Is it a race bike? Is it a tour bike? These were common questions asked of me while riding the Look 566 Origin. The answer is "yes". Is it possible to have both? With Look, again, the answer is yes.
The Look 566 frame is unique throughout. The flattened “kinked” top tube acts as a suspension component. The rear triangle is a complicated array of flat, round, and twisted tubes. I think Look hired a pretzel manufacturer to make the chain stays! This translates into compliant vertical flex yet more stiffness laterally for positive power transfer.
Speaking of pretzels, I like em soft. Perhaps this is where the 566 is more touring and less racing. I felt the response from aggressive acceleration was soft. It seemed more noticeable from a dead start rather than while rolling. I had the feeling I wouldn’t be able take Hushovd at the line in a sprint finish. Then again, I probably couldn’t do that on my motorized bike either!
I don’t want to take away from Look’s engineering and design department, but the proof is in the ride. My first impression was the suppleness I felt from the frame. Bumps, dips, and choppy pavement didn’t rattle my teeth during an afternoon of riding. I still felt fresh. Even the choice of bars added to the overall comfort of the bike. The flattened top is a natural fit for your palms when not in the drops.
The design team didn’t stop with just the frame. Every aspect of the Look 566 is meant to work together including the 566 specific fork. The “F2D Frontal Flex Design” is a fancy name. Let me interpret, F2D Frontal Flex Design = more comfort plus quick steering. There was no delay in turning which allowed proper tracking in speedy descents and tight corners. I was always confident the bike would go where I wanted it.
Look’s tradition with design and quality didn’t go by the wayside with the 566. Although it may not look like it, the twisted, kinked, round, and flat tubes have been homogenized to produce a silky smooth frame. Look says this bike does it all and you can ride a century on Saturday and race it on Sunday. There seems to be very little compromise between the two with the 566. If riding and racing is your thing, Look has developed an affordable bike that can do both. It confronts the challenges of climbing, racing, and day long rides. It might be a struggle to win a sprint finish. For me, I simply enjoyed riding the Look 566 Origin.
