In 1986, Greg LeMond, alongside his teammate Bernard Hinault, took the win within the 73rd version of the Tour de France, marking the primary ever victory for a carbon fiber bicycle within the historical past of the game. Lower than a decade later, the model LeMond Bikes, entered a partnership with Trek, whereby for 13 years, the 2 manufacturers would blaze a path on the planet of biking.
Naturally, it isn’t unsurprising that LeMond targeted an excessive amount of its analysis and improvement on the planet carbon-fiber. He ultimately established his personal model specializing within the extremely light-weight stuff within the type of LeMond Carbon, and now, he holds licenses to 2 patented applied sciences, and has shifted his focus to the extremely profitable world of electrical bicycles. At current LeMond Carbon has three high-end fashions to select from, every of which costing a fairly penny: the Prolog, Dutch, and Street.
Immediately, nonetheless, we’re right here to speak in regards to the Prolog, a mannequin which was constructed immediately as an homage to LeMond’s Tour de France victory. Certainly, it’s named after the ultimate leg of the Tour de France, known as the prologue, and is designed to reflect the ever-changing, always-adapting nature of the efficiency biking world. From a styling perspective, the Prolog is extraordinarily glossy and streamlined, making it extremely simple to overlook the truth that it’s truly an e-bike at a look. At simply 11.8 kilograms, it’s rather a lot heavier than its non-electric counterparts, however it definitely permits riders to go additional for a lot much less effort, whereas packing all the most recent biking tech in addition.
On the efficiency aspect of the equation, the LeMond Prolog packs a Mahle X35+ Sensible E-bike System. One of many lightest e-bike drive methods out there, it ideas the scales at simply 3.5 kilograms, and offers three ranges of help, and a prime pace of 20 miles per hour. Energy-wise, it churns out a nominal output of 250 watts, with a torque score of 49 Nm. The bike’s frame-integrated battery provides sufficient juice to maintain the bike going for 45 miles on a single cost, in addition to powering the bike’s onboard LED lighting system rated at 500 lumens. Moreover, those that need to cowl much more floor can go for an exterior battery pack that will increase vary by 70 p.c.
Different top-spec parts embody an 11-speed Shimano GRX groupset geared up with Shimano’s Di2 shifting system that provides instantaneous response with each faucet of the lever. So, how a lot precisely do it’s essential to shell out to take this top-shelf electrical bicycle dwelling? Properly, a minimum of $4,800 USD. On prime of that, you’ll want so as to add further money if you wish to get the exterior battery and the LeMond proprietry LC30 rim. That mentioned, the Prolog is offered in three matte colorways consisting of white, black, and pink.
