Lemond Prolog Electric Bike Review, 2024

Our Range Test(s), which are explained above, gave us an idea of the distance the Prolog could travel on a single charge of its battery. In this section of our LeMond Prolog review, I will compare this data to the bike’s advertised claims; the Prolog’s webpage states a range of 40-70 miles.

The Prolog’s 36V, 250 Wh battery is certainly on the small side when compared to many of the other e-bikes we have tested. Of course, it needs to be small in order to fit into the down-tube section of the frame! Additionally, the bike’s reserved 250W motor doesn’t put out a ton of power, so we expected the pairing to work well – although LeMond’s claimed range seemed a bit high to us. So how did the Prolog perform?

To establish a maximum and minimum distance in the real world, we tested the bike with relatively casual pedaling in ECO and TURBO modes, making sure that the motor was engaged at all times. This resulted in a span of 21.7 to 38.6 miles, which puts the Prolog’s performance reasonably close to the manufacturer’s base claim of 40 miles. But what about that 70 mile top-end estimate?

LeMond advised us that they did perform their own series of tests with a variety of riders to arrive at their figures, but did not provide greater detail on the conditions of those tests. The range of an e-bike can vary greatly based on a very long list of factors; rider weight, weather, and topography are some of the largest. While our test in ECO mode was done by one of our lightest riders, the trails we perform our Range Tests on do have a fair number of hills that likely brought our numbers down. If LeMond performed their testing on flat ground, this could explain some of the difference in numbers, but we also wonder how much leg power their testers added.

Ultimately, the range we saw when testing the Prolog matched up well with our expectations from its spec sheet. These demonstrated results allow for a practical amount of distance to be covered before needing to plug the bike in. Riders looking for just a tiny bit of help from the motor can clearly extend their travel, but even those relying on more assistance are likely to have their daily commutes covered – and still have enough charge left to run some errands or take a leisurely evening ride.

For those who want or need to travel farther (or extend time between charges), the X35 system is compatible with an exterior range extender battery that can be purchased separately from LeMond. This component is stealthy, too; it mounts to the seat tube and closely resembles a water bottle in size and shape. We didn’t get to test this out, but considering the quality of the Mahle system and the Prolog’s performance as-is, we expect that it would function well.

As one of two testers for our Range Test, I have to say that the Lemond Prolog surprised me in the best way possible – especially as someone who has typically gravitated towards larger, heavier, and significantly more powerful e-bikes. After a few miles in TURBO mode, I couldn’t help but think to myself that this was what cycling was supposed to feel like! There were times when the bike seemed to disappear completely, giving me the surreal sensation of floating. This, along with the bike’s ability to make it seem like I was effortlessly doing all the work of moving at nearly 20 mph, was simply magical.

Our test hill, Hell Hole, is a challenging and relatively extreme example of what a rider might encounter in the wild. All but the most daring riders of traditional bicycles would likely get off and walk up the paved path we test on, so I was curious (and a bit apprehensive) to see what would happen with the LeMond Prolog.

Considering the dedication and intentionality the e-bike places on maintaining a traditional bicycle feel, I fully expected to encounter some difficulty with our Hill Test. With many e-bikes, we can often relax and let their motors do the work, but since the Prolog is a Class 1 with no throttle and a soft-spoken 250W rear-hub, I knew we’d be putting in a lot of the work. (Note here that, for the sake of data consistency, Justin performed our measured test, but I still pedaled up the hill on the Prolog to get a feel for it regardless.)

In this, I was both correct, and sorely mistaken:

Correct, because yes – at the top of the hill, we were measurably more out of breath than after shuttling up on a 750W bike with a throttle. Sorely mistaken because, while we had to work a bit harder, either of us could have done it again without a problem.

This result is slower than our current running average, but we don’t attribute the difference to the brakes or the bike itself. Instead, we attribute the additional two feet or so to our method of braking, which is likely different from that of a more dedicated road cyclist. Instead of rising up and back from the saddle – and using that rearrangement of weight to assist in slowing the bike down – we make an effort to stay on the saddle because we think this is what the average e-bike consumer would do. For this reason, we think that the brakes on the Prolog do their job very well, despite their slightly less-than-stellar appearance on paper.

