Brunswick says LeMond workout bikes are lemons

[SBA7746]

I found this article on the web, anyone have any updates on this?
Love to know...
Brunswick says LeMond workout bikes are lemons
By: David Sterrett (dsterrett@crain.com) May 29, 2009
(Crain’s) — Brunswick Corp. (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/company.pl?id=49) is suing cycling great Greg LeMond’s company over problems with an exercise bike.
Lake Forest-based Brunswick says LeMond Fitness owes it at least $3.9 million in damages for providing bikes that have drawn hundreds of customer complaints since early 2008.
Brunswick’s Life Fitness division spent more than $225,000 on warranty and service work and has lost customers because of problems with LeMond’s RevMaster model, according to the suit. The Lake Forest-based leisure and fitness equipment maker says it’s received complaints about the handle bars, seat and pedals of the bike, which it had an exclusive right to sell in North America and some international markets.
Executives with Washington-based LeMond Fitness didn’t immediately return calls Friday.




Company founder Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France, cycling’s premier event, in 1986. He went on to win the race two more times.
Brunswick, a maker of boats and bowling, billiard and fitness equipment, saw its sales plummet 45% to $734.7 million in the first quarter as consumers cut back on high-priced purchases. The company’s shares, trading around $4.60 on Friday, are down more than 9% on the year.

[RaffCycles]

Interesting.

What happens if part of the reason they have lost business is due to the instructors? Wonder if they would sue instructors in that case?

[EuroD]

We have these and I'm yet to run into a 'problem'. Sure all bikes experience problems if they are not maintained properly. Maybe they didn't realize that you have to 'maintain' bikes like any other piece of equipment which moves.

This will be interesting......

[SpinningInPrescott]

My experience matches Brunswick.

;) PS

[Willie]

We have been riding about 20 RevMasters for several years. In January we purchased about 15 more. Other than normal maintenance we have only had one significant problem. On four or five occasions we have had the pedal spindle unexpectedly sheer off right at the crank arm. HOWEVER, this is not LeMonds fault. To save money when the bikes were purchased they were purchased WITHOUT pedals. Third party (cheaper) pedal were purchased and in a word they are cheap.

[SpinningInPrescott]

We had an instructor severly injure themselves with a pedal coming off too.

Also, dislocated shoulder when handlebars weren't tightened enough and because no detent pins...there is not limit to how fast they fall...

Handlebars are shaped like beach cruiser bars and encourage all sorts of poor riding technique.

See attached memo from Lemond for riders who want to hurt their backs on the Lemond handlebars.

Albeit, they have smooth belt drives...too smooth, IMHO.

:) PS

[Willie]

We never use the aero bars in class - although they do provide a great place to tape my ride notes. They also work well for holding towels and oversize water bottles.

Occasionally we will have a rider use the aero bars but with a bit of education they usually stop. Not always but you can never reach some people.