The winner's choice

Armstrong prefers bikes made by Litespeed

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Posted: Monday July 26, 1999 10:35 AM

The alloy tubing used for Armstrong's bikes is twice as strong and half as heavy as the tubing used for most bikes. Tom Able Green/Allsport

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee (CNN/SI) -- The logo painted on Lance Armstrong's bike said Trek, but the 60 employees at Litespeed Titanium Components knew better.

The small bike company, located just outside of Chattanooga, supplied Armstrong with the bikes he used to win the Tour de France Sunday.

Trek is the official sponsor of the U.S. Postal Service team. Since Armstrong prefers bikes from Litespeed, Trek purchases them at $6,000 each.

"Lance was a member of the Motorola cycling team and we sponsored it in previous years, so he was familiar with the cycle," said David Lynskey, president of Litespeed, a family business.

"He felt like he wanted to ride nothing but the best, and asked us to fit him and provide him the equipment, and we did so."

Lynskey said the alloy tubing used for Armstrong's bikes is twice as strong and half as heavy as the tubing used for most bikes.

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.