LOOK 795 Blade RS Evaluation: Useless Horny

There are some bikes that simply have “the look.” No pun supposed, however the LOOK 795 Blade RS Proteam White is a type of bikes. It attracts admiring stares and elicits “oohs” and “aahs” — even from non-cyclists at espresso stops. As bikes go, it’s a head turner. The time period that involves thoughts is: useless horny.

Retail value – $7,800

My pal, Mike Byrd, made this cool video clip when my crew did Blue Mountain Street (a very legit climb — Strava charges it Cat 2 at 3.7 miles, over 1,300 ft elevation acquire, and seven% common grade with a couple of double-digit sections) over Labor Day weekend (right here’s his full journey video)

Specs

Listed below are the tech specs from LOOK.

Sizing

Bike sizing is completely different from producer to producer (and even throughout the mannequin lineup of a producer) so don’t assume that you simply’re going to journey the identical measurement body whenever you get a brand new bike. It’s essential know your bike match measurements to understand how effectively any specific body goes to suit. Particularly, stack and attain.

The LOOK 795 Blade RS Disc is available in 5 sizes: XS, S, M, L, and XL.

Simply going by the LOOK measurement information, for my top (5’8″) I’m on the low vary of measurement M (49.4cm per LOOK) or excessive vary of measurement S (46.9cm). However assuming I might match on a measurement M, that may run opposite to fashionable “professional” bike philosophy of driving the smallest measurement body potential (for weight, stiffness, and to a point, aero). Extra importantly, though the attain measurement would work for me, the stack on a measurement M can be too tall.

So how effectively would a measurement S match me? By means of comparability, listed here are the stack and attain measurements of my different bikes:

• Felt FC (54cm)*: stack – 526mm, attain – 389mm
• Colnago V3 (48cm): stack – 525mm, attain – 380mm
  

  * The Felt measures massive as a result of the seat tube extends above the down tube (and why simply going by body measurement isn’t sufficient)

My Felt FC is fairly near “excellent” in that it’s practically equivalent to my #steelisreal customized Hollands that was my race bike within the 90s (sure, I’m nonetheless driving the identical place as an “outdated man” 30+ years later!) I might get the Colnago into practically the identical place through a slammed -10 diploma 13cm stem to make up for the shorter attain.

Stack and attain on a measurement Small LOOK 795 Blade RS Disc are 529mm and 377mm, respectively. So barely taller and barely shorter than my Colnago V3. Whereas not spot-on precisely the identical, I surmised that I might get the LOOK to suit effectively sufficient inside a couple of millemeters. However doing so would require swapping out the 10cm inventory stem for a 13cm stem (the longest LOOK makes for the ADS stem used on the 795 Blade RS). I didn’t know if this could be potential with a check/assessment bike (and the worst case situation was that I’d journey the bike with ~3cm shorter attain), but when LOOK was capable of get a 13cm stem (with the provision chain being what it’s, I do know it isn’t at all times straightforward to supply components in the intervening time), I’d’ve been blissful to do the swap myself. This story has a cheerful ending:  LOOK was capable of finding a stem. Plus they have been type sufficient to do the swap previous to transport. THANK YOU!

NOTE:  I might additionally theoretically journey a measurement XS (44.5cm) body, which might truly be completely professional. Stack wouldn’t be an issue (I’d want 20-25mm value of spacers below the stem) however I would wish a good longer stem (14cm, which LOOK doesn’t make) to get the attain proper. Or I might journey it with a 13cm stem and 10cm shorter attain, which might put me ever so barely extra upright (that I might compensate for by decreasing the stem a couple of mm’s). Simply to indicate that with fashionable bike geometry/design it’s typically potential to get it proper sufficient on two completely different measurement frames.

Some meeting required

In case you have been shopping for from a LOOK seller, the bike can be constructed up and also you’d have the ability to roll it out the door. Nonetheless, my check/assessment bike was delivered to me (THANK YOU! to my LBS Conte’s Bike Store in Alexandria, VA for taking supply for me) so some meeting was required on my half.

