ARider2

I recently finished refreshing a very original 1997 Lemond Tourmalet with a 61cm frame that is in very good condition. Most of the components appear to be original including the shifters, derailleurs, crankset, San Marco saddle, etc. Even the tires and handlebar tape look original and they are the type originally sold with the bike when it was new. It appears the stem and rear wheel was changed at some point prior to my ownership. The bike has a Shimano RSX 3 X 7 drivetrain, Mavic XP10 (front) and XP30 (rear) rims, and I went through entire the bicycle to degrease, clean and re-grease the hubs and headset including their bearings which are all in excellent condition. I rebuilt both shifters, replaced the brake and shifter cables and the brake pads. I also removed, tested and replaced the bottom bracket and I degreased, cleaned and re-greased the BB shell. I checked around but could not find any comparable bikes listed for sale but I did find some Lemonds that were higher level models and others that were similar but not in good condition. To improve braking I replaced the brake pads, I also put on a set of cheap pedals (I have the orginals) and I replaced the spoke protector. The tires and chain show very little wear (< 0.75) and both appear to be original which leads me to believe this is a low mileage bike. After a deep cleaning and overhaul the bike is running great. Does anyone have an idea of how much this bike is worth?

ARider2

Bump! I'm surprised there are no Lemond gurus on the forum who can give an estimate of value of what this bike is worth. I am also interested in whether it would it be worth more with new tires and tubes, versus leaving the original tires to show just how original and low mileage the bike is. Also, does a large 61cm frame tend to be more or less valuable than an average size frame on a vintage bike?

bargainguy

Back in '97, I believe there were two steel tubing sets for LeMonds: TrueTemper for models up to the Alpe d'Huez and Reynolds 853 for the Zurich & Buenos Aires. As such, not their top tier, but a very nice frame nonetheless.

Prepandemic, maybe $350-400. Adjust upwards for your area.

One small recommendation is to make your housing lengths more consistent. From the third pic, the front brake housing is cut pretty tight - not good for a tall frame, it could bind on turning. Conversely, the shifter housings are too long, and on a tall frame, this inhibits crisp shifting. I'd trim the shifter housings and lengthen the front brake housing.

ARider2

@bargainguy, thanks for the suggestions and value estimate. The cable lengths are actually not as bad as they appear on the photo due to the angle the photo was taken. Seen from another angle they are not too off. Funny enough I cut the new cables to the same length as the originals and while it seems the front brake cable is short it is actually fine and the braking and shifting are perfect.

GrainBrain

Not sure on pandemic pricing, but I had bought a 96 Zurich for $250 in a 55cm; I had to put another ~$250 into it for the lbs to over haul like you have but I also put new tires on. I think I would hunt around for a sale on some tires/tubes and replace them.

billmckay

I bought a 2003 Buenos Aires in ok mechanical condition with lots of nicks on the top tube and thought I got an OK deal. Prices are really high for bikes that have any intrinsic value these days.