Introduced in the year 2004 for the French Olympic track cycling team, the iconic LOOK KG 496 represented the finest in carbon frames for the next decade. Over twenty years later, it remains a rare, highly-coveted bike. I never thought I’d own one, but then I came across a frame set at the 2025 Westminster bike swap for pocket change. I had no idea what I’d do with it, but it wasn’t the kind of deal you pass up.
Sharp-eyed readers will have immediately recognized that this is not the track version of the KG 496. It’s the triathlon version, complete with derailleur hanger. It sat on my wall for a few months until I discovered the Origin8 Revolvr eccentric bottom bracket. This is an eccentric bottom bracket that is compatible with standard 68mm English-threaded bottom bracket shells and GXP cranks. It allows you to turn bikes with vertical drop-outs into single-speeds. Instead of using an external chain tensioner, the eccentric bottom bracket tensions the chain by moving the crankset forward to take up any slack. With this nifty gadget in hand, I ordered some new parts and got to work on a fun spring project. Read on for more photos and build details…
The eccentric bottom bracket requires a GXP or Hollowtech crankset, so I went with a SKEACE track set with a 48T chainring. It’s a copy of the classic SRAM Omniums; heavy but stiff. I threw some spacers on the freehub and a CNC’d aluminum single-speed 22T cog, paired to an Izumi NJS Super Toughness 1/8″ chain. I could have gone full-fixed gear, but I didn’t have a set of Aerospokes with track hubs. A set of generic carbon riser bars, rim brakes, and black leather grips by Masterpista finished off the build.
Of course, I have to mention the wheelset. I have several sets of Aerospoke road wheels in my shop right now, and grabbed this mismatched second-generation set that looked perfect with the frame. The earliest Aerospokes have very svelte “spokes,” and in later generations, they got thicker. I place “gen 2” in the early 1990s, and the “spokes” are still noticeably thinner than those on 2000s-era wheels They are still “boat anchors” – so heavy that the wheelset weighs more than the frame! Visually, they look really cool with this build, but they also add a speed penalty. Combined with the easy gearing and potholed NYC streets, they made sense for the kind of city riding I did on it.
The ride was predictably stiff and fast. The 48/22 combo was pretty laid-back, but good for cruising around the city. The famous LOOK “Ergostem” allows you to dial in the fit perfectly, and I was even able to achieve a little saddle-to-bar drop despite the fact I’m only a few years short of 50 these days. Handling was twitchy, but the frame feels steady and balanced when accelerating. I left the handlebars fairly wide, which added stability. For an unforgiving ride like this, I would have preferred a softer set of grips. The Masterpista grips look great, but are just black leather over hard plastic.
I crisscrossed Brooklyn and Queens on this bike all spring and summer of 2025. All-day rides to the Rockaways, taking in sunsets over Jamaica Bay. Group rides to Coney Island (shoutout Ridgewood Rides!) and late nights coming back from shows. It’s a true “if you know, you know” bike, with a big heap of cheese on top. At the end of the summer, I sold it to make room for my next project. I hope I see it on the streets again one day.