Look KG171 - "Neo/Retro(?)" build

Hello,

As a long time lurker and feeding off the collective wisdom of this wonderful community, I thought I should throw something back in finally (also, perhaps a good way to more actively draw out some knowledge and advice..!).

I picked up a pretty much NOS Look KG171 frame a couple weeks back and have been super excited about building it up. It's my first bike build (the most I've ever done before is change some shifters), so I've had a pretty steep learning curve.

It's not really a 'retro' frame given it's carbon and from the 90s (does 90s count as retro?) - I have been looking out for a nice steel frame (soft spot for Look 753 or Colnago Master, but they're tough to find and even harder to buy), but when this came along, I couldn't really resist the impulse.

So I wasn't sure what to build it up with, but after a bit of looking around, am settling in on a Campy 10-speed Record groupset. I guess that's the "neo" part of this build. Seems a very pretty set, with lots of black carbon bits to match the frame, modern enough so it's decently fast, and at a price point on eBay that is surprisingly friendly. Managed to pick up a pair of shifters and rear mech, so I'm off at a canter already.

No doubt I'll have plenty of questions to ask people (I've already read more than I knew existed about "square taper bottom brackets"), so please be nice! :)

I will do my best to keep this thread updated!

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This is the groupset I'm after - minus perhaps a few bits (e.g. the frame came with a Look ergopost, which I'll keep over the Record post). eBay searches have been set up!

Open questions:

1. What wheels to put on? Initial budget-friendly option might be Campy Zondas?
   
2. Finishing kit - need a quill stem and suitable drops to fit. Question-mark on tape colour...
   
3. It would be sacrilege to put anything other than Look pedals on here, right?
   
4. I would like the Record CT compact cranks on here, and possibly a wide-range cassette - keen on taking this alpine climbing
   
   

[edit to add the photo which was too big last time]

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Really nice frame! iirc those cranks weren't made in compact, 110bcd. I'd search for some of these:

Also because outboard BB's are nicer imo.

As for the cockpit I'd go for a black cinelli stem and some 26.0 compact bars.
Black flite and black bar tape.

What are you going to do for wheels?

They were made as compacts

Not the prettiest Campag made though! Ultra Torque models look better indeed ^^^

Oh yes. Exited for this. That groupset / frame combo. This gunno be good.

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as @Carabo mentioned, they were indeed made as compacts, though apparently quite rare.. found a couple that sold recently on eBay, but otherwise it's very quiet out there.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191873098965
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291794159633

I might consider the UT versions, though I'd have to change my BB. The frame came with the square taper BB fitted already so was hoping to go with that.. Also while I agree the newer crank shape looks better, I dislike that they lost the cursive Campagnolo brand for the all-capital CAMPAGNOLO lettering. Small details... :)

I like the idea of all-black cockpit.. other option is to play up the Look colour theme with yellow/blue/red - particularly yellow and red to match the stripes on seat tube. Though without visualising it, I can imagine it could end up very garish

Wheelset is my biggest question right now! My 'lets not be silly' budget is zoning in on Campy Zondas, although I may also have the option to pick up some rather pretty Hunt wheels. Open to any suggestions...

Fantastic frame and it's as you describe - looks great & a modern enough ride. Good choice of groupset (but £££?), interested in how this finishes up. As above, if you are keeping that headset then black quill looks good.

Campy Zondas aren't wide, Fulcrum racing 5 LG and Quattro LG are wide and a bit cheaper.

Go with a black quill and Deda Piega bars, cheap and lots of widths available from Wiggle!

And leave the cranks till last, if you can't find the square taper go with UT till some come up! You can always change/ keep/ sell whatever you want when the time comes!!

I dithered about wheels for a while on my Cervelo. Went for Zondas in the end and very happy with my purchase.

@dragulievic used Zondas on his Rossin build
https://www.lfgss.com/comments/13067561/

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys!

I dropped by Condor to pick up a test saddle - looked for the 1990 Flite (as per @nutsjesmoar suggestion), but they didn't have it - grabbed a fizik Aliante to sit on for the weekend.

Also here's a pic of the shifters and RD that I already have :)

@epilepticfridgeboy by my calculation I can source the whole groupset for under £350 second hand (I already have headset and BB after all).. but let's see how well the budget sticks!

@Budnz Zondas will still take 25mm tyres, no? How wide do I want the wheels? FR5 is on my list too, though I think preference is still on the Campy. Might depend on whether I can get a good price second hand, or have to go new..

@Ste_S thanks for the +1 on Zondas, and have been watching that thread too - beautiful build and am envious I can't stretch for the new Chorus set. Lots to glean from.

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That's a lovely frame and perfect choice of groupset as well. It needs some carbon wheels imo.

Zondas will take 25mm tyres. If you can get second hand good condition Zondas go for it.

