Look teases new 796 time trial bike before Tour de France
Minimal frontal profile with integrated cockpit, brakes and crankset
This article originally appeared on BikeRadar
Debuted at the French National Championships, and soon to be seen at the Tour de France with wildcard team Bretagne-Séché Environnement, the Look 796 is the successor to the French brand's 596.
The bike is said to use an integrated cockpit, brakes and crankset. Further details of the new time trial machine are currently scarce, however the brand has teased a few photos.
The other details revealed
From these photos, the new 796 appears to borrow multiple features and design elements from the brand's 795 AeroLight road frameset. These include Look's own V-style front brake integrated into the middle of the fork, a chainstay-mounted direct-mount rear brake and a stem that sits seamlessly inline with the flat top tube.
If this stem is similar to the Aerostem found on the 795 AeroLight, then it will offer a wide-angle adjustment range for preference in handlebar height. In the case of the 795 AeroLight, this feature claims to offer 57mm of height adjustment.
In the photos, the brake cables and gear wires (except for the rear derailleur) are noticeably missing. Given that Look own a patent for internal head tube cable routing, we suspect the cables are cleverly integrated from the cockpit, through the stem and into the frame.
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Could this feature remain?
It's likely the carbon aero crankset will use Look's 65mm bottom bracket design for a leading stiffness-to-weight ratio. Although the pictures aren't clear, we suspect the brand's patented 'TRILOBE' pedal mounting system may return. This triangular insert allows the single-piece cranks to be adjusted to 170, 172.5 or 175mm in length. Additionally, the brand previously showed an integrated Keo pedal, which cleanly integrated with this design for an ultimately low-profile assembly – it's possible this may return.
Expect a more detailed look at this Look after the opening stage of the Tour de France.
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