Parlee : Overview

Why we love PARLEE cycles

Bob Parlee and his team are obsessed with building the best racing bicycles in the world. Their ethos is to blend art and science; form and function.

The guys at PARLEE cycles are are constantly searching for perfection. Bob and his team will only ship a frame when its perfect. They are constantly looking to innovate and refine the way they construct the frames. They also look for the best engineering solution – not the cheapest or the easiest. When looking at the small details inherent in the frames – such as the Ti drop-outs and BB and the carbon cable stops – you appreciate just how much engineering talent goes into these frames. When your name is on the down tube, every detail better be right. And its easier to offer a lifetime guarantee on all your frames if you know the steps taken to produce such quality.

PARLEE takes advantage of the directional strength of carbon fiber by changing the orientation of the fibers in the tube lay-up producing tubes that resist twisting, yet still flex. In other words, Parlee builds tubes that have a rare combination of torsional strength and vertical compliance. PARLEE also takes advantage of carbon fiber’s ability to absorb higher frequency vibrations, without giving up strength or stiffness.

PARLEE’s proprietary lug design separates them from all other carbon fiber frame companies. The lugs are laid up by hand around mitered tubes, rather than being pre-formed, providing a direct carbon-to-carbon bond for stronger and lighter joints. The lugs are then cured with a combination of high pressure and temperature, virtually eliminating voids, delamination and resin pockets. Consequently the joints do not have the glue-lines that often result in a “dead” or “vague” feel.

PARLEE also uses a specific carbon fiber lay-up in each tube to optimize the stiffness of the frame while providing the desired ride quality. The lay-up dictates the tubes’ resilience and rigidity, shaping the overall feel of the bike.
The combined effect of these methods results in a refined ride and road feel that sets it apart from its competitors. Some say that it is impossible for a bike to be lightweight, responsive, stiff and comfortable at the same time. Ask any PARLEE rider, and he or she will say PARLEE Cycles achieves this unusual combination of exceptional performance and outstanding ride quality.