Price: $4,999
Weight: 17 lbs.
Components: Shimano Dura-Ace
Frame & Fork: DB aluminum 7005, carbon Alu Kinesis Aerofoil fork
Geometry: 73.5° head tube, 73° seat angle, 55.5cm top tube
Sizes: S-L (tested M)
Comments: “Yes, Louis Garneau makes bikes!”
www.louisgarneau.com

Canadian Pride: All Louis Garneau bicycles are designed in Canada. Theframes are welded, painted and assembled outside of Canada.

Louis Garneau makes bikes? Bikes? If I got a loonie for every time someonesaid that as I rode by, I would have been able to purchase the LG5 in abouta week and a half. Apparently, Louis Garneau does make bikes-several ofthem in fact! I have to admit that when word came out at Interbike 2001that 2002 would see the introduction of a high-end line of road bikes fromGarneau, I was not sure what to expect, but knowing Garneau it would beimpressive.

Four months later, a bike box arrived marked Garneau LG5. As I reachedinside and pulled the bike from the dark confines of the box, I wasimmediately surprised to see a set of Shimano Dura-Ace wheels wrapped in aset of black-and-red Maxxis tires. Equally attention-grabbing was moreDura-Ace glimmering from the depths of the box. With full Dura-Ace and aset of Shimano Dura-Ace wheels, there wasn't much more for the asking.I slowly lifted the spanking-new red-and-gray LG5 frame out into the lightand started to set it free from its packaging. The LG5 was relativelylight with its double-butted 7005 aluminum frame, Alu Kinesis Aerofoilcarbon fork, and excellent selection of components.

I ripped out the Park tools and began to build the bike up to its fullglory. Of course, with a full Dura-Ace gruppo, you can't go wrong, andgetting the brakes, shifters, and drivetrain dialed in and lined up was ano-brainer. I slipped the feather-light Dura-Ace Shimano front wheelbetween the bladed carbon forks of the LG5 and saw an impressive bikeemerging.While putting the final touches on the build, two things immediately stoodout. One, the rear-brake housing was about five centimetres too short tofit the top tube braze-on, thus making it impossible to set up the rearbrakes properly. I spliced in a new cable and solved the problem. Second,I noticed that the medium frame that I'd received had a relatively shortcockpit.

During my ride, as expected, the compact frame was small, making properrider-positioning difficult. Putting aside the cramped feeling, the LG5itself had a very characteristic aluminum feel, with excellent feedbackfrom the road surface and nice vibration damping from the carbon fork. Thestiffness of the compact aluminum frame made the LG5 a great sprinter andvery decent climber.The Dura-Ace wheelset provided exceptional roll and took corners withconfidence, and the Dura-Ace components performed flawlessly. All in all,the LG5 proved to be a great bike for attacking the race circuit or yourfavourite route.

After reporting the size and cable issue to Garneau, I was immediately senta large and, sure enough as expected, the larger frame felt much morecomfortable in the cockpit and rode exceptionally well. The folks atGarneau were surprised when I reported the same rear-brake cable problem,as this was the first they'd heard of it. While easily dealt with and notan issue for consumers, they were thankful and assured us they would lookinto it.

Garneau has struck fertile ground with its new bike line and theintroduction of the high-end LG5, reminiscent of the days when the owner,Louis Garneau, was a top racer in Quebec and competed on Canada's NationalTeam. Garneau was recently inducted into Quebec's Hall of Fame, and I'dhave liked to see more information about the LG5's racing roots andspecifications in the catalogue.Keeping in mind that the LG5 frame appears to fit relatively small, it'sfair to say that this is an excellent road bike to throw your leg over forrecreation or competition.