Look 555

[CooperS]

Been offered a relatives 07 race bike minus wheels and pedels (will be his training wheels and i'll have to get my own pedels) for £1000 its got full ultegra kit and has been used for just one season.

Question is: The bike seems to be in very good nick meticulously maintained but im worried about it being a carbon fibre jobbies. It’s my first full carbon bike and was worried whether a bike like this has an age limit whereby the frame needs changing every X amount of miles. Im only going to be using it for training and wont clock more than 300 – 400 miles a month but just worried about wear and tear.

[CooperS]

Anyone?

Where would be the best place to post this question?

[Golfy]

CooperS said:

Anyone?

Where would be the best place to post this question?

Sorry, I don't feel qualified to give an answer but maybe post it up on the forums of www.bikeradar.com/ or www.roadcyclinguk.com

I'm sure someone there will help you.

[fergus]

Be very wary of the torsional stiffness on look frames. Try holding the headstock and pushing down on the BB cups. I think you'll be stunned how much flex there is in the frame. Personally, I wouldn't touch it, although for training rides it may be OK. Depends how powerful/heavy you are as to how much frame flex you'll get....

[CooperS]

fergus said:

Be very wary of the torsional stiffness on look frames. Try holding the headstock and pushing down on the BB cups. I think you'll be stunned how much flex there is in the frame. Personally, I wouldn't touch it, although for training rides it may be OK. Depends how powerful/heavy you are as to how much frame flex you'll get....

Ok, thats interesting.

Reading the blurb reviews semms to suggest Look have stiffened the frame further from previous generations. But i do take on your point and did have this concern my self.

Have you riden Look CF frames before or is it just what the general concenus is on these frames.

Also although this sounds bad it actually could be the 585 frame not the 555... ahh will talk to my cousin tonight.

Finally if it was your grand would you rather go for a off the peg Trek/Spec/Biac frameset? Dont want to spend much more as this is rather an impluse spend as it is.

Cheers

Tom

[Gooby]

Over average use there would be little to worry you. Dont forget aluminium frames are suseptable to stress fractures and weld failure. Over long term use, there will be little in it over an alu frame.
The big fifference is resistance to heavy knocks. CF spreads its stress across the resins and a small knock can lead to failure.

[fergus]

CooperS said:

fergus said:

Be very wary of the torsional stiffness on look frames. Try holding the headstock and pushing down on the BB cups. I think you'll be stunned how much flex there is in the frame. Personally, I wouldn't touch it, although for training rides it may be OK. Depends how powerful/heavy you are as to how much frame flex you'll get....

Ok, thats interesting.

Reading the blurb reviews semms to suggest Look have stiffened the frame further from previous generations. But i do take on your point and did have this concern my self.

Have you riden Look CF frames before or is it just what the general concenus is on these frames.

Also although this sounds bad it actually could be the 585 frame not the 555... ahh will talk to my cousin tonight.

Finally if it was your grand would you rather go for a off the peg Trek/Spec/Biac frameset? Dont want to spend much more as this is rather an impluse spend as it is.

Cheers

Tom

The feedback comes from Guy Kesterton who does bike reviews for 220 Triathlon magazine and who rides regularly with my brother. His comments were around the top of the range look frame (can't remember the model right now though).

Personally, I think you could do a lot worse than a Planet X superlight, although you do pay for what you get, and their frames are not high modulus (as is the case with most carbon frames). Depends upon your intended use though I guess.