The peloton of the one hundredth edition Tour de France is currently soaring towards L’Alpe d’Huez, with Team Cofidis attempting to make their mark upon their LOOK 695 bikes. LOOK’s titanium 282 frame represents a significant point in the company’s timeline, demonstrating the standard for quality and innovation that helped establish the French marque’s reputation.
LOOK has always been prominent at Le Tour, as much for the performance of their frames and components as their vivid livery and star riders such as Bernard ‘Le Blaireau’ Hinault. Who could forget the sight of Hinault, resplendent in the Mondrian-inspired jersey, in his constant battles with the press, the mountains and LeMond?
One of the breakthroughs that LOOK brought to the market were the pédales automatiques that contributed to Hinault’s 1985 Tour victory—the introduction of titanium to their model lineup was another. This immaculate example of the 282 is owned by Byskov, a Danish design engineer, whose appreciation for structural integrity fueled his love for the frame.
Byskov found the frame for sale on a forum in January and decided upon Campagnolo’s blackened Record gruppo to accentuate the titanium finish and bold decals. The engineering of Thomson’s Elite seat post and stem has already been proven and they’re matched here to a pair of Reynolds Attack Carbon Clinchers and LOOK forks.
Special thanks to Byskov for the photography. It’s actually his birthday today, so hopefully he was able to take his 282 Ti out for a ride to celebrate. That would make my day.