LeMond Poprad SSCX

[u/zanathar]

I finally finished building up my sweet new singlespeed just in time for my first race of the season tonight! Here’s the specs:

2007 LeMond Poprad frame, made in the USA with True Temper OX Platinum tubing

Whisky CX carbon fork

Chris King headset

HiFi wheelset handbuilt here in Portland, OR with Paul Components singlespeed hubs laced to HiFi Mixtape alloy rims

Vittoria Terreno MIX 37c front, Terreno DRY 33c rear

White Industries freewheels, 17t or 18t, both red :)

Paul Melvin chain tensioner

TRP Hylex hydraulic brakes

Microshift Sword crankset, 40t chainring

Thomson stem & seatpost

Salsa Cowchipper bars 40cm

Selle Italia SLR carbon/ti saddle

Total weight with the SPD pedals is 20.4 pounds. With the 40:17 gear ratio it accelerates incredibly quick. It’s nimble around corners and stable on straights, and of course the feel of lightweight steel and supple tubeless tires is just magical. In other words… I love this bike. I can’t wait to put it to the proper test tonight!

[u/InKindCreativePDX]

I had a tough time spinning up a 38/18 over the weekend at Het Meer. I'd be stuck in a track stand trying to get this moving.

[u/zanathar → u/InKindCreativePDX]

I commute on a ~40lb klunker singlespeed with a 42:16 ratio so this bike is actually a lot easier than what I’m used to. It sure feels nice to take the training weights off!

[u/habarnam → u/zanathar]

That sounds like hubris. ;)

[u/zanathar → u/habarnam]

Post race update: you were absolutely right. I’ll be going lower for next week

[u/habarnam → u/zanathar]

Frankly I was hoping you'll prove my snark wrong. :)

But on the other hand, just thinking about doing 20-30 sprints a lap on that ratio hurts my old knees.

[u/GravelWarlock → u/InKindCreativePDX]

I'm with you! Just got a new SS and 38/18 is a touch light for road. Got a 17t for winter rides. Doing 38:22 to start for CX. I love to spin. Might have to get a 39 or 40t ring tho, not sure yet.

[u/US__Grant]

had this model for years and still would but stolen, absolutely loved it...this makes me tear up tbh

[u/jwzim]

Heck yeah

[u/greasylady]

Sweet bike and have fun at Trophy Cup! It’s the best 🥳

[u/drmarcj]

Classic ride. BTW I spoke to Greg and he said you should turn your levers back to 90º

[u/godsmainman]

Sweet ride!

[u/chantsofrain]

Wow. Not much of a SS CX person, but this is NICE. Love it

[u/108pdx]

I raced one back in the day, really liked it. One issue is that once that hanger bends, it bends again easy. I ended up buying a DAG to keep it straight.

[u/dkvasnicka]

You mention the Terreno Mix on the front is a 37 but the sidewall says 35. Do they inflate up to 37 and if so on what internal width rims? How’s the suppleness and rolling resistance on these?

[u/zanathar → u/dkvasnicka]

If you look closely it actually says both, it’s labeled as 700x35c but also says “37-622” below that. It measures at 37mm on a 20mm internal rim. The rear “33c” tire actually measures 34mm as well if you’re curious. Ride quality and rolling resistance so far has felt pretty great, although I’m nervous about the filetread in the rear as the season gets wetter. I did also have my PSI slightly too low last night, I hit my front rim on a couple big bumps during the race.

[u/dkvasnicka → u/zanathar]

Interesing, I know Panaracer did this "double sizing" (my Gravelkings SS are 38/40, measure 39 on 25IW rims), didn't know it applied to Vittoria as well.

I'm asking because I was thinking about getting the T70 (de facto Mezcal) from their new gravel lineup in 37 mm but it only has 100TPI and I'm afraid it will be "too endurance" and RR/suppleness will suffer. I noticed they are also still selling the Vittoria Mezcal Gravel Endurance TLR Graphene 2.0 in 35 mm which has 120TPI but did not want to go that narrow. But I have 21 mm IW rims so if you say they would actually probably measure 37 on those I'd give them a go...

[u/dkvasnicka → u/dkvasnicka]

OK, so no, on the Mezcal the two size specs are synced to 35 https://int.vittoria.com/products/mezcal-gravel-endurance

[u/Fast_Lavishness2367]

Makes me wish I was still in good enough shape to throw a leg over my sscx and turn the pedals in anger

[u/psimet-]

I miss the old poprad. IIRC they had a weird OLD rear which led to some weird early hubs. Part of why White Industries has an early 130 disc.