A review of the sleek and nimble Lemond Dutch e-bike

The LeMond name is well-known to cyclists of a certain spandex sensibility. After all, Greg LeMond made history as a professional racer winning the Tour de France three times, so why not? But, the LeMond Dutch e-bike we have been trying out is anything but racy. It’s a beautiful bicycle, to be sure. And one that many would be thrilled to pedal about town, or on longer tours.

LeMond also produces a Prolog model city e-bike with a racing geometry and a road e-bike is set to be released this spring.

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The LeMond Dutch e-bike has an integrated motor. A 250-watt rear hub motor powers the bike up to 20 mph while an 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain provides good gearing and it was comfortable riding on any terrain we sampled, although this was limited to urban areas with small to moderate hills.

The battery is nuzzled lovingly into the down tube, which gives the bicycle a sleek appearance. One would hardly even notice it is an e-bike. Some might not be fans of the internal battery. It does have its issues, especially for those who don’t have ideal storage locations or charging areas. The only way to charge this battery is to plug it in as is, no popping it out to bring it upstairs or inside for a night’s recharge and rest.

It seems, for some, this e-bike just won’t work if that’s an issue. But, given it’s an expensive bike, priced at almost $5,000 before adding accessories, most would likely be keen to store the entire bicycle inside in a safe area thus making the internal battery an advantage.

The battery is also integrated with a built-in 500-lumen headlight and taillights, which we loved. And, there is one simple circular button that controls it all, including the three color-coded levels of assist.

But, again, with the carbon frame and the lightweight of the LeMond e-bike, some of these issues can be overcome. We had no issues wheeling the bike up the front stoop and into the house for charging overnight. For others, that might not be quite so easy.

Wish List

One thing that stands out with this bike above and beyond its competition is the carbon materials used in the construction. We’ve sampled many e-bikes including testing out the battery, and when it finally gives out, the sheer weight of the bicycle plus battery makes it a bit awkward and limits mobility. Not so here.

The LeMond e-bike has a carbon fiber frame, fork, fenders, seat post and handlebar/stem. And it is remarkably light weighing in at just 27 pounds. When we maxed out the battery and had to pedal home a fair distance, it wasn’t much of a bother at all. We even made it up a few short hills along the way, and it is hard to recall another e-bike that demonstrated such versatility.

To that end, most riders will be able to rely on a low-level of pedal-assist since it is so light, thus saving battery life.

We also liked the size and riding position of the LeMond Dutch e-bike. It is a sight to behold — large and imposing. Although we thought the size might be an issue in terms of rideability, we couldn’t have been more wrong.

The reviewer is 6’2” and some bicycles just aren’t comfortable to ride at this size. Not so here, the geometry is spot-on. The riding position is very upright, hands positioned ideally, and it seemed we could stay riding for hours on end it was so comfortable.

Thanks to the carbon materials and quality design, the bike feels stiff and responsive making it well-suited to navigate city streets as well as translate well to longer tours beyond the city.

The LeMond/Panaracer Gravelking tires handled anything the city and country roads had to offer while demonstrating a great deal of stability and durability.

The Selle Royale saddle is plush.

Ideal User

We think the ideal users for the LeMond Dutch e-bike are those interested in a versatile bicycle that can be used regularly in the city, but would also be quite at home on longer rides into the countryside.

There are many accessories, which are also carbon fiber, available including an integrated front basket and rear rack. Fenders, which are currently being offered free with purchase for a limited time, are also available as an added feature.

Available colors are ice blue, black, and rose.

The bicycle can be purchased directly from the LeMond website and ships as close to assembled as one can imagine. As indicated by the photo above, there are a few simple steps to be taken to finish the assembly, which took approximately five minutes to complete.

Final Thoughts

We are pretty excited about what LeMond has put together here. It’s a striking package. We love the look and feel of the Dutch e-bike, to be sure.

But, what makes it unique is that is a beautiful carbon bicycle on its own. The components are high quality, the geometry is excellent.

It’s an expensive e-bike. But carbon bicycles without any electric component at all can be priced up to or more than $10,000, so in that context the price tag is acceptable.

The battery itself is average in strength and the range is approximately 45 miles, which is a question. Some might want a stronger battery with a larger range (there is actually an extender available for a longer battery range), but that’s not the philosophy taken here. This is a true pedal-assist e-bike, which magnifies your inputs and isn’t for those looking for a glorified scooter.

The bike’s integrated battery may also cause some to have reservations.

But, in the end, LeMond has succeeded in moving the bar. And, the Dutch e-bike is worth a serious look for those looking to purchase a step-through e-bike for a variety of uses.

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