Look 765 endurance road bike with flax fibres launched

French bicycle manufacturer Look has unveiled its new 765, a carbon fibre endurance road bike that will cost from £1,799 with a Shimano 105 groupset.

The design of the new bike has been inspired by the company’s current 695, says Look. The frame features Carboflax technology, which sandwiches a layer of flax fibre between the carbon fibre, and is intended to damp vibrations, providing a smoother ride. The flax fibres are used in key locations, in the chainstays and fork legs.

“The inclusion of linen, with its vibration filtering properties, increases the bicycle’s general performance: the cyclist’s body being less loaded, all his energy will be concentrated on steering and pedalling. A real benefit for very long, tough outings,” claims Look.

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Look hasn’t pioneered this use of flax, the benefits of flax fibres has been demonstrated in the past. Museeuw bikes used it as far back as 2008. 

As well as the flax fibres, Look has developed asymmetric chainstays to “balance forces due to transmission of the pedalling force,” to quote the Look PR spiel. The driveside chainstay is larger in profile than the non-driveside chainstay.

Endurance bikes are very popular at the moment, with a position that is more upright and less aggressive than a regular race bike proving appealing to those who don’t want to race, but still want to ride fast, just in more comfort. The Look 765 has a shorter and higher reach than the Race geometry on its 795 road bike.

To put some numbers on that, a medium size 765 has a stack and reach of 578mm and 375mm respectively, and the effective top tube is 551.7mm with a 182.2mm head tube. It has a 72 degree head angle, a degree slacker than a typical race bike, and a conventional 73 degree seat angle.

The frame is packed with the latest standards, including a press-fit 30 bottom bracket in a 68mm wide shell. There’s a 27.2mm seatpost, which should aid compliance, and a tapered head tube.

The company claims a frame weight of 1,100g, and 350g for the fork. It’s available in five sizes (XS - XL) and has a five year warranty. The frame is compatible with Shimano Di2 electronic drivetrains and mechanical gear and brake cables are internally routed.

Look will be offering four builds, with a Shimano 105 the cheapest at £1,799. This model includes an FSA Omega compact chainset and Vero Compact handlebar, Selle Italia Flow saddle and Shimano RS10 wheels. Tyres are Continental Ultra Sport II in 25mm width. Claimed weight is 8.54kg (18.83lb).

Other builds include a Shimano Ultegra/105 mix, full Shimano Ultegra and, at the top, an Ultegra Di2 model.

More at www.lookcycle.com