skinnyone

puke.

Tri JP

Brilliant post. Bravo!

GatorFL

I can't see it....what is behind the little red x?

maddyfish

I can't see it either.

dreamryche

Remote linking is blocked, hence the x.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/_2Fg9LtDf1NA/SF...g/DSC08574.JPG

maddyfish

That didn't work either.

skinnyone

You guys need new browsers maybe? Works fine for me (maybe cached I guess)

Here is a link to cyclingnews.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?..._596_full_view

CharlieWoo

Who bent the top tube?

DrPete 

Yeah, that's foogly, but I still think the transition is fooglier.

Iwannagofast

The top tube is definitely a wee bit awkward.

DrPete 

ShadowGray

Compared to the transition, I actually like this one better.

Although the bent-artwork look is a little... different.

waterrockets 

That's much uglier than a transition. At least the decals are understated. Oh, wait, I mean they didn't have to use much base color paint...

nachomc

ShadowGray

The LOOK is so much sleeker!
I'd take that over a transition:

goldfish

whatever guys, I LIKE the look of that LOOK. Actually I think it's one of the prettiest TT bikes around right now. but then 90% of the other ones all look the same (like P3 clones). not that I don't like the P3.

urbanknight

See? That's what happens when you leave your carbon bike on the trunk rack in the sun too long.

skinnyone

These pics make baby jesus

ShadowGray

Eh, actually the LOOK kinda reminds me of the new batmobile. Just paint it in black and give it a few armor plates...

Bantam

Doesn't appear to be aerodynamically designed. I give it points for being very Euro in that aesthetics matter more than performance.

Iwannagofast

The resemblance is unbelievable!

goldfish

Just a little FYI on this bike

Taking an unconventional route to aero
By James Huang in Los Gatos, California

Time trial bike development has seemingly accelerated to supersonic rates as of late and a number of design elements have become increasingly routine: aero-profiled tubing, seat tubes with deep cut-outs, hidden brakes, fully-integrated forks and componentry, smooth lines. Yet Look has taken a somewhat unconventional approach with its latest speed machine, the 596.

First previewed at last year's Eurobike show, the new 596 does bear some common TT bike traits such as the deep-section down tube, seat tube and seat stays. However, instead of bringing the frame sections closer to the spinning wheels and reducing the gaps to the legal limit, Look has bucked the trend and added space both around their edges and sides.

Closer is better... or is it?
The key word from the previous statement is spinning. Look claims that tight clearances work well in the wind tunnel under static conditions but setting the wheels in motion creates high pressure drag in the confined spaces that actually make the bike slower. As a result, the seat stays and fork crown on the 596 are fairly wide-set and there's also more room around both wheels' circumference than we're used to seeing to let air easily flow through.

Unfortunately we have no easy way of verifying that claim (Look says its wind tunnel facility at the Magny Cours race track in France is perhaps the only place that can run a test where the wheels can be spun at a constant and controllable rate) but the idea is intriguing and might carry some merit. In fact, LeMans cars are fitted with fender louvers specifically to relieve the high pressure build-up that Look calls to attention here. Whether or not this matters at the slower speeds typically encountered in a time trial is another matter entirely but it's an intriguing idea nonetheless.

Regardless, one thing that can't be argued about the 596 is its substantial weight advantage over the outgoing 496 (which will still be available in track form). Claimed weight for frame and fork (but no headset) is just 1840g (4.06lb), knocking roughly half a kilo (1.1lb) from its predecessor while supposedly giving up nothing in terms of rigidity. Game on.

A new level of integration
The front end of the 596 is fitted with an all-new version of Look's radical Monoblade fork. Just as on the 496 where it first used the concept, the front of the fork extends all the way up to the stem and acts as a fairing for the head tube (effectively increasing the aspect ratio beyond the UCI-mandated 3:1). On this new edition though, the entire unit is markedly deeper throughout and capped with a far lighter two-piece carbon stem that is adjustable in angle and available in four lengths.

The new Zed crank is where things get particularly interesting. This new setup, limited to the 596 for the time being, is similar in concept to BB30 in that it uses oversized bearings pressed directly into a standard-width bottom bracket shell. However, the Zed spindle is roughly 50mm in diameter (instead of 30mm) and the hollow carbon fiber arms and spindle are all molded as one piece. A slight depression in the spindle allows installers to snake the whole bit through the bottom bracket bearings and a threaded collar on the non-driveside holds it all together.

Mechanics can think of the Zed as an analogue to a one-piece steel BMX crank but even those who can't remember 'righty tighty, lefty loosey' will be able to appreciate that it's way lighter. Claimed weight with bearings and chainrings is just 604g and we'd expect nothing short of monstrous stiffness given the section sizes (Look claims double the stiffness-to-weight of a 7800-series Dura-Ace crankset).

Moreover, a clever integrated carbon spider allows for both standard 130mm and compact 110mm chainrings and Look's novel Trilobe pedal interface quickly adjusts to provide 170, 172.5 or 175mm effective crank lengths. Trilobe will only work with a special KeO pedal though, so those on other systems should ready themselves for the swap should they decide a 596 is in their future.

Naturally, Look has also capped the top of the 596 with its elastomer-cushioned E Post integrated seat mast design. The 596 will come stock with a 32mm-setback R32 version, thus keeping it UCI-legal, but users can swap in the adjustable E Post Ti or 5mm-offset R5 variants depending on the situation.

Official retail price for the 596 is US$4,999 which sounds rather insane until you consider that it includes the frame, fork, headset, integrated seatpost, stem, bottom bracket, crank and even pedals. Heck, that almost makes it a bargain.

steppinthefunk 

I personally like it. It's not what we are used to seeing but I for one feel that modern bicycles need a make over.

It's almost as if Look did what Specialized tried to do.

MIN 

love it.

toshi

way nicer: