handlebars, Jones CX Race tires, Select stem, Carbon seatpost and Race Luxe saddle. Avid supplies the Shorty 4 cantilever brakes. You supply the pedals.
Out of the box, without pedals, the Poprad weighs in at 21.6 lbs. which, while not feathery, is certainly a raceable weight in my book. Lemond could have made a lighter bike out of aluminum alloy, but remember that this bike is not designed for the elite level cyclocross racer. It's made for guys like me who race cyclocross over the winter to stay in shape, and train on a road bike throughout the year. I feel that the True Temper OX Platinum frameset represents a good balance of durability, weight and affordability.