Like a child at Christmas

I’ll simply let the images do the speaking.

Voila!

You’ll anticipate an aero bike to weigh greater than a climbing or all-around bike

If you wish to know extra about increase a Blade 795 RS, right here’s the guide (PDF).

LOOK ADS stem

The pattern with aero bikes particularly is in direction of proprietary one-piece built-in stem/handlebars and completely inside routing for max aero advantages. LOOK selected to stick with a extra typical separate stem and bar association, however utilizing their proprietary ADS (Aero Design Stem) stem that enables for semi-internal routing of the brake hoses.

What’s completely different in regards to the ADS stem (and the 795 Blade RS) is the way it attaches to the steerer tube. Slightly than the steerer tube being spherical for its whole size, i.e., above the top tube, it’s a novel rectangular form with rounded ends. LOOK calls this the “fork pivot.” In flip, the clamping a part of the ADS stem isn’t spherical like a standard stem.

The fork pivot that extends above the top tube. Additionally, you may see the brake hoses routed into the top tube.

One advantage of LOOK’s proprietary stem and fork pivot is that the stem will at all times be straight with none fiddling

I discussed above that LOOK was type sufficient to swap the inventory 10cm stem for a 13cm stem so the attain can be proper. However I needed to take away it to decrease it to get the stack proper. It’s a bit extra work than a standard stem as a result of there are two facet covers behind the stem (used to cowl the brake homes routed into the top tube) that must be eliminated to get to the stem clamp bolts (NOTE: LOOK makes use of TORX bolts/screws reasonably than hex screws all through). I eliminated all of the stem spacers (these are proprietary too for the brake hoses to have the ability to be routed into the top tube) and slammed the stem onto what LOOK calls the “junction spacer” (the equal of a standard headset cone spacer).

My stem is Phi Slamma Jamma however I’ve a 50mm tall chimney on prime (as a result of it’s a check/assessment bike, I couldn’t lower the steerer tube)

For the techno-geeks who need extra particulars in regards to the ADS stem, right here’s the guide (PDF).

LOOK Aeropost seat publish

As you’d anticipate for an aero bike, the seat publish on the LOOK 795 Blade isn’t spherical. As a substitute, it’s an aero formed publish that rivals what you may discover on a time trial and even triathlon bike.

The Blade 795 shipped to me with seat already mounted on the seat publish

However the seat publish is greater than only a seat publish — it’s additionally the place the Di2 battery is housed

And for the reason that seat publish isn’t spherical, there isn’t a conventional seat publish clamp. As has develop into the pattern within the trade, LOOK has a proprietary system for “wedging” the seat publish into place (what LOOK calls a seat publish expander). It’s an exterior reasonably than inside wedge.

You positively don’t need to lose any of the small components!

NOTE: I needed to lower the seat publish to have the ability to get the seat to the correct top (the seat publish was bottoming out on the water bottle mount screw). Usually not one thing you’d do with a check/assessment bike (had I opted to strive an XS measurement body it’s in all probability not one thing I’d’ve wanted to do), however LOOK was type sufficient to provide me a inexperienced mild to chop away. Nonetheless, it’s not an easy course of like slicing a spherical seat publish each due to the form and the distinctive cutouts within the seat publish for mounting the Di2 battery. Faites consideration!

What makes slicing the Aeropost a bit nerve wracking is you could’t simply put it in a jig with a information such as you would with a spherical seat publish (or at house use a hose clamp as a information). Fortunately, Conte’s let me use their store to do the slicing. I used to be capable of get the seat publish suitably clamped and simply needed to be cautious and take my time slicing since I didn’t have a information to maintain the noticed blade completely straight.

Don’t do that at house!

PRO TIP: After you’ve made the lower, use very tremendous grain sandpaper to clean out any roughness, burrs. ANOTHER PRO TIP: Put clear nail polish over the lower. FINALLY: Don’t neglect to place carbon paste on the seat publish/inside seat tube to ensure it doesn’t slip.

