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@Dan_W
(Shit photo, apologies)
Latest project that's been on the back burner for a while now...
I picked up this blue Look KG196 frame after a bit of textbook drunk ebaying. I've got a fair few components in the parts bin which I thought I was going to be able to use, though I think I might attack it properly and dress it up with new stuff (though if I can use some existing bits, all the better).
The Look KG196 is one of my favourite frames (eva) though most of them on a google image search, frankly, look shite. I think this Velo Ciao example (with spinergys and red contacts) was a standout example of what one can look like with a bit of thought (and dollar).
Essentially though I think the silver period correct stuff looks shit next to the crabon goodness of the frame, and my plan is to dress the frame with nice (well, not nice relative to the classic campag stuff ofc, but for this project...) carbon everything.
The original idea was to stick di2 on it, though it was always going to look a little out of place owing to using Shimano gear (not normally a problem, though Look IS so classiccy European it would alwyas be less preferable to Campag). and having to use a dummy cable outer for the (lack of) second gear cable on one of the sides (or just have the blank outer) wouldn't be too hot. Either way without a hell of a lot of work, getting one di2 cable down the liner of the frame isn't happening. So were going cables, which allows me to go for a funky nicer carbonier Campag number.
I'm an unashamedly whopping fan of matchy matchy everything (materials and colours/logos), and as few different brand names as possible. Of the logos I do want to see, there's little reason not to go with Frenchy stuff if I can (Basically Corima and Mavic I'm looking at you here) (though no, not a Mavic groupset...). So to finish the bike, I need to make some decisions based on what's available for what part (e.g. 25mm seatposts can>>>>>), tho will be slightly restricted by hopefully finding components that fit from as few brand sources as possible. If I can't find a part that fits with the correct brand, as it's carbon, I'll just get an unbranded carbon version from aliexpress or wherever (and maybe get busy with some stickers...). The colours of the frame (bold blue with red/yellow/grey) accents would be great to get flashes of on the trim (eg the red bits on Campag Centaur or Record would be a nice touch, and Mavic/Corima yellow bits would also look swish.)
Thoughts on overall, erm, look of the finishing kit boil down to 3 choices: Full 3k (basically the 'classic' carbon appearance) carbon weave (would fit in ith the 'shit it's the 90's and we've just discovered carbon'), 3k carbon weave with Aluminium trim (probably the easiest to find matching bits for - as appealing though?), UD (i.e. plain) carbon (and therefore bringing in black aluminium for any finishing kit (I have UD matte wheels I could nick from my CX spare wheels)). Played these finishings out a fair bit in my head and none of them have every part in that finish (for a reasonable price), though have noted some thoughts out loud on the various bits required to complete here...
Stem - At risk of alienating myself, I'm going to put it out there: Ergostems are shit. They look like you've just robbed Cyclefit and are a whopping unnecessary faff. The 196 is made for one (figuratively and literally) so I'll probably begrudgingly keep it, though if I can't find a 31.8 example I may see if I can fit a different stem. The one as on the bike as it is is the unbranded silver aluminium one (for 25.4 or so diameter handlebars), so it loses out if I want to go for the full 3k or UD carbon (i.e. as little silver alumiunium as possible) look, AND I'll have to use piddly handlebars (which won't be all bladey and aeroey like the rest of the bike, AND have that "swallowed a worm" look when I run the cables under the bartape. There is an alternative solution of a pikey adjustable stem that can (might be able to, dimensions of bits tbc) be attached to the front bit of the ergostem, though that would be an anachornism unless it was more square than the normal round shape.
Seatpost - Another small bone of contention - even the native ergo seatpost (that's on all 196's) on the frame doesn't really sit well with me - it's a round 25mm hole that rises up to a normalish looking bladed seatpost, but the seat clamp area is huge and looks like you've used a tonne of shims to use the specific look seatpost. There is another solution in a Corima ellipse seatpost that looks a little better though they're tough to find (unless the one as sold here http://www.lfgss.com/thread118470.html becomes available again? TM?...hma???). Both those options allow an overall colourway of 3k carbon (with silver alu finishings), which may then get the nod ahead of the UD/Black alloy.
Groupset - Record or Centaur. If only because they have red flashy bits, and gives me a nice hi or low ball gs to think about depending on how deep $$$ wise I want too go.
Wheels - I have in the parts bin, a 3k 45mm rim with an alu braking surface which I was hoping to use (and would look ok with the 3k carbon groupsets above), though the HHSB part of my persona would also wonder about carbon 4 spokes (and maybe a disc...). Or I could get new full (regular spoked) carbon wheels (I've never been a fan of the atstetics of a alu braking surface) for a few hundred off aliexpress (and they may find a Corima or Mavic sticker on the way...)
That's about it for now, plenty of thinking to be done. If anyone knows of someone with carbon campag Record (or Centaur Red/Black) that's not needed anymore do let me know!