Help identifying this Lemond Ti frame
02-28-20, 05:10 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Help identifying this Lemond Ti frame
I recently purchased and built up this Ti frame as a fun lightweight ride. Frame has an integrated headset and Lemond rear dropouts. Obviously non original fork and the previous owner added the vinyl decals. Thanks in advance for anything you experts may be able to determine.
Serial #3486U031 Ti1302T
Serial #3486U031 Ti1302T
02-28-20, 05:25 PM
#2
Senior Member
External BB bearings suggest no earlier than 2003, when Shimano Hollowtech II was introduced. So my guess would be a Victoire or an Arrivee from '03 or '04 perhaps:
https://www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fis...2003lemond.pdf
https://www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fis...2003lemond.pdf
02-28-20, 09:33 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Not sure I follow what you're saying about the bb. It could have come with a square taper bb for all I know. Thought the headset in the catalog you linked makes me think it is a Victoire with the decals removed.
02-29-20, 05:59 AM
#4
Senior Member
Your second pic shows external BB bearings. Assuming those are original to the frame, no earlier than '03, when Hollowtech II came into being.
Could the crank / BB have been replaced? Sure. This is on the assumption that they haven't.
Could the crank / BB have been replaced? Sure. This is on the assumption that they haven't.
02-29-20, 10:20 AM
#5
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The chainstay shape and that "lettering"/font of the engraved serial number matches my Victoire, so it's a pretty darn good bet that you're looking at a Trek-era Ti frame. I don't think there was any difference in the frame between the Victoire and Arrivee, so once the components are changed it's a wash between the two.
02-29-20, 11:39 AM
#6
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I don't think the Arrivee (2003/2004) uses integrated headsets, therefore this is Lemond's higher spec all-titanium frame. Their top end all-ti frame was the Tete-De-Course and Victoire, and the only differences were component groups, fork, and finish. They are great frames!
Here's a recent picture of my 2001
Here's a recent picture of my 2001
Last edited by Warren128; 02-29-20 at 11:47 AM.
03-01-20, 10:59 AM
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
The chainstay shape and that "lettering"/font of the engraved serial number matches my Victoire, so it's a pretty darn good bet that you're looking at a Trek-era Ti frame. I don't think there was any difference in the frame between the Victoire and Arrivee, so once the components are changed it's a wash between the two.
03-01-20, 12:54 PM
#8
Senior Member
The Trek / LeMond ti frames were made in Waterloo, WI under a team led by Gary Helfrich, formerly of Fat City, Ibis & Merlin. This was when Trek sold LeMond as a boutique line at much higher prices. Really a team of fabricators, as they made a lot of mixed-material frames, steel + carbon, ti + carbon, etc.
The frames were very expensive to produce. To offset costs, they spec'd a lot of bikes from the Bontrager parts bin, many which are just meh. This is where upgrades are possible.
The frames were very expensive to produce. To offset costs, they spec'd a lot of bikes from the Bontrager parts bin, many which are just meh. This is where upgrades are possible.
03-01-20, 01:15 PM
#9
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It's a Trek era bike isn't it?
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-01-20, 09:40 PM
#11
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The Trek / LeMond ti frames were made in Waterloo, WI under a team led by Gary Helfrich, formerly of Fat City, Ibis & Merlin. This was when Trek sold LeMond as a boutique line at much higher prices. Really a team of fabricators, as they made a lot of mixed-material frames, steel + carbon, ti + carbon, etc.
The frames were very expensive to produce. To offset costs, they spec'd a lot of bikes from the Bontrager parts bin, many which are just meh. This is where upgrades are possible.
The frames were very expensive to produce. To offset costs, they spec'd a lot of bikes from the Bontrager parts bin, many which are just meh. This is where upgrades are possible.
I'm running Dura-Ace 7700 on mine and it remains a delightful ride.
