This frame is made expressly for Lemond by is Southeast Associated Machine in Ooltewan, Tennessee. Southeast Associated Machine was owned by the Lynskey family. This small, family-owned business has extensive experience in metal fabrication. Other frame builders (early negotiations were with Merlin Metalworks) were rejected reportedly because of their inability to incorporate features such as a conventional (not sealed) bottom bracket and horizontal, adjustable dropouts. Lemond and his mechanic insisted on these for serviceability and ease of whee alignment. The Ti 3/2.5 frame, like the steel ones, also features a Lemond signature item, a neatly sculpted and drilled brake bridge.
TIG-welded frames are shipped raw from Tennessee and aligned, laced, and painted at the Reno factory. They include what has become the standard mix of titanium alloys for bicycles: 3% aluminum/ 2.5% vanadium in the main tubes, and harder 6Al/4V for the dropouts. The main tubes have an oversize. 1¼-inch diameter.
More details on the Greg Lemond Ti Team Z Campagnolo Record Road Bike at twohubs.com.
