ZulloMaster

11

abarth

I just built up a 1999 Zurich from a frame I bought from eBay. Are you looking for similar geometry or material. If you are looking for similar material (853), there are Fuji, Schwinn, Bikedirect, Waterford, Bob Jackson...If similar geometry you are looking for, then the only other bike I can think of is Merckx Century. The Zurich has a laid back seat tube angle and a pretty aggressive headtube angle, so the top tube is pretty long. May not works for people with short torso and/or short femur.

rothenfield1

I’ve never owned a Lemond, but have admired from afar some of the brands bikes. I think the criticism has been, as abarth points out, that the geometry is a bit untraditional especially the top tube length. I’m not certain, but I believe by 2001 the Lemond brand had been bought by Trek and some people believe that the quality dropped off from there.

abarth

Lemond bikes were made by Trek since '96. From what I have seen, those Lemond bikes made by Trek are good production bikes, nothing fancy. I've read complaints about the paint being too brittle.

IsleRide

I have a '99 Zurich. Nice! Very light, comfortable ride. I like the laid back seat tube. Let's me really dig in. "Handbuilt in USA" (by Trek)

RobbieTunes

+2 on the geometry.
If you have shorter legs and a longer torso, they are often excellent values due to little recognition of the brand.
(Which, when you think about it, is ironic.)

I had a friend pick up an Alps de Huez for $600 with full 2x9 Ultegra and DT Swiss wheels.
I thought that was a good deal for an 853 bike, ready to go.

abarth

Ok my is a 98 not 99. The S.T. angle is 72.5° and H.T. angle is 73.5°. I like the ride. It is lively and comfortable. It will be my fair weather long distant bike. Can't wait to do some century on it.

gomango

Here's a pic of my 1991 Merckx Century.

Let me know if you have any questions.

thinktubes 

853 is a nice tubeset (stiff/comfy/light). Back when it was produced, the Zurich consistanly was well reviewed. As noted, the geometry is better suited to long torso type. I seem to remember that the lemond bikes had fairly low bottom bracket heights (26.2?) which would enhance the "descent confortability".

abarth

Those are not Zurich geometry. For one '99 Zurich was either 57 or 59cm and no 58cm. 57cm had 73.5° HT and 72.5°ST. 59cm had 74° HT and 72.5° ST.

bikingshearer 

The 853 Lemonds in the 1999/2000/2001 timeframe really did not change. The Zurich, Buenos Aires, and one or two others were all the same 853 frame, the same fork (some sort of CF, don't recall which), and the same geometery for the same size. The model name bikes differed in the level of componentry (Zurich was Ultegra, if memory serves), and the only difference in the frames from one year to another was the color. (The Poprad was different - it was designed for cyclocross, so it had a higher bottom bracket and probably other differences.) CF and titanium Lemonds had different geometry, although all Lemonds stressed a more stretched out "Euro racer" set up.

I had a 2000 Zurich (actually still have it, but no longer built up). It's all-blue (CF fork included) with white seat tube and down tube panels. The 2001 Zurich was half blue, half yellow. The frames are otherwise identical.

I got mine as a frame-and-fork, not a complete bike. There were complaints that the stock rear wheels (Bontragers, I think, but I could be wrong about that) tended to slip and pull left in the drop-out under hard acceleration, meaning you really had to make the quick release really tight. I did not have the OEM wheels, but I had the same problem with Ultegra and 105 hubs, so be prepared for it regardless of the wheels and really crank that QR down. Otherwise, I found it to be a very fun ride. It was good all day long, was responsive but not twitchy, and descended like it was on rails. I'm tall with legs that are a tad short and an upper body that is a tad long, so the stretched-out top tube was not a big deal. Even so, I had a fairly short stem. With the help of a friend who owns and operates one of the best bike shops in the Bay Area, I got the position dialed to where I really liked it, to the point where I have set up every bike since to the same dimensions (or very close).

Bottom line - if it fits/feels comfortable and it is in decent shape, I'd say go for it.

BTW, the Lemond line was always pretty small potatoes in Trek's grand scheme of things. By 2000, Trek was far more interested in promoting Lance and his association with Trek frames. (Trek and Lemond frames, were both built at and by Trek, but they did not share geometery - a Trek was a Trek and a Lemond was a Lemond.) Many do not think it was at all coincidental that Trek letting go of the Lemond line happened about the same time that Lance and Greg got into a pissing contest over allegations of Lance's dopage. Something about which side one's bread was buttered . . . .

look171

Isn't LeMond frames vary similar to French frames of the 80s. Long top tube for those long drawn out stage races. The Italians were a little shorter, usually by about .5cm if I remember correctly.

abarth

Generally, 80s French production race/sport bikes used longer top tube than the Italian but it is square or slightly under square. Both the HT and ST angles were aggressive 73-74°+. Some Gitane used a complete opposite approach as Lemond, where the HT angle was relax (72°) with an aggressive ST angle (74°). I am not too familiar with Italian bike, but from I've seen 2cm shorter on the top tube was not uncommon.

abarth

Looks great. $525 is a good price. I am still trying to dial mine in. The long top tube and the relax seat tube angle is really difficult for me to ride efficiently.

EastCoastDHer

Have one. Love it. Wife got it as my wedding gift last summer. Haven't ridden it much but I like it alot. I'm 5'5 with a longer torso and shorter legs (Can't help I was born in Chile), and its what I'd consider an above average fit and bike. My only complaint is the seat as it's a tad small however I'm well aware that I was gifted a larger than usual rear end....I've thrown some small work into it and I just love it. My first real bicycle was steel(which I rode like a madman!)and you just cannot beat the ride feel. This bike honestly got me interested in riding more often again, A fresh fix of the drug we all love called Cycling. Paid $350 for the bike, light, pump, spare tube, bag and multi tool. #bestbicycledealever

jamesdak 

I think they are a great bike. A lot of my PRs still belong to my 2000 Zurich. In fact this bike is so good that I've never gotten it back from the friend who borrowed it a couple of years ago, LOL!

BradH

I really like my '97 Zurich. The long reach geometry is not really much of a concern if you size according to top tube length. I usually have mine fitted with 700-23 or 25 tires but it will clear much more, like 700-32 mounted on 23mm wide Sun CR18 rims.

CriticalThought

I absolutely adore my 2001 Lemond Alpe D'Huez. I used to ride it alongside a Zurich that belonged to a friend of almost the same vintage and loved it as well. We'd often trade off.

My only real complaint (and something I'd appreciate opinions on) is that it has a not very ridged carbon fork. On the one hand I appreciate it because the aluminum frame is pretty stiff, so I suspect it adds to the comfort level (have done many centuries on it). But when I began riding it more aggressively, especially on descents, I could really, REALLY feel the front forks lack of rigidity.

There is one particular decent https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0455...8i6656!5m1!1e4 that exemplified this on the way from San Francisco to Limantour beach which has a fairly hard left turn at the bottom followed by an immediate climb (so you really want to conserve momentum and stay off the brakes during the turn). Doesn't look this steep in the picture but believe me, it is. I think I'd take the turn around 70 kph or so from what I can remember, or maybe even faster. Anyway, it would heavily load up the front of the bike and really make the fork feel bendy. Never unsafe, just a characteristic you'd have to 'ride around'.

Anyone have any recommendations on replacing (upgrading) the original Icon Air Rail fork (pretty sure that's what it is)?

(sorry for the non-drive side pics!)

DIMcyclist

I replaced my AirRail with a Look HSC 3; it's a great fork & *looks* great. (Yeah- it's an obvious pun, but I couldn't resist; it's also kinda fitting since LeMond rode for La Vie Claire).

As for the ride, mine has the 853 'Designer Select' tubeset (as should the Alpe D'Huez in that year); with DA 77/7800 it's currently sub-18lbs and rides beautifully, like riding a lightning bolt on fast descents (it corners like it's on rails).

Edit: Actually, the seat stays on the Buenos Aries & Alpe D'Huez during those years were made from Reynolds 725 or 720 I've forgotten which; it's in the dealer specs); they weren't full 853 framesets like the Zurich & Maillot Jaune.

Classtime 

I had a 2003 Maillot Jeune. I think the same F/F as a Zurich but with Dura Ace components and X-Lite wheel set. I thought it was fast and imagined it accelerated and climbed faster than my Medici. BUT, I thought it bounced around a little on twisty descents. Just under 17 lbs without any carbon bits witch impressed my carbon riding friends. Had to let it go when I got the Sachs.

easyupbug 

28s on my '98 Zurich with better wheels(much needed), what a ride, all I can ask for.

Lazyass

I had a '98 Zurich and I rode that thing into the ground, it was a great ride. The paint was super thin, though, like Treks of the same era. You'd get a paint chip if you sneezed on it.