Woodinville, Wa — LeMond Fitness and Life Fitness are in a distribution dispute related to LeMond's RevMaster Pro group cycling bikes. Life Fitness, owned by Brunswick Corp., Lake Forest, IL, has had the exclusive rights to sell LeMond RevMaster bikes in North America and some international markets since 2002.

In late May, Brunswick filed a civil lawsuit in Illinois seeking $3.9 million in damages related to the distribution of LeMond bikes, per published reports. According to the suit, Life Fitness received hundreds of customer complaints about RevMaster handle bars, seats and pedals since early 2008 and has spent more than $225,000 on warranty and service work because of the problems. The company also said it has lost customers in the process. The issues prompted Life Fitness to terminate its distribution agreement with LeMond in May, the company says.

LeMond denied the quality allegations and filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking more than $1 million in damages for early termination of the distribution agreement. LeMond issued a letter to its retailers last month in which it said that Life Fitness' allegations “are without merit” and are an “act of bad faith designed with no other purpose than to injure our reputation as a brand.”

John Post, LeMond Fitness president, says that club owners may now order RevMaster and G-Force bikes, as well as parts and technical support, directly from LeMond Fitness. To report problems with the RevMaster bikes, of which 75,000 have been sold in the United States, customers can call 425-482-6773, ext. 109.

Life Fitness also said it will back the LeMond products it has sold.

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