New Ride, Tourmalet
01-15-20, 09:31 AM
#1
Mother Nature's Son
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Location: Sussex County, Delaware
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Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
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New Ride, Tourmalet
Finally going to get my first ride on my 2001 Lemond Tourmalet. From the day this bike was delivered, it has been challenging. Some of it certainly my fault, including the purchase. Some just things that happen. I always have times of frustration when I am doing maintenance/mechanics on bikes. I always have a feeling of accomplishment when the bike is done. The big prize is about to be gathered, the ride.
Back from powder coating
Before a couple of issues that came up, including a ruined crankset.
Pre-ride, unmatched wheels for now.Waiting for Neubaum's cloth wrap in dark blue.
Back from powder coating
Before a couple of issues that came up, including a ruined crankset.
Pre-ride, unmatched wheels for now.Waiting for Neubaum's cloth wrap in dark blue.
01-15-20, 12:39 PM
#4
Mother Nature's Son
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Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
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Initial ride of 17 miles. the bike, as expected, rides really nice and fits me well. I still have some issues to take care of with it. I do not like the handlebar, which I knew was a possibility. Something not right in the headset. It is the original that came with the bike. I installed new ball bearings and grease and thought it was going to be fine. Not sure why, but it will not stay tightened on the steerer. I think the top nut may have bad threading. I was going to replace it, but decided to give a try to rebuilding it. I had never done a headset before. Now I will have to replace it, not a big deal. Also, I still need to decide what to do about wheels. It has a non-matching set on it now, Bontrager Race on the rear and Rigida rim/hub on the front. They both spin well and roll true.
The bike itself rides and handles great. The color scheme, IMO, works well. I put some cheap, non-matching decals on it to see which I liked. I am going to get a basic set in dark blue. The camo wrap is cheap wrap I installed just to ride for now. I have some Newbaum's cloth wrap, dark blue, ordered. This, for sure, is going to be my last build for awhile.
Almost empty boardwalk
Boardwalk bench, sand dune, ocean and bike
The bike itself rides and handles great. The color scheme, IMO, works well. I put some cheap, non-matching decals on it to see which I liked. I am going to get a basic set in dark blue. The camo wrap is cheap wrap I installed just to ride for now. I have some Newbaum's cloth wrap, dark blue, ordered. This, for sure, is going to be my last build for awhile.
Almost empty boardwalk
Boardwalk bench, sand dune, ocean and bike
Last edited by delbiker1; 01-15-20 at 12:40 PM. Reason: double paragraph
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01-15-20, 06:07 PM
#6
Mother Nature's Son
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Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
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TheDudeIsHere, the frame is what is called "853 Designer Select", Reynolds 853 steel main frame and 525 for the stays. The fork is CroMo. I have a 2003 Poprad with the same frame.
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01-15-20, 07:38 PM
#7
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I rode my Tourmalet 43 miles today. After 17 years and several other bikes, I still ride this one regularly.
01-15-20, 09:33 PM
#9
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Interesting. I have a late 1970s Motobecane (Mirage I think) that I restored (powder coat) to original colors that looks almost exactly like the OP bike. I also have a 1980s Peugeot PE200 "Tormelet."
Dan
Dan
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