One thing to note about the Prolog’s brake system is that they do require Shimano-specific mineral oil. Most bike shops are likely to carry this product, but for an owner performing work at home, it is important to avoid using conventional mineral oil, as it can degrade seals and will void the component’s warranty.

Regarding other safety features, the Prolog includes a headlight integrated into the monocoque stem, and taillights in the frame’s seat stays. Personally, I love the visual element here! On a bike that’s already going to turn heads, these seamless lights add a distinctive and futuristic look to the Prolog, and greatly increase visibility. That said, they do come with one inherent downside that extends to most of the bike’s systems.

Any fully integrated and internally-routed components – such as the battery, lights, brakes, derailleur, etc. – certainly add to the Prolog’s clean and simple aesthetic, but they are also likely to be more difficult and costly to maintain/replace. This is because of the added time it will take a mechanic to remove any wiring or lines from the carbon fiber body and feed new ones through again. To be clear: this isn’t a flaw of the bike, just one of the tradeoffs that come from creating such a neat and minimal design.

I’ve discussed quite a bit already about the LeMond Prolog’s superb ride feel, but to reiterate, the bike’s carbon fiber frame is so remarkably light that it sometimes seems to disappear beneath you – or perhaps become part of you! It also results in incredibly responsive handling for a bike with 700c tires.

Let’s look closer at the individual components of the bike; starting with its contact points. I’m typically not a fan of narrow, more performance-focused saddles such as the Selle Royal Lift used by the Prolog. But this specific model was the best I’ve experienced yet; it was comfortable even after a couple of solid hours on the bike! I thought the pedals were fine; no issues, but nothing remarkable – although it was through them that I sensed the solidity and smoothness of the Shimano GRX drivetrain. The grips are one area that I distinctly did not like – I personally found their lightweight foam to be far too minimal and firm for my tastes – but this requires a more detailed explanation about the Prolog’s cockpit design and positioning.

The bike places its rider at a moderate forward lean, which is something we expected for a performance-oriented city bike. Again, visually, this works wonders – but from a more practical standpoint, our testers agreed that something seemed off.

Of the five Electric Bike Report riders who spent time on the bike, all felt that the handlebars were slightly uncomfortable even after a short amount of use due to their slight downward slope. We reached out to LeMond with this concern, and they graciously sent us a pair of their ergonomic rubber grips to try. Unfortunately, these did little to correct the problem – which leads us to believe that there is a larger design and/or geometry issue. If you are worried about this, then we would recommend checking out the Lemond Dutch instead.

On most bikes, this would be less of a concern; handlebars could be traded out or rotated, and spacers added to raise the stem. But in the case of the Prolog, the bike’s beautiful but non-adjustable monocoque stem/handlebar does not allow this. LeMond offers the Prolog in three frame sizes, so there is some level of customization with the bike, but we’d love to see a more traditional (and adjustable) handlebar/stem setup included in the future.

In regards to the features and controls in the Prolog’s cockpit, there’s not much to discuss. Brake levers don’t often stand out, and those on the Prolog were no different. That said, I greatly appreciated the Shimano trigger shifter! It was responsive and fast; more like pressing a button than a lever.

The LeMond Prolog is a singular e-bike that blends gorgeous visual design, a truly special ride experience, advanced materials, and a high-tech drive system into an altogether unique and memorable machine. By creating such a lightweight bike that pedals great without motor input, and can sometimes feel magical with the addition of its subtle assistance, the Prolog effectively erases the line between a traditional bicycle and an e-bike.

We love SO much about this bike, but we also feel that there is room for improvement in the future. First, the ability to customize the handlebars and adjust stem height would make the Prolog’s geometry more adaptable to its rider, and allow for a more personalized fit. Second, while the iWoc remote for the bike’s X35 drive system is futuristic and cool, the Mahle PulsarONE handlebar-mounted controller would be more user-friendly and safer to operate for newer riders. We’d love to see LeMond offer the option for this display when purchasing the bike.

Ultimately, the LeMond Prolog is an incredible e-bike that – while not perfect – provides a unique experience that you have to feel to believe. We thoroughly enjoyed our experiences on the bike, and feel that it would be a great fit for urban cyclists and commuters looking for an exceptional, beautiful, and highly crafted ride.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the LeMond Prolog.