LOOK 253 has arrived

[BalkanExpress]

I have already started altering things foremost of which is all down to Balkan Express ....have a guess !

Hopefully, that nice set of wheels you picked up 10 days ago...if so

 

[woodbutcher]

Hopefully, that nice set of wheels you picked up 10 days ago...if so

Just seen this from you B Exp. you are dead right . The colour in this photo is a bit out because believe me those wheels were meant for this Look , they tone in with the bike colours perfectly......many thanks for putting me on to them .

 

[woodbutcher]

PS ignore the strange goings on with the bars, l am in the middle of trying various combinations because l removed the carbon ones the bike came with. They were all a bit of a mess in my eyes ...see photo .

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I'm afraid I find it very difficult to get too excited about anything fitted with a thick carbon fork. It just ruins the whole aesthetic for me.

 

[Threevok]

I don't think that fork looks bad to be honest.

I've see some on gravel and MTBs that make me cringe

 

[woodbutcher]

I'm afraid I find it very difficult to get too excited about anything fitted with a thick carbon fork. It just ruins the whole aesthetic for me.

To be honest l wasn't 100% sold on it when l first saw the bike and actually this is the only bike l have with any carbon on it.
However l have been in touch with Look France and they have been very helpful. The bike was built in January 1998 and they sent me the link to their commercial catalogue for that year which does specify a carbon fork for the otherwise steel (Nemo) frame.

 

[biggs682]

Forking hell at least that have a curve on them

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Forking hell at least that have a curve on them

True, it's not horribly ugly in the way modern moulded carbon bikes are, but I still don't regard it has having the classic looks of a lugged road frame. As a general rule, I do like @woodbutcher's taste in bikes - but on this one we'll have to politely agree to differ.

 

[biggs682]

@SkipdiverJohn sure he won't mind
We all stray from time to time

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

The furthest I've strayed is owning a couple of welded hi-tensile steel 80's/90's mountain bikes, because most MTB's were welded from the beginning, and lugs were always the exception not the norm. Perfectly functional, but not pretty.
For road frames it will always be slim steel tubes and conventional crown forks for me, preferably of the butted variety, and lugged & brazed. Apparently, this makes me a Retrogrouch!