Parlee Cycles

[wgp]

It is now en route, thankfully - should be here some time next week I think.

Will look forward to seeing it built up - love the classic and timeless Z1 look. Personally, I can’t stand the “new fangled” sculpted Parlee styles now ...

[RichTheRoadie]

Will look forward to seeing it built up - love the classic and timeless Z1 look. Personally, I can’t stand the “new fangled” sculpted Parlee styles now ...

Well, here it is as ridden today:


Click for a bigger version

In future it'll probably most often wear these Lightweights (unless I decide to sell them) or my Boras, but I needed to use the Fulcrums today.

I'm probably also going to switch to a -8º or -10º stem. I put a Deda Superleggera on it after today's ride and that looks the ticket, so I'll probably stick with it. I'm undecided whether I follow my OCDs and change the post to a matching Deda one, or just keep the PMP and feel a bit itchy all the time...

This is one that I'd been watching on eBay for *an age*. The geo is in the right ballpark for me, but the HT always seemed too tall; and I wasn't entirely comfortable with how my saddle would look on a seatpost at my saddle height with the 72.5º seat angle. I got it down to a price that made it worth the gamble, so I took the plunge.

Part of the experiment for me was to be able to run a normal length stem (110mm) with a normal reach bar (circa 90mm). Why? Because I'm always having to force myself onto bikes with 70mm reach bars on account of not being comfortable running bikes with a 100mm (or less) stem. If you've never had reason to do the same, you won't understand that the difference between riding on the tops and the hoods doesn't feel like much of a change; which can be a problem - especially if you genuinely need to rest properly on the tops for a bit, or when you're cooked at the end of a ride.

I've also arrived at the conclusion that my migraines are related to posture and neck strain - some of which comes from riding bikes that are realistically too low for me. This helps resolve that (with the Deda that is on there now the bars are 2cm higher than recent builds); and gives me more room for future adjustment via higher angle stems and spacers (with a new fork) should the need arise.

Despite all of that, as pictured, the reach to the hoods is the same as I have run on most bikes in recent times. The saddle tip to bar center is 20mm shorter than I usually run - a massive difference but, with the longer reach bars, it has achieved what I wanted it to.

The ride of this thing has blown me away too. I'm prepared to accept that might be a bit of 'new bike elation', but I don't think it is - given that my last 3 builds (in as many months) have all been very firm race bikes, this is at least as responsive as all of them, yet smoother. Not bad for a 12-year-old bike...

[wgp]

Congrats on the score Rich - sounds like you got it for a good price. I had to wait literally years to find my Z1, but patience was rewarded. Enjoy it - they do indeed ride beautifully, even if they (your's and mine, which is a 2006) are "old" bikes!

[RichTheRoadie]

With Boras:

[oldmuthariley]

With Boras:

That looks very tasty and probably lightweight too...
What are the dimesions out of interest?- looks very well balanced.

[RichTheRoadie]

That looks very tasty and probably lightweight too...

Thanks! Rounding up, it's 7.1kg with the Boras on it. Not too shabby at all.

What are the dimensions out of interest?- looks very well balanced.

Surprised to hear you say it looks well balanced, but I'll take that! It's a bit of a freak geometry-wise in my opinion, but I kind of need that. If I remember rightly...

TT = 55cm
HT = 20.4cm
ST = 58cm c-to-c
SA = 72.5º
HA = 72.5º

My saddle setback isn't massive (7.5cm) hence being nervous about where the saddle would end up with the 72.5º SA, but it looks ok on the PMP post and will look even better on the incoming 4mm setback (so basically inline) WR Compositi. With the -12º stem there was basically no difference in the setup to my previous bikes which defeated the object, hence the Deda stem; which I think suits it quite nicely.

Fear of the unknown is plaguing my rides so I've ordered a new fork already. I went with a Pegoretti Falz v2 - which is an perhaps an odd decision, but it was the only raw carbon with gloss finish I could find and I know I like how the Falz rides, so I think it'll actually be a good choice. 1-1/8th forks are already becoming scarce and there's an assumption by the manufacturers that you'll want massive logos and matte carbon. Finding the Falz in gloss raw carbon with a small white logo made it an easy decision in the end.

[RichTheRoadie]

Oh, and 80mm BB drop.

[GrantM]

Not bad for a 12-year-old bike...

Looks great. My Z-1 is ten seasons old, still going strong, the best frame i've ever ridden.

-g

[cs124]

With Boras:

Hawt.
100% would ride.

[oldmuthariley]

I suppose well balanced as in an overall look - not necessarily the geometry.
V cool

[thomas]

Yeah, stretch out the top tube a few cm and I would be all over that. Still, it does look good, nothing weird about it visually.

[RichTheRoadie]

Yup, I mean it.

No, really, I do.

I DO!!

====================

EDIT: I'm saying that ^^ because the Insta post says:

"Bold statement time: If I ever make noises about selling this bike, shoot me. In the face. Twice. Preferably point blank. It ain’t ever gonna get better than this...

I’ve had 48 bikes since July 2003 - I might finally have found a keeper."

[thomas]

OK, so how is that different than the Marcelo? Other than in every way?

[RichTheRoadie]

OK, so how is that different than the Marcelo? Other than in every way?

Smoother, more responsive, more stable, fits better...

Tyre clearance was the only thing the Marcelo did better, but even then the fork limited me to 25mm (on the Z1 I’ll max out at 26mm at the back, but I’m fine with that).