LOOK Cycle International started their company in 1951. Originally they made ski bindings, but in 1984 they switched gears and started production of the very first clipless pedal that revolutionized the cycling industry. In fact, the year after developing the first clipless pedal, Bernard Hinault made history by winning the Tour de France on the LOOK clipless pedals.
After the introduction of the clipless pedal, the buzz about LOOK was overwhelming. They had created something that all other companies like Campagnolo would attempt to emulate. Regretfully for these companies, they simply followed LOOK’s path and attempt to take over the market by designing their own clipless pedals. Then there were others who relied on LOOK to develop clipless pedals for them, of course putting their own brand names on the pedals. Take Mavic for example; for years, LOOK developed clipless pedals for Mavic. But then, in 2009, even Mavic threw down the gauntlet by stepping away from LOOK to design their signature Mavic SL Ti pedals. The SL Ti’s showed serious competition, but there was no way LOOK, the originator, would stand to be outdone by Mavic who came out of nowhere to shoot for the lead in the great pedal race. LOOK proved their superior design abilities and shot back up to introduce the all new 2010 Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals.
The Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals are the very pedals that LOOK gave to legendary cyclist Alberto Contador who pushed past the crowd to win the 2009 Tour De France. Contador is known for being a superior climber and with the Keo 2 Max Carbon pedals in his arsenal his pushing power was not wasted, it was transmitted directly to the bike for maximum efficiency resulting in another yellow jersey to add to his 2007 win; which, by the way, was also done on LOOK clipless pedals.
In addition to the leaps and bounds they made with their clipless pedal system, LOOK Cycle International is also the worldwide leader in carbon fiber frame technology. In the 80’s, when the cycling world went weight crazy on their bikes, LOOK brought carbon frames to the market. In an interview with Dominique Bergin, president of this legendary company, he spoke of how easy it was to build a lightweight bike frame, but too often they are too rigid if you don’t create them correctly. The end result will be a bike that is so stiff and uncompromising that it stifles the rider. Therefore, LOOK set their sights on building a frame that was not only lightweight, but one that the rider would benefit from as well. Nowadays, LOOK’s full range of road, track and time trial frames are made to the highest standard giving them the best stiffness to weight ratio.
One of the advancements LOOK made in creating their superior frames is the use of a new composite molding process called 'Carbone Forge'. This is where a range of pressures are used in the manufacture of various components. This results in varying levels of material density, which in turn affects weight and rigidity. This process is said to result in a BB shell that rivals aluminum in stiffness, but is a full 50 percent lighter
And, as has been tradition with LOOK Cycle International, when they created their first full carbon frame, they provided it to Greg Lemond, who went on to ride the LOOK carbon fiber frame to victory in the Tour de France that year. To this day, the LOOK frames are some of the best made and most stylish on the market.
In 1994, the ski and the cycle divisions separated, allowing LOOK Cycle to thrive in the development of frames, forks, chainsets, clothing and shoes. To this day, they are an independent, socially responsible company who has chosen to keep their head offices and the main factory in Nevers, France. They employ over 500 people who work day in and day out with a love and passion for delivering exceptional, high quality products to cyclists all around the world. Just take a LOOK at their track record of innovation, ingenuity, and excellence in design and you will see why LOOK products are sought after by the world’s most demanding and discriminating cyclists. Since their initial conception in 1951, LOOK has defined the standards for superior quality and reliability.
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