Market Is Unclear for the new Lemond Prolog

After waiting for Greg Lemond’s top-line ebike Prolog, I am left wanting. 

Magazine WIRED introduced it in its article  Review: Lemond Prolog https://www.wired.com/review/lemond-prolog. For those popular with ebikes at Specialized, the Prolog seemed similar as a cross between the Creo and Vado SL versions. WIRED said

Premium components. Extremely light, all-carbon-fiber frame. Incredible paint job. Reliable 250-watt smart Mahle drivetrain. Versatile 11-speed gearing system. Integrated front and rear lights. Feels just like an analog ike. Great packaging. 

But WIRED added negatively.

Incredibly expensive. I’d feel nervous locking it up in front of the bar. My friends call it the “Wife Bike.”

Likewise, I can’t decide for what customer market Lemond aims. The Prolog looks a lot like the Specialized Vado SL at the same price of $4,500. Plus it is 26 pounds lighter than the Vado at 33 pounds. But, it misses many other marks.

First point, this product is sold directly to the customer without dealer support. Although the ebike is not difficult to put together, many customers may prefer help with such an expensive product. (The full details are found at https://lemond.com/prolog.)

The lower weight is achieved with a carbon frame, and 250-watt rear hub motor, and an atypical small 250-watt=hour battery.

The WIRED reviewers might refer to the Prolog as the “wife’s ebike” because it is a Class 1 product that claims a max 45-mile range. Most likely, it does not have that distance except on small, slow-ride women.

The Vado SL is a Class 3 product with the larger 320-watt-hour battery (and heavier). It teases a 80-mile range but typically only finds 60-mile distances with larger riders.

The other point with a serious difference, the Prolog has the lighter hub motor while the Vado SL has a mid motor. Hub motors are less efficient with inability to gain advantage to the gearing. 

Lastly, the Prolog has a 11-speed versus the Vado SL 12-speed. The slightly lighter weight of the Prolog may compensate with some hills. But, in Tennessee. it is not to improve over the Vado’s greater mechanical efficiency.