OWNER REVIEW – 2008 Look 555

Look 555 Maintenance History can be found here.

The latest edition to my bike fleet is a roadie, a 2008 Look 555 [link takes you to more photos], named “Froggie” which I purchased in June 2008 from TBE Belmont. This post reflects my purchase experience and life on the rode with Froggie my 2008 Look 555. Froggie’s role in my fleet is as a fine weather commuter (no load), “Sunday” ride, and hopefully as a masters level racer and Audax style ride in the relatively near future.

In respect to Look bikes, there is a Look forum for those wishing to discuss Look bikes.

Description and Ride Impressions | Purchase Experience |  Specifications and Modifications

Description and Ride Impressions

Look describe the 555:

The 555 uses “tube to tube” technology. So, for this model there are no Aluminium lugs, nor monobloc construction. For the 555, oversized tubes are molded then cut, shaped at the ends in order to be assembled as if they were welded. Welding is replaced by bonding, reinforced with carbon strips to ensure a perfect cohesion of the frame assembly. To optimize frame comfort, our engineers have developed a special geometry for the chain and seat stays. The Comfort Concept chainstays present a center section inversion which is achieved by flattening. This creates an inflection point at the middle of the base and so improves vertical flexibility. At the same time, this shape increased the base horizontally, and improves lateral stiffness. The seat stays are slightly curved in order to encourage the absorption of vibrations and so optimizing comfort.

Purchase Experience

I purchased the bike from TBE Belmont and only came across the bike by chance as I was passing the store, decided to drop in for a bit of look, was about to leave when I spotted the 555 and decided to give it a bit of a ride. Took it for a quick spin around the store and it didn’t feel right. The salesperson adjusted the seat and off I went again. It felt much better this time and given the spec, feel of the ride, and the price I asked them to put a hold on it. I phoned the next day, putting a deposit down arranging to pick it up on Friday and I was expecting the bike to be set-up to suit me then. Wrong!

I get there Friday and basically there was no one there to set-up the bike. Not a good look. The best they could offer was for me to take the bike over to their Osborne Park store which I did. After some mucking around my in-seam was taken, some measurements done on the bike and basically it was determined the stem length was wrong (too long) and the implication being the frame size wrong for me. They offered to get in a replacement stem at my cost since Belmont did the sale. I initially agreed to this and left with the bike, deciding this was not the right place or time to push my concerns The next day I phoned TBE Belmont and expressed my concerns and was invited to bring the bike in for David Rice to look at it and myself riding it. So back to TBE I go. A lap or two up the front and yes the stem needed shortening. The took the bike about the back and fitted a 100 mm stem and I tried it again. It felt okay at the store and so I went with that. However after a few rides now, I am of the view the that the stem is still to long and a 90 mm would be more suitable. I am going to take this back up with TBE at the first service.

Whilst TBE did sort the problem, I felt their handling of the sale on the Friday pickup was really not up to expectations, they have attempted to remedy the situation. I have learnt a couple of lessons from this experience … make sure you have a good handle on what bike fit is all about and make sure that the bike shop knows that you expect them to fit it properly when pick-up is arranged.

It will be interesting to see what happens when it goes in for its six week service and I request that the stem gets swapped out for a shorter one.

June 29, 2008

• Fitted two Token TK943 Pyrotec carbon bottle cages. I purchased these from Torpedo 7 for $29.66 each delivered.
• Fitted Garmin GSC10 speed and cadence sensor for my Garmin Edge 305. The mount was purchased from Geomangear.com for $47.50.
• Fitted Cannondale Airspeed carbon pump. I purchased the pump from Chain Reaction Cycles for $44.74 delivered.

The 555 was purchased or is now with the following specifications [click here for the geometry chart]:

Frame: HM (High Modulus) HR (High Resistance) Carbon Fibre
Forks: Look HSC-4 Full Carbon
Size: XL 58 cm
Colour: Black/White
Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra SL 10 speed
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra SL 10 speed
Gear Levers: Shimano Ultegra SL
Shifters: Shimano Ultegra SL STI Dual Control
Brakes: Shimano Ultegra SL
Cranks: Shimano Ultegra SL 39/53T
Chain: Shimano Ultegra Super Narrow Chain for 10-Speed Replaced with a Wipperman Connex 10sp 10s0
Hubs: Mavic Ksyrium Equipe – 9 x 100 / 9 x 130 Fulcrum Racing 5
Rims: Mavic Ksyrium Equipe Fulcrum Racing 5 Black
Spokes: Mavic Ksyrium Equipe – 18 / 20 Fulcrum Racing 5
Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 4000 S
Cassette Sprocket: Shimano Ultegra CS-6600 11-23 Shimano Ultegra CS-6700 11-28 10 speed
Handlebars: FSA SL-K 31.8mm
Stem: FSA OS-150 100 mm
Saddle: Selle Italia Maxflite Gel Flow 2008 Black – Vanox Rails Brooks B17 Narrow
Seat post: FSA with 20mm sit back
Pedals: Look Keo Sprint
Retail: $4399 – Purchased for $3079.30