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I am in the market for a new summer road bike later this year and I was going to buy an off the shelf canyon/spesh/trek etc, but having done some research, if I compromise in some areas a Parlee maybe affordable. It will mean no DI2, and not as good finishing kit, but a parlee frame and the rest of it can be upgraded with time. And the frame makes the bike, or do the components make the bike ? I don’t know I have seen it argued both ways !
I would be looking at putting mechanical Ultrega on it and possibly hunt wheels. But are the frames better than other mass market frames ? Do you notice a difference in ride quality? I want the bike for 100 mile sportive type riding, on Uk roads! A comfortable set up is priority for me.
Any Parlee owners about ?
But are the frames better than other mass market frames ?
Unlikely.
I doubt you'd get and noticeable different ride quality over a mass market bike for a similar discipline. You would get a personal sense of pride in owning a parlee though.
A roady mate has a parlee (along with several other high end bikes) , it come out in the summer but he usually rides a Venge as his go too road bike.
Personally I wouldn't spend more than 2k on an 'off the shelf' bike as I enjoy the sourcing of specific parts and building a one of a kind bike up. This then adds to the enjoyment factor of riding the bike. But I doubt it adds any actual tanagable performance benifits.
Can't really see how anyone can improve much on a modern high end Tarmac or Supersix for perceivable ride quality, modern bikes like this are by all means exceptional... if they suit your end use. If I wanted something less mainstream and a bit special I'd buy a Colnago....but then if I wasn't racing and valued ride quality and comfort over everything else I'd buy a nice Titanium bike, with big tyres for UK roads....After all if you're not racing and not on super smooth roads then why does one need an overly stiff pro level race bike anyway, which is the conclusion I've come to after 20 years of riding the wrong kind of bike for my broken roads...
I’ve got an Altium and an old Z5c. Both have SRAM Red on them, old cool mechanical and reliable. Both kitted out with MavM40C’s. Stem & Bars are both Parlees Aero, so too seat post.
I like Parlee, I bought my first (the Z5) back in 2010 and it’s still brilliant. The Altium was new in 2016, and is a teeny bit heavier but quicker and stiffer in a straight line. The Z5 is set up as a climbers bike and the Altium as a Classics 1-day’er.
Can’t fault the build quality on either, the Z5 has had a hard life bouncing up and down Northern Italian lumps and other than regular maintenance it’s been flawless.
The Altium has been ace, mostly South Downs flint/grit covered with the occasional long distance efforts run by my club. It’s a bit harsher, stiffer, hard to compare because I’ve not ridden “aero” bikes much, but it’s less aero more fast classics bike.
I’ve got a Cervelo R5c too, that’s a weight weeny setup with same Red and Mav as the others.
I have thought over the years to get rid of the Z5. I bought the R5c to replace it, but the bikes are lovely so it’s still with me.
You may get some detractors about the cost, but that’s their problem not yours. Buy and ride what you like IMO.
HTHs