LOOK R38 disc brake wheels

Though the Blade 795 is an aero bike, LOOK selected to outfit it with extra “throughout” wheels reasonably than deeper dish extra aero-specific wheels. Because the R38 moniker implies, the wheels are 38mm deep. They’re LOOK branded however a collaboration between LOOK and Corima.

Listed below are the complete specs per LOOK:

I didn’t pull the tires and tubes off, so can’t vouch for the claimed weight. I can say that driving them that they don’t really feel that a lot completely different weight-wise than different wheels I’ve which can be kind of the identical weight. Equally, I can’t vouch for the interior width measurement.

With the tires on (so possibly not 100% correct), my calipers measured rim width at 26.2mm (so a pair mm’s lower than spec)

What I can vouch for is that the wheels come on top of things shortly and maintain their pace. Extra importantly, they’re very steady. I’ve ridden them in some windy/gusty (15+ mph) situations and by no means felt like I used to be going to go crusing sideways or have the entrance wheel snatched. And I dragged them up the climbs on the Blue Mountain Street journey (68 miles and over 5,500 ft of climbing) and a reasonably epic SkyMass journey (71 miles and nearly 7,500 ft of climbing).

Useless horny wheels

NOTE: The R38 wheels are tubeless suitable however got here from LOOK with Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR (tubeless prepared) 700×25 tires with tubes.

Mavic Pace Launch via axles

One of many knocks in opposition to disc brake wheels with via axles is that wheel modifications are more durable/slower than with conventional fast launch wheels with rim brakes. The LOOK 795 Blade is designed to reap the benefits of Mavic Pace Launch via axles which can be designed to be sooner/simpler than conventional via axles that must be utterly eliminated to take away/set up a wheel.

Mavic Pace Launch via axles aren’t the identical diameter all through their size

What’s completely different in regards to the LOOK Blade 795 is that the non-threaded facet (proper facet on the fork, left facet for the rear wheel) is a “dropout” — however the dropout is narrower than the axle diameter. A bit of the Mavic Pace Launch via axle is indented and this indent permits the wheel to drop down and out after it’s unthreaded. However when pushed in to string (and when threaded), the bigger diameter part prevents the wheel from dropping out. Perhaps not as quick/straightforward as a fast launch skewer, however nonetheless … genius!

Pseudo-dropout on the non-threaded facet

Mavic Pace Launch via axle doesn’t must be absolutely faraway from the wheel

The indent permits the wheel to be lifted into place very like a daily dropout

The bigger diameter on the finish of the Mavic Pace Launch thru-axle retains it from falling out to string into place

Using the LOOK Blade 795

After the preliminary “oohs” and “aahs” upon first seeing the LOOK Blade 795, the very first thing everybody asks is: “How does it journey?”

On Skyline Drive

From the second I swung my leg over the bike and parked my butt within the saddle, I used to be completely comfy. My place on the bike didn’t really feel any completely different than on my Colnago or Felt. After I put the LOOK and Colnago side-by-side (with the rear wheels up in opposition to a wall), the brake hoods have been just about in equivalent positions (2-3mm attain/top variations, at most) — once more, thanks to LOOK for the 13cm stem! So match was primarily spot on.

Though the brake hoses aren’t absolutely internally routed, it’s nonetheless a fairly tidy cockpit

The opposite cause I used to be comfy was the saddle. It’s a LOOK-branded, Selle San Marco Shortfit Open Dynamic saddle with manganese rails. It’s not a very top-shelf saddle with a carbon shell and rails, however the form is nearly equivalent to the Selle San Marco Shortfit Carbon FX saddle I’ve beforehand reviewed. That saddle is on my Felt FC and I’ve ridden hundreds of miles in it. So for my butt, it was like an outdated pal. In case you like saddles with some curvature (each fore-aft and side-to-side), that’s the Shortfit Open Dynamic. However saddles are a really private factor, so YMMV.

