It took several attempts to set up a pickup time for a review of Cycling Edge's entry level Parlee, Z4, with the co-owner; Peter Kyriakidis. The source of our frustration was finding a time both suitable in our busy schedules. Taking the Parlee away to our November Bright Boot Camp would have been ideal, but this was not to be the case. We did manage a time a week later. I arrived one morning at 8am to swap out my trusty racer for the Z4. Now this bike is like no other entry level off the shelf bike. In fact, this particular Parlee was really highly specked with the only entry level components being stock standard 3Tstem and Deda bars. With quick switch of pedals and a slight adjustment to the seat height I'm away.

Any Parlee from Cycling Edge is really a custom built bike. Cycling Edge imports the frames, assemble the wheels by hand and build the bikes up from scratch. This means that you'll get to choose every single part that goes on these bikes. The Parlee I rode had a weight well under the UCI limit and is one of Cycling Edge's demo bikes. Thanks Peter for letting me ride it!


Parlee - the speed machine! Sorry Peter but you can't have it back.


Edge Composites 1.68 wheels


DT Swiss Hubs

The weight of this Parlee was really quite impressive especially seeing as the wheels were the deepest I've ridden except for my own Zipp 909 disk. The Edge Composites 1.68 tubular wheels provided with this demo Parlee are quite deep and once up to speed these wheels really sing, literally. Like with any deep rimed wheels, the faster these wheels go the more they sound like you are riding an F-11 fighter jet. The great thing about these Edge Composites 1.68  wheels (apart from being really fast and sounding great) is that they are light, strong and aero. This is quite unique. For along time aero wheels have been heavier than their non-aero counterparts. This has created two distinct wheel categories. A light low profile wheel set for climbing and a heavier deep profile wheel for flat courses. Not with these custom built wheels from Cycling Edge. Edge Composites use patented manufacturing processes that makes them really stiff and light. Now, with a total weight for the set of 1150gms, you only need one set of wheels for climbing and flat courses. They also are strong enough for the heavy cornering and braking demanded in a criterium and have no rider weight limit. Along the flat these wheels accelerate up to 50+km/h from 45km/h without much effort. This is something that has always plagued heavier aero wheels, that is, getting them up to speed due to their inertia. Cycling Edge's custom built Edge 1.68 wheels are also special for another reason. They are built up from DT Swiss 240 hubs and Aerolite spokes. These DT Swiss hubs are the hubs for any top end bike wheel.

Finally, one added touch was the quick release. The DT Swiss ones were swapped out for substantially lighter Parts of Passion (POP-products) 39gm quick releases. Nice touch Cycling Edge!  


Pop Products Quick Releases - Nice

I then focused my attention on the other components. Handlebars and stem were a mix of standard 3T and Deda. The seat and pillar is quite standard too. The Campagnolo 10-speed record groupset provided the usual legendary crisp changing and race proven ultra reliability that you would expect from Campagnolo. The Campagnolo brakes fitted with special brake blocks for the carbon rims did their job. So what makes this bike so light? Well apart from the wheels it's the Parlee frame at 890gms. And what a frame.


Bonded Cable stops. Much better than pot riveted (image (c) road cycling UK)

Under its classic styling this frame uses some of the most modern carbon manufacturing processes available in the world… Much thought and consideration has gone into the design of this frame. Parlee's design is simple, sticking to the proven round tubes and advanced joining techniques. This is contrary to the current trend in frame design... With manufacturers all trying to outdo each other by applying an excessive use of curves, bulges and tapered tubes in an effort to set themselves apart. Parlee use a composite of tube and lug joining techniques with enhanced carbon rap over mitred and butt bonded joints. Keeping the design simple has enabled them to ensure that carbon is placed only where it is needed for strength rather than for show. This enables them to produce a stronger and lighter frame than a lot of other frames on the market today.


Standard 3T Stem and Deda bars - not weighing down this bike!

Parlee's frame is made up of a single composite of the top tube, head tube and down tube. Same for the bottom bracket and chainstays. This enables these components to be created really stiff. These are then bonded to the roll-wrapped compression moulded tubs of the seat tube and seat stays. The frame is all built by hand from hand picked carbon. Cable guides are bonded to the tubes, not pop riveted like many other frames. This ensures the integrity of the tubes remain intact. Jared Bailey told me that carbon doesn't like holes drilled into it. The front derailleur is fixed to the frame using a very special carbon bracket that Parlee make themselves. It solves the problem of attaching front derailleur to carbon frames by distributing the clamp pressure over a greater area. The two other methods being an alloy derailleur clamp and the pop riveted derailleur hanger. Both good methods for aluminium, titanium or steel frames but aren't that great for thin performance carbon frames.


Parlee's Special Front changer Clamp (from Parlee's Website)

Yes, All I can say was it was a special ride. Comfortable, stiff (for sprinting), cornered really well and felt like you have a solid bike underneath you. What more would