Parlee Bicycle Frames
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Parlee's website claims that they build the finest carbon fiber bikes in the world. We agree. That was easy, wasn't it?
Here is an excerpt from their website:
In these days of mass production, the PARLEE team builds high performance carbon frames one at a time, by hand, to the exacting standards of Bob Parlee. Each design element reflects intensive engineering, a master craftsman's attention to detail and an artist's eye for design.
Every part of a PARLEE frame is designed and produced in the United States. PARLEE frames are 100% hand-built in Peabody Massachusetts. Our taleted team of craftsmen are bike enthusiasts impassioned by the PARLEE mission to build the world's finest carbon fiber bikes.
Here is another excerpt from the Parlee website:
Bob Parlee oversees the production of each PARLEE frame. His design philosophy integrates both science and art. With his attention to detail and a continuing goal to balance form and function, Bob has succeeded in building the lightest, most responsive, best performing frames in the world.
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 us 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.
We work very closely with Parlee to provide you with what we do best, the proper fitting of the bike down to the millimeter, and what they do best, which is an absolute custom built work of art. Our Precision Laser fitting process allows us to accurately design the bike from the locations of the handlebars, saddle and crankset. Parlee has the ability to then produce a frame that fits exactly within those locations. They also know enough about bike frame design to help us deal with compromises when dealing with the small rider on a bicycle. We have successfully worked with them to design a bike for small women that still performs like Tour de France racing machine yet is extremely comfortable with a very short toptube.
Parlee uses SolidWorks 3D CAD software to build their frames in the computer before any carbon tubes are cut. We like this, particularly since Kevin Saunders has 8 years experience in SolidWorks from his industrial design past. This extra level of engineering and design capability make Parlee the carbon fiber leader in our books, hands down.
Rear view of AX Lighness caliper.