Not the best tech saddle, however nonetheless very comfy (for my butt) — which is finally what issues

The opposite factor the LOOK Blade 795 is is quick. OK, I can’t quantify this (sorry, however I don’t have a wind tunnel at my disposal), but it surely simply appears to “slice” by the air and needs to roll. I assume that shouldn’t be an enormous shock. In any case, it’s a purpose-built/designed aero bike. I wasn’t essentially sooner per se, but it surely was just a bit bit simpler to go quick. It might simply be a #marginalgain but it surely was a acquire that I might really feel whereas driving. The place I might actually really feel the distinction was on quick descents. I used to be capable of go as quick (typically sooner) than lots of my driving friends who’ve a weight benefit on descents (and if I went right into a full-on aero tuck, I might depart lots of them in my wake).

Airfoil formed handlebars and hourglass head tube scale back entrance finish drag

“Boxy” Kaammtail tube shapes at the moment are the norm for street racing bikes, aero or in any other case

Slender profile up entrance

Slender seat stays in again

As you’d anticipate in a street race bike, the body is stiff. Once more, I don’t have a method to measure/quantify, however each pedal stroke felt prefer it resulted in ahead momentum with no flex (after all, that might be extra a operate of my measly energy output).

Beefy backside bracket is lots stiff and sculpted #aero

That stiffness interprets right into a barely harsher journey. It’s not a major, night-and-day distinction however sufficient of a distinction that I might really feel it in comparison with both my Colnago V3 or Felt FC (we’re speaking on the margins). However I didn’t discover it sufficient to make the journey uncomfortable. I simply felt the imperfections on the street a bit bit extra. Nonetheless, even on rougher street at pace, e.g., street that has been scraped for re-paving (I’ve even ridden sections of gravel that have been a number of miles lengthy at a superb clip), the journey wasn’t bone jarring, the bike felt composed/planted, my arms (sans gloves) might keep on the handlebars and not using a demise grip, and I used to be in management. NOTE: A few of that harshness might in all probability be “dialed out” by going tubeless and working decrease tire pressures.

Weight-wise, the LOOK Blade 795 isn’t a light-weight climbing bike. Nevertheless it’s definitely not a complete pig when the street tilt ups. The stiffness is definitely an asset on shorter, punchier climbs which can be extra about placing larger energy down for a brief spurt. Nevertheless it’s fared effectively sufficient on longer climbs. I used to be solely 5 seconds off my PR on the aforementioned Blue Mountain Street climb and really set PRs on a couple of sub-segments of the climb. That stated, it wouldn’t be my first selection for a day of a number of lengthy, Alpine-like climbs (the LOOK 785 Huez would in all probability be higher fitted to that form of driving).

NOTE: I used to be involved that my climbing would “endure” with the 52/36 mid-compact chainrings. However with the 11-34 cassette and 12-speeds, I might journey in gears that have been pretty akin to my 50/34 compact with 11-30 11-speed cassette, e.g., 36×30 (the second lowest gear on the 12-speed) is comparable (truly decrease) than 34×27 (the second lowest bear on the 11-speed).

One factor I haven’t needed to fear about goes downhill after climbing up. The geometry and stiffness of the LOOK 795 Blade mix to make it a rock regular descender. The dealing with is sharp however not twitchy. I wouldn’t go as far as to name myself fearless, however the LOOK 705 Blade is confidence inspiring cornering at pace (I simply have to recollect I’m not driving a knee dragging sportbike after I lean it right into a nook). And if it’s essential to scrub a few of that pace off, the hydraulic disc brakes are straightforward to modulate.

Disc brakes that I like however that my compadre Ed Hood likes to hate

Lastly — though not in regards to the bike per se — I’ve to say that I like the brand new Shimano Di2 Ultegra 8100 12-speed group set. It’s my first time driving Di2 and now I do know what the excitement about digital shifting is all about. The shifting is quick and certain.  Simply requires a lightweight faucet of the shift button. I haven’t had any mis-shifts however I’ve had a couple of events the place I needed to push the shift button greater than as soon as to get it to shift — so not 100% excellent (however nothing ever is). I particularly love how the rear derailleur may be programmed in order that whenever you shift the entrance chain ring, it strikes up or down two cogs (relying on whether or not you’re going from small-to-big or big-to-small up entrance) so that you simply’re in an analogous gear after shifting (I’ve forgotten that quite a lot of occasions and double-tapped the rear derailleur out of behavior, solely to search out myself within the completely mistaken gear).

