Competitive Cyclist

LOOK 585 ORIGIN

Many ignore the Look 585 Origin because it is the dispossessed king of the Look frame line, nudged to the second step by the 595. This doesn't mean it is a lesser steed -- not in the least. The 585's race pedigree is equally prodigious as the 595. In its farewell Tour de France, the 585 was piloted by Thor Hushovd to the final green jersey in Paris. It climbed up the general classification leader board with Christophe Moreau, finally settling into 11th. While the 595 came on the scene in 2006, the 585 has remained in the ProTour race stable. Team Cofidis, even in 2009, pulled it out for race duty, mostly in rainy races contested on cobblestones and/or dirt roads (think cobbled classics, think L'Eroica). The frame is a bit more compliant thanks to a traditional seatpost rather than mast, and though it accepts a maximum tire width of 25mm, just like the 595, there is more clearance for dirt to pass between the tires and frame.

There is really very little that separates the 585 from the 595. It shares the same geometry. It is barely heavier. It comes with a Look Ergo seatpost rather than an integrated seat mast. It is just as vertically compliant though not quite as laterally stiff. And for many, it is the better choice. There's no denying that integrated seat masts, like the one on the 595, provide tangible ride benefits. But sometimes sticking with tradition is what matters and the 585 is the quintessential Look race bike.

In terms of the ride differences, they are real, but the technology that goes into both frames is the same. The 585 has a 1 1/8" diameter steerer tube all the way through. The tube shapes are a bit more traditional, with the tubes being more rounded, highlighting a slightly more conservative aesthetic. The rear triangle possesses Look's "Double Curve Technology" wishbone seat stays; bowed a bit to improve vertical compliance and then curved laterally to maximize lateral rigidity. And the price, well... there, the 585 is comfortably ahead.

Pez Cycling News called this bike Look's Climbo-Sprinter. The Pezzer got the bike down below the UCI weight limit without going for delicate parts, and this was before 7900/Campy11/Red and carbon clinchers were on the scene. Possibly as important, you can see from the review where Look hasn't just let the 585 stand still. They replaced the traditional integrated headset with their Head Fit 2 threaded top cap for greater strength and reliability and less weight. They also added a front derailleur tab to further lighten the bike and reduce the chance of over-clamping the front derailleur on the frame. The fork has been built to meet tough European Union standards for front-end impacts.

The fork, Look's HSC5 SL, uses monocoque construction down to the compressed carbon dropouts. It is identical to the construction of the HSC6, the only difference being that the head tube diameter doesn't expand to 1 1/4" by the fork crown. The fork weighs 325g uncut.

The rear dropouts are also highly compressed carbon, made at the same time as the frame and are designed for both greater strength and light weight. The derailleur hanger is replaceable. The same thinking goes into the front derailleur "braze-on." The mount is actually riveted to the seat tube and replaceable; it is there so people can't over-torque their front derailleur clamp and crack the seat tube, it saves weight, can be repaired in case of disaster, and allows frame designers more flexibility when designing tubing and lug shapes.

The Look 585 Origin comes with the Look Ergopost 4, which is 300mm in length, 27.2mm in diameter, has 15-45mm of setback, and weighs 180g. A seatpost clamp is included. Also included are matching cable housings, in-line cable adjusters, and a black bike cover. Look warranties the frame for five years; the paint and finish have a one-year warranty. The bottom bracket is English threaded. Claimed frame weight of the Look 585 Origin is 990g for a size S.

 Share this Page

2010 Look 585 Origin Pricing

2010 Look 585 Origin Geometry

Size	Seat Tube c-c	Seat Tube c-t	Actual Top Tube	Effective Top Tube	Head Tube	Seat Angle	Head Tube Angle
49	44.0	49.0	50.6	52.0	11.2	74.5	71.5
51	45.0	51.0	51.7	53.0	12.5	74.5	72.0
53	49.0	53.0	53.2	54.5	14.8	73.75	73.0
55	50.0	55.0	54.9	56.0	15.6	73.75	73.0
57	54.0	57.0	56.4	57.5	18.2	73.0	73.0
59	55.0	59.0	58.0	59.0	19.8	73.0	73.0