Lemond Poprad Drive Train Options

7 replies · 1,109 views

beatnik_glory
6 posts
#1Jun 25, 2019, 3:21 PM
Greetings.

I have a 2002 Lemond Poprad. Frame is made of Reynolds 853 Steel. The geometry is quite similar to my main road bike a Lemond Zurich. It is a really nice ride.

Its currently set up with the stock Shimano 2 x 9 Ultegra drive train, perfect for Central KY which is flat to rolling hills. I would like to use this bike for some gravel rides in the mountains of KY / NC / GA later this summer and need a more modern compact or subcompact gearing.

I am looking for some advice and some options.

Thanks.

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owly
328 posts
#2Jun 26, 2019, 6:28 AM
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=232810

Start reading from #10 down, for perhaps some cheaper (secondhand crank) options.
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HollyBoni
333 posts
#3Jun 26, 2019, 7:22 AMedited
Do you want to change the entire drivetrain, and switch to integrated shifters, or just the crankset and possibly the cassette (that will most likely also mean a new FD and RD, so pretty much an entire drivetrain...)? How much are you looking to spend?
What's your current gearing exactly, and do you have an idea about how low you want to go?
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beatnik_glory
6 posts
#4Jun 26, 2019, 10:20 AM
I am partial to the barcons but could switch to STI if required. Current gearing is 53/39 at the crank and cassette is a 12-25. Not sure what I would need for climbing. Probably looking to keep project around $500. Thanks for the replies.
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dangle
465 posts
#5Jun 26, 2019, 10:43 AM
Shimano 9 speed mountain and road are the same cable pull, so you could easily put a 9 speed shimano mountain bike rear derailleur on with your current shifters. You might need to add a barrel adjuster somewhere. A 9 speed 11-34 cassette would give way more climbing gear without sacrificing top end. I would probably go down to a 50/34 crank though. Any version will work. Even a pretty new 11 speed will work just fine with the 9 speed setup and the rings are still large enough to play nice with your current front derailleur. "Subcompact" crank (rings) would not.

New cables and housing, rear mountain bike derailleur, 11-34 cassette, 50/34 crank and labor to do all the install and tuning should be a bit under $500.
1
HollyBoni
333 posts
#6Jun 26, 2019, 11:08 AMedited
beatnik_glory wrote:I am partial to the barcons but could switch to STI if required. Current gearing is 53/39 at the crank and cassette is a 12-25. Not sure what I would need for climbing. Probably looking to keep project around $500. Thanks for the replies.

Shimano GRX should get released this month. If you can wait, that's what I would go with personally. With the low gear i'd go at least 1:1 (so 34-34 for example) but the lower the better. Compared to 39-25 even 1:1 is going to be a godsend.
For a full groupset, I would just go 10spd GRX with Tiagra 4700 mechanical shifters:
https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/product/component/grx-10-speed.html
46/30 crankset, 11-36 cassette. I think the full groupset with Tiagra brifters should come out to $500 but i'm not exactly sure. If that's too much, skip the integrated shifters, and stay 9 speed.
GRX 46/30 crankset:
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-grx-fc-rx600-2x10-speed-crank-46-30-847029
FD (braze on only):
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-grx-fd-rx400-2x10-speed-front-derailleur-847361

Deore 9spd rear derailleur:
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-deore-rear-derailleur-rd-m592-sgs-32515
Chain:
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-xt-ultegra-9-speed-chain-cn-hg93-138-links-490371
And a cassette of your choice, from 11-32 to 11-36:
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-9-speed-cassette-cs-hg400-11-34-209866
BB:
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-hollowtech-ii-bottom-bracket-bb-rs500-bsa-450898

Sorry, i'm in Euroland, not sure about US pricing. You'll need cables too, a braze on adapter if your frame only takes a clamp on FD. I'm guessing the left shifter is friction so there should be no compatibility problems there. If I see correctly your frame has those downtube shifter cable stop adapters that should have a barrel adjuster. No idea what a bike shop would charge to install it. But so far the parts alone come out to €187 which is about $212. I think that's pretty good, you'll get nice and low gearing and a nicely working groupset.
FSA also has a reasonably priced 46/30:
https://www.bike24.com/p2310533.html
The crankset disappeared from a lot of shops tho, maybe there is a new model coming?

IMO sub compacts are the way to go. 46-11 is plenty high, and you get a low gear slightly below 1:1 with just an 11-32 cassette, but there is always the option to go even lower.

Just my opinion and an option to consider.
Mudge
60 posts
#7Jun 30, 2019, 7:16 AMedited
I’ve owned a couple of Poprads over the years and agree they are great riding bikes. But, as you’ve noted, the geometry is much like a road bike, and as such there are some pluses and minuses. The minuses are far more critical, though.

To your original question, you can put practically any drivetrain you want on that frame. The question you haven’t asked is should you. To that question, it all depends on the nature of the riding you’re going to do. The biggest minus you’ll have to deal with is the extremely limited frame clearance for tires. A 35 mm wide tire with any side knobs at all will barely fit in the rear end. If you plan to ride any sort of rough gravel, you’ll want bigger tires, and thus your Poprad isn’t a good choice.

You may may find it better in the long run to upgrade the entire bike. It will cost well over your stated budget, but you can limit the cost by selling the Poprad and buying a used bike to replace it.
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NoCoGreg
512 posts
#8Aug 6, 2019, 11:37 PM
If it's true the Poprad only has room for 35mm tires, I'd suggest getting recommendations on tire size from other experienced riders in your area. Yes people ride 33 to 35 mm CX tires on gravel, but for many of us this is a significant limitation.

IMO, here are your options starting with least expensive...
1. Replace rear derailleur with a Deore 9 speed mountain and get an 11-36 cassette and a new chain as the existing one will certainly be too short. It'll work fine with the existing shifters.

2. Replace front crankset. The bar end shifters will work fine with a triple and there are lots of options for used triples. There is a wide array of used triple options and IMO a 50/40/30 would work best. Alternatively a 50/34 will be the low budget double crankset option. The new sub-compacts will cost more and most will be setup for 11 speed and may cause a bit more chatter if mixed with a 9 speed setup. If buying used cranks, be careful not to use older cranks designed for 8/7/6 speed drivetrains as the spacing between the chainrings may cause shifting woes.

3. Upgrade to 10 speed with used parts. There are lots of barely used 10 speed parts out there. SRAM 10 speed mountain rear derailleurs work with the respective brifters. Shimano 9 speed mountain derailleurs work with the 10 speed shifters. Mixing Shimano/SRAM shifters/derailleurs will work if you get the appropriate Shiftmate (more $$$)

4. The 11 speed stuff is great -BUT- will certainly exceed your budget and depending the parts you use, 11 speed likely will require a new rear wheel due to the wider cassette.
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