The carbon fiber LOOK water bottle cages put a good squeeze on my Camelbak Podium water bottles

The LOOK out entrance pc mount attaches to the underside of the stem faceplate

What I’d change if it was my private bike

You wouldn’t anticipate a motorbike to be completely “excellent” out of the field (however the LOOK Blade 795 got here very shut, for me). There’s at all times one thing that both wants altering otherwise you need to change for private causes. Within the case of the LOOK Blade 795, the one factor that completely wanted altering was the stem. Once more, thanks to LOOK for accommodating me on that. However with that accomplished, it was/is 100% utterly ride-able and a pleasure to journey. I might definitely maintain driving it as-is with none complaints.

However a few of the issues I’d do if it was “my” bike:

• I’d go tubeless and put 700×28 (and even wider) rubber on the wheels for a #marginalgains extra comfy journey
• I’d change to oval chainrings — both Absolute Black or Rotor Q Rings (not that I’ve any points driving spherical rings) and downsize to a 50T massive ring, which might permit me to do extra climbs within the massive ring. The jury continues to be out on whether or not I’d maintain the 36T small ring. With the broader vary cassette, I believe I might with out giving up something when it comes to decrease finish gearing for climbing — however I’m positively having to push larger gears within the center vary of the cassette.
• I’d additionally change to a “bling” (both gold or iridescent aurora) KMC X12 chain as a result of … effectively … fashion factors
• The saddle doesn’t want changing but when I felt like splurging, I’d go excessive tech with one thing just like the 3D printed with carbon rails Shortfit 2.0 3D Racing saddle
• Maybe most significantly, I’d put my trademark #realmenridepink handlebar tape on it (plus followers/riders of a sure classic will do not forget that the likes of Laurent Jalabert and Alex Zulle rode pink LOOK KG 171 carbon fiber bikes for the ONCE crew within the mid-90s)

#realmentridepink

Yeah … the spherical chainrings must go. And the “blah” chain.

I do know black is gorgeous, however my choice can be pink handlebar tape

Channeling my internal Badger

As of this writing, I’ve logged over 1,300 miles on the LOOK 795 Blade that I’ve affectionately nicknamed “The Badger” (Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond rode the carbon fiber KG 86 — LOOK’s first bike — within the 1986 Tour de France). Using it, the voice in my head is the phrase attributed to Hinault: “So long as I breathe, I assault.” The LOOK 795 Blade is a go-fast bike that simply makes you need to go quick.

L’Americain et Le Blaireau driving first technology LOOK carbon fiber

To say that I like driving the LOOK 795 Blade can be an understatement of the primary magnitude. From espresso rides to epic rides and every part in between, it’s put a smile on my face and hasn’t upset. And there’s one thing to be stated for all the eye it garners. Useless horny.

One in all these is useless horny and it’s not me

Nonetheless life … at relaxation post-ride (on this case, for tacos)

A closing be aware: After greater than a decade absence from the WorldTour ranks, search for LOOK bikes within the professional peloton subsequent 12 months. On October twenty sixth, LOOK and Cofidis introduced a multi-year sponsorship deal beginning in 2023. The partnership brings collectively an iconic French biking model and a prestigious French biking crew, with Cofidis males’s UCI WorldTour crew, ladies’s Continental Professional Group and UCI Paracycling Group set to make use of LOOK bikes and pedals plus CORIMA wheels.

Click on right here to discover a LOOK seller.

NOTE: You probably have different experiences with gear or one thing so as to add, drop us a line. We don’t declare to know every part (we simply suggest it at occasions). Give us a pat on the again in the event you just like the critiques or a slap within the head in the event you really feel the necessity!

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