Do the dropouts on the Steel Lemond frames have holes for mounting a rack? I'm trying to find a steel bike with rackmounts that isnt touring geometry. I'm not really interested in the surly cross check.

If you don't need to carry a lot of weight I've had good success with the seatpost clamping racks. Simple and efficient if you don't have a c/f seatpost and have enough room to attach one.

I haven't looked specifically at the Lemond bikes for rack eyelets, but I have also mounted several racks to bikes using the rubber coated clamps around the seatstays. I wouldn't use this method for loaded touring, but it has worked fine for groceries.

You shouldn't have to buy a new frame if all you need is to attach a rear rack to your current bike. But if you just want a new bike anyway then there's nothing wrong with that. :)

Check our Gunnars and Waterfords if you can find them locally.

its going to be my "geared" bike, and i hope to use it for loaded touring this summer or perhaps fully loaded next summer. I want a very multi purpose steel bike, i was looking at the cross bikes but it seems like every one of them is Al

Doesn't look like any of their steel bikes have rear eyelets. I know the Fillmore doesn't.
http://www.lemondbikes.com/2005_bikes/index.shtml

The Trek 520 is steel, but touring geometry.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Specialty_Bikes/Touring/520/index.php

Rivendell has an almost cult-like following. I used to live out west up the hill from Sacramento and sat in on one of the local bicycle club meetings when the company founder gave a talk, very entertaining and worth checking out their bike offerings.
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/bikes_rivendellframes.html

Gunnar can build or modify a bike almost any way you want them to.
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/roadie.php

Same with Waterford since they're kind of the same, kind of.
http://www.waterfordbikes.com/2005/index.php

There are lots of steel bikes still being made, it's just that aluminum and c/f are the current dominate trend. Titanium is still there but seems to have drifted back some out of the limelight probably due to costs.

What size frame are you looking for?

Yes, the older steel lemond bikes have eyelets for mounting a rack. I am almost positive that the spined bikes also have eylets. I will have to look at them again. The Ti bikes do not. Your best bike would be a Poprad cyclocross. It is all steel and comes with a aluminum fork. Has the extra brakes handles on the top of the bars. It is around $1050.00 You might also try to find a Wataza. Last year was 2004. It comes with a flat bar and already has a triple and v brakes instead of cant. Same frame and fork as the Poprad. IF not tell the dealer that you want triple put on the Poprad. They should change it over at no cost or maybe $10.00. If they charge you more go some where else. The Poprad or older Wataza are great bikes for touring, road riding , or going off road buy just changing tires. Also you can put 35x700 tires and still have room. The other lemonds will only let you get a 25x700 tires. If you try to go bigger they will rub on the chain stays. Last if you buy a Lemond Poprad go with the top tube matching your road bike. So if you ride a 55 get a 55 and put a shorter stem on it. So if you rode a 55 with a 120 stem go with a 55 and a 110 stem. Don't buy a smaller frame it will not fit because you are riding this on the road not cross racing. Also, the stem on the Poprad is a positive rise so it will give you a more upright ride. I am on my third Poprad.

Gunnars have rear eyelets for racks, and will fit up to a 26mm tire in back. That's for the racing model. I think that the "sport" model has a little more room, but is still not a "touring" frame. Pretty cheap also ! BTW, they don't skimp on a tube set either.

I have recently noticed that the "classic" frames and the Poprad for '05 we have on the sales floor have a tapped fitting in the dropout. I have not tried to put a standard rack bolt into it yet. They don't have any eyelets on the seatstays though. You'd have to either find an old fitting to mount it to the brake bridge (they used to provide them with racks), or make a fitting. I think that of the LeMond line, you'd want to use a Poprad or Wayzata, especially if you want to do actual loaded touring. The geometry would be better suited to it.

If you want to look at other bikes, Treebound is correct that Gunnar and Waterford (same company) have "sport" racers that would function well. I think Trek still has a steel frame touring bike, and maybe Bianchi too. If you are willing to spend the cash on a Waterford, you might also check out Independant Fabrications' Club Racer, and I think that Steelman has a nice "sport racer" too. IF also has a true loaded touring bike, if you're really serious about doing much of that. That type of bike is not as responsive for other types of riding, but you'd be a lot happier on long descents and for the heel clearance among other things. Litespeed has the Blue Ridge also. Not quite as hard-core touring as the IF, but better than a "normal racing" geometry bike for touring with panniers.

Something else you might consider is using a trailer with a "normal racing" geometry bike. I've heard of people using a "Bob" and being pretty happy about it. Then you could have your responsive road bike, and still do some touring.

Bob

You might also check out oldmanmountain.com they have really cool racks that don't require eylets. They attach to a special QR.

I had a chance to check one of the Poprads and one of the "Classic" bikes yesterday. Yes the threads in the dropouts will accept a rack bolt. So, if you still want to go that way, you just need to deal with the mount at the seat stays.

Bob