Quick update - have bars and stem! Found a nice ITM pair that suit the sizing, style and colour I'm after.

9mm quill with little ITM pantographing and no other markings, and Super Italia Pro-2 bars. next up, some black tape I think...

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Subbed!

Coming together now! Almost have everything, just missing... well, wheels :P

Current lineup:

Frame + fork: Look KG171
Headset: Record
Stem: ITM alloy
Bars: ITM Super Italia Pro 2
Tape: Selcof cork
BB: Chorus 102mm
Cranks, Shifters, Brakes, RD: Campagnolo Record (2006)
FD: Super Record (late 70s)
Seatpost: Look carbon ergopost
Saddle: Fizik Aliante carbon braided (thanks @macaroon !)
Pedals: Look Keo Classic (thanks @EIIis47 !)
Cables etc: Wiggle's finest

Just need a few tools and some assemblying can happen!

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Also, I noticed there's a little grommet-type bolt thing on the inside of the drive-side seat stay. Haven't seen one of these before. Anyone know what it's for??

thanks!

Chain hanger... for when you want to remove the rear wheel. Stops it resting on the stay.

ahhh! thanks!

very clever

Update!

It's all come together now - a few "learning experiences" and a lot of fresh GT-85/grease, and we have a bike :D

This is the bike out on a test ride along Embankment

Some close ups:

Record compact crankset. That's a 70's Super Record FD, because it's just so much more beautiful than newer carbon components. Shifts beautifully. Pedals may offend, but it's because I haven't bought new shoes for the three-pin Look cleats yet :( so it's SPD-MTB until then!

Record at the back too. Yes, that is a 32t sprocket, and yes, I should HTFU. But until I do, this is my form of mechanical doping...

Record shifters up front. Yellow bartape was a bit of a bold move, and I'll have to balance it elsewhere (more on that later), but I think it works well. It also served a second, more important purpose - by being yellow instead of black, it significantly reduced the likelihood of this bike causing S-1.

Old school ITM quill stem and handlebars. The slim feel of the quill stem very pleasantly surprised me when wheeling the bike around (much nicer than the fat A stems I'm used to).

Hunt aero wide (31mm deep, 24mm wide) wheels, married to 25mm Schwalbe One tubeless. Record brakes front and back.

Fizik Aliante saddle. I'm thinking of spray painting those scuff guards yellow to match up to the tape and downtube decal...

The full rundown (some extra details for reference):
Frame + Fork: Look KG171 (53cm)
Wheelset: Hunt Race Aero Wide
Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Tubeless (25mm)
Bottom Bracket: Chorus (102mm English thread)
Headset: Record
Shifters: Record (2006 2x10 sp)
Brakes: Record Titanium (2006)
Crankset: Record CT (2006, 10sp, 170mm, 110bcd)
Chainrings: Record EPS 50/34
FD: Super Record (70's)
RD: Record (2006, standard cage)
Cassette: IRD 12-32t 10 speed
Chain: KMC X10-SL
Seatpost: Look carbon Ergopost
Saddle: Fizik Aliante (carbon braided)
Pedals: Look Keo Classic (Shimano SPD-MTB interim)
Stem: ITM quill stem 90mm
Bars: ITM Super Italia Pro-2 42cm
Misc: Selcof cork tape, Wiggle's Lifeline cables and brake outers, generic gear cables from Evans, generic downtube cable stops from Ribble,

For those who are interested - weighed this up at 8.1kg. If I spent £15 instead of £8 on bars, it would probably dip below 8kg. Happy with that.

The super eagle-eyed and technically savvy amongst you might have raised an eyebrow at the combination of 32t sprocket, 36 link capacity, and standard/short cage derailleur. The short answer is: it works. The longer answer I might elaborate in a separate post, as it's quite interesting and along the way I learned way more about chain lengths than I ever thought was possible...

To finish, in the words of Jean Bobet, "Tomorrow, we ride".

thanks for reading :)

Any chance of a perpendicular drive-side shot?

And one for the instagram.. combining Look, Campag Record, and Hunt in one

I have this shot, but the background and surrounding is so busy and distracting (spot my brother in the reflected living room?) I didn't want to put it up...

I'll grab a better shot over the weekend :)

@lleong that is absolutely lovely

Just to close it off, here's the side-on view :)

Also for @The_Kindness_of_Trees, who made the request :)

apologies for:

1. Drive crank not being in the "3 o'clock" position
   
2. Chain not in the big ring
   
3. Single bottle cage on downtube (I did have two cages on, but the cages I used managed to get in each other's way - what's the deal with bike builds and things you never thought of as possibly going wrong.. going wrong?)
   
   

thanks @inkleined for compliment, everyone who contributed, and anyone who's followed/read :)

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Looks brilliant! I'd level the saddle position and level the bars ever so slightly :)