Editor's note: This article, originally published in September 2013, has been edited to clarify that LeMond LLC did not acquire Time USA, but had become the exclusive distributor of Time frames and bikes in the U.S., as well as a non-exclusive distributor of Time pedals. The distribution agreement ended in early 2014.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (BRAIN) — LeMond LLC will become the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Time bikes and frames in the U.S., the company said in a press release. The company headed by Tour de France hero Greg LeMond, which recently announced that Time would build its bikes, said Time's U.S. headquarters would remain in Minneapolis.
According to a LeMond press release, Time's chief carbon engineer, Jean Marc Gueugneaud, built all three of LeMond's Tour-winning frames under the TVT brand. LeMond, Gueugneaud and Time have a long relationship. LeMond also began using Time pedals soon after they were launched in 1987. He won two of his Tours on Time pedals.
“With an in-house team of industrial designers and engineers, we’re also in the process of designing and developing a whole line of LeMond bikes with various vendors, some of which will be on the market by spring 2014, with the whole line targeted for August 2014 availability,” LeMond said. The first three models will be shown at Interbike this week.
LeMond will be the non-exclusive distributor of Time pedals. QBP will also continue to distribute the pedals.