I have a chance to possibly trade my 596 for a shiv but do I want to? I love my 596 and I feel it is a super unique bike. The 596 can adjust to any configuration I want and I have sold my 08 felt da to buy the 596 which has the same cut out basically. So my question is…should I stop thinking about this?
IMO, yep.
a great bike is a great bike. if you have a great setup, feel confident on it, ride fast, then don’t fall into the trap of always looking at the other bikes out there. Ride your ride til you have a good reason to start looking around.
just my own personal opinion, tho.
The Shiv is a way faster bike. If you fit it, there really is not much to think about.
except the 596 looks seriously bad!
except the 596 looks seriously badass!
FTFY.
OP - yeah, just decide one way or another and stop thinking about it. i can sympathize though because i agonize over every little decision. my impression is that frame drag is pretty marginal compared to a lot of other stuff…so if you already have a good bike and a good setup, there’s not a whole lot to be gained. i agree that the look is rarer and more interesting.
but if it’s an even trade and you absolutely want to go as fast as possible, then just do it.
I don’t disagree that the Shiv is likely a faster bike; I disagree that anyone knows certainly the “Shiv is a way faster bike.”
I only think this because I know a small frontal area certain helps in aerodynamics and this is small:
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/Look-596/LG/look59620.jpg
Also, they use a downtube about 30mmx80mm deep, deep 3/1 seatstays.Who knows how it really performs aerodynamically.
The Shiv is just a better bike for triathlon.
Shiv!!
I have a 596 the 2009 model in red it was my dream bike. and I also thought about the Shiv for a short while.
The 596 is a unique bike it is fast no doubt may be the Shiv is marginally faster in a wind tunnel but the LOOK is a piece of art. the look is also very well thought out bike and practical. with rear brake and seat tube not too close etc.
do you fit the same on both? the 596 is very adjustable.
I decided to stay with my LOOK as I know when I go to a race not many if any will be riding it but every man and his dog will soon be riding a Shiv. It is also a bit of gimmick bike with the drink bladder and stuff. soon the P5 will be out then what will you do?!
Just enjoy the 596
There is a lot more to triathlon than the pure physical and technical aspects of the sport, there is also the emotional side to consider. If your livelyhood depends upon it you will want to have the very best technical equipment, the truth is for the pro’s is most do not but have some very good stuff with which to race. If you feel you are 5 minutes off qualifying after years of trying for you dream Kona slot and think this will make the big difference there may be a point in changing machines. If not and you are happy with your current bike, which is a fantastic bike, then stick with it. I could never sell a bike. As a result I have some decent carbon machines but my favorite is still a custon hand made Italian machine with a Campagnolo Chorus/Record groupset, Mavic GP4 wheels and Cinelli bars and stem etc… When the sun is out I take it for a spin once or twice a year. It took me a lot of effort to save up for it and took months to build in 1980. Its not the fastest bike but together we have been on some memorable rides and the emotional connection will always remain with this my first ever proper racing bike.
The job of marketing is to try and make us believe the new thing on the block is that much better. It might well be but how much? We can either own products or go further and have a relationship with them. Some products elicit a stronger emotional response than others. I own a very good and expensive specialized road bike, Roubaix SL3 Expert, which I think is very good. However it will never have that unique thing called European quirkiness which defines the difference between French and Italian bikes for example. If I had the choice from scratch I think I would choose the 596 for the simple reason we would have a lot of miles worth of training in front of us and I would need something I could relate to when the weather is hard and the bike needs to get me home.
When I kick your butt next year and you get the shiv you will have no exscuses ;0)
.
If you are married, and happy with your wife, would you trade her in for something a LITTLE flashier and younger?
remember, you are HAPPY with your current wife.
Why risk it?
.
IMO, yep.
a great bike is a great bike. if you have a great setup, feel confident on it, ride fast, then don’t fall into the trap of always looking at the other bikes out there. Ride your ride til you have a good reason to start looking around.
**just my own personal opinion, tho.
Mine, too. I’ve spent waaayyy too much time and money buying and selling bikes because I was looking for the edge. I have a bike that fits well and will ride it until it splits apart…and I will try and get it fixed before buying another.
My first tri bike was a Fuji Aloha. In retrospect, I probably could have kept it and still gone just as fast…
Surprised no one asked this yet… why are you looking to change bikes? Any specific reasons would probably help the answers you will get.
Would a Shiv be faster? Maybe, but enough of a difference to change bikes, well, that needs to be up to you.
Personally, I love my 596… a great balance between efficiency and comfort. The 596 is fast enough for me (the bike is definitely not the limiting factor…)
The Shiv is a way faster bike. If you fit it, there really is not much to think about.
Spoken like a true STer 
The Shiv is a way faster bike. If you fit it, there really is not much to think about.
Spoken like a true STer
Your bike will change from time to time. Race RESULTS last forever. So get the faster bike!
If you are married, and happy with your wife, would you trade her in for something a LITTLE flashier and younger?
remember, you are HAPPY with your current wife.
Why risk it?
If she rides faster, YES. In a heartbeat.
The job of marketing is to try and make us believe the new thing on the block is that much better.
…
I own a very good and expensive specialized road bike, Roubaix SL3 Expert, which I think is very good. However it will never have that unique thing called European quirkiness which defines the difference between French and Italian bikes for example.
It would seem the job of marketing is also to convince you that just b/c a bike has a European label on it, it is somehow quirky/unique, compared to a bike made by an equally well-qualified person/company in Asia or US. 
I get what you are saying but I do think there is a reality about European bikes which is a bit more than marketing. I own a specialized road bike, a Trek OCLV from the US Postal era, a Specialized stumpjumper, I even drive a Honda Integra Type R all of which declares my engineering background. I do believe that any American or Far Eastern company are looking to build and are qualified to design the most functional machine they can. Once they find that point I feel they stop there, happy in what they have achieved. In contrast I believe the average designer in Italy and France is trying to do the same however they are also trying to include another ingredient ‘flair’ and at times they let this consideration overide practical concerns. If these flair details make the product a little less competitive either through functionality or through economics so what they have a reputation to maintain.
In the States you might have to use marketing to push this concept, here in Europe there is very little in the way of marketing needed as there is such a strong cultural vein in cycling. Growing up as a young racing cyclist all I ever wanted was an Italian road bike. I saw some fantastic British hand built machines but once you saw your first Colnago it was love at first sight, rich paintwork, hand linned cut out lugs, chromed stays, things cycling dreams are made off. At times you design and make things a certain way because it is the ‘right’ thing to do, at other times you bend the rules because you ‘have’ too.
If you are married, and happy with your wife, would you trade her in for something a LITTLE flashier and younger?
remember, you are HAPPY with your current wife.
Why risk it?
If she rides faster, YES. In a heartbeat.
what if the old one makes you want to ride more often?
or the new one is better at longer and harder efforts? or more sprint workouts?
perhaps there is a argument to be made for having multiple ‘bikes’?