Being disrespectful or homage to a great bike?
06-17-11, 06:00 AM
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Being disrespectful or homage to a great bike?
Story:
In April I finally splurged and bought myself a new bike; a 2011 Scott CR1 team (56cm) - with a Fizik Arione Saddle and Red Keo classic pedals. Its great for groups rides while I train for a couple of centuries planned for later this year.However I feel sad that my old '06 Lemond Etape is just sitting in a Garage gathering dust. I got it during college to commute between school, work, and home on the Northside of Chicago. The only upgrade I ever put on there is a pair of forte Titans, when the stock wheels got into an accident with a car.
Plan:
I thinking of doing a complete overhaul in the frame, starting with a new paint job. The only thing that's gonna have the Lemond name is the silver colored faceplate. Take of the 105 gruppo and Aksiums i have on the CR1 right now while that gets replaced with Sram RED and the upgrade from the beat up Tiagras.
Dilemma:
Would painting over the brand name be considered a "rude" gesture? The company doesn't make bikes anymore so, the name could be considered vintage. I'm not looking to resell but use it as a commuter (with a little more style).
In April I finally splurged and bought myself a new bike; a 2011 Scott CR1 team (56cm) - with a Fizik Arione Saddle and Red Keo classic pedals. Its great for groups rides while I train for a couple of centuries planned for later this year.However I feel sad that my old '06 Lemond Etape is just sitting in a Garage gathering dust. I got it during college to commute between school, work, and home on the Northside of Chicago. The only upgrade I ever put on there is a pair of forte Titans, when the stock wheels got into an accident with a car.
Plan:
I thinking of doing a complete overhaul in the frame, starting with a new paint job. The only thing that's gonna have the Lemond name is the silver colored faceplate. Take of the 105 gruppo and Aksiums i have on the CR1 right now while that gets replaced with Sram RED and the upgrade from the beat up Tiagras.
Dilemma:
Would painting over the brand name be considered a "rude" gesture? The company doesn't make bikes anymore so, the name could be considered vintage. I'm not looking to resell but use it as a commuter (with a little more style).
06-17-11, 06:04 AM
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Paint it...I think someone else on here painted a Lemond frame once... Or at least that was the myth anyway.
06-17-11, 06:06 AM
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Paint it?
Lemond, yes.
Pinarello, prolly not.
Lemond, yes.
Pinarello, prolly not.
06-17-11, 07:43 AM
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I read a story a few years ago about a women's team using Lemond bikes.
There was some problem, I can't remember what, but they disliked their bikes. To protest they taped over the "d" in the name badge.
There was some problem, I can't remember what, but they disliked their bikes. To protest they taped over the "d" in the name badge.
06-17-11, 07:50 AM
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You gonna eat that?
Originally Posted by bragi 
06-17-11, 07:54 AM
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06-17-11, 07:59 AM
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If your purpose of having the bike is to enjoy it now, then paint it.
If your purpose of having the bike is to own a collectible 30 years down the road, then don't paint it.
If your purpose of having the bike is to own a collectible 30 years down the road, then don't paint it.
06-17-11, 08:38 AM
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If it's just a commuter now, why paint it? Just makes it more theft worthy. For the cost of a new paint job, I'd be more inclined to just clean it, slap some fenders, good lights and a rack on it.
I say this as someone who repainted an old steel Bianchi cross frame - it looks good and I enjoy the bike, but by the time I was done I probably could have spent my dollars more efficiently.
I say this as someone who repainted an old steel Bianchi cross frame - it looks good and I enjoy the bike, but by the time I was done I probably could have spent my dollars more efficiently.
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06-17-11, 08:58 AM
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Umm, yeah...you really need to put up a pic of the Scott... 
06-17-11, 11:20 AM
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If your not considering reselling it, go for it. If you are, most people would prefer or demand to see the Lemond paint.
06-17-11, 01:48 PM
#13
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OP. It's your bike - do what you want. To us, your bike is just a bike.
Now if you're talking you want to respray a Ferrari 250 GTO.........
Now if you're talking you want to respray a Ferrari 250 GTO.........
06-17-11, 02:06 PM
#14
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Thread hijack: my parent's neighbor had a Ferrari 456 a bunch of years ago but didn't like the color. So he spent £30,000 (thirty grand UK pounds) for Ferrari to repaint it. What a nut job.
06-17-11, 07:45 PM
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06-17-11, 07:51 PM
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And to the OP's question, I agree with the others who say do whatever makes you happy regarding repainting the frame.
However, I wouldn't go so far as to paint it black and gold with "LiveStrong" stickers in the off-chance that you might actually meet LeMond or Armstrong. I don't see that encounter going well.
However, I wouldn't go so far as to paint it black and gold with "LiveStrong" stickers in the off-chance that you might actually meet LeMond or Armstrong. I don't see that encounter going well.
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06-17-11, 07:56 PM
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LOL, I am seriously considering tearing down my 2001 LeMond Zurich and rebuilding it also. Paint is rough and I'm debating painting mine also. I love the bike and actually find it quite comfortable to ride, more so that my 2011 Trek 5.9 if I'm being honest.
I say go for it.
I say go for it.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
06-17-11, 09:03 PM
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First of all, a 2006 bike isn't "old" 
Secondly, it is a LeMond - a very nice bike, but it is no '75 Masi Gran Criterium, 60's Rene Herse, Alex Singer, Hetchins, or the like.
If you feel it needs to be painted, go for it! Decals are obtainable if you want to keep the name on it. Easy stuff.
Secondly, it is a LeMond - a very nice bike, but it is no '75 Masi Gran Criterium, 60's Rene Herse, Alex Singer, Hetchins, or the like.
If you feel it needs to be painted, go for it! Decals are obtainable if you want to keep the name on it. Easy stuff.
06-17-11, 10:14 PM
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06-18-11, 12:20 AM
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Well for one thing its Aluminum so it really cant rust. The paint is pretty beat up and scratched from surviving a couple of winters riding in the city. Money really isn't that big on a issue - I've been meaning to upgrade to Red (for the Scott) for next summer but it might be sooner than that.
I wanted to see if there was a stigma in the community about "unbranding" a frame. Now that i know that there isn't any I can go ahead with this rebuild. I'll keep you posted with pics, I just got the tools and sandpaper today but currently i am at work i cant really start on it yet. I got 40 mile group ride in the morning so I can post pics of the new bike, once i get off this 12-hr shift.
I wanted to see if there was a stigma in the community about "unbranding" a frame. Now that i know that there isn't any I can go ahead with this rebuild. I'll keep you posted with pics, I just got the tools and sandpaper today but currently i am at work i cant really start on it yet. I got 40 mile group ride in the morning so I can post pics of the new bike, once i get off this 12-hr shift.
06-18-11, 02:59 AM
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you may be able to find replacement decals for your lemond if you look hard enough. You'll definately be able to find a company to reproduce some for you. Make sure you take a picture of your original stickers w/ a ruler next to them for scale before doing anything.
lemonds are nice but I too upgraded to carbon
lemonds are nice but I too upgraded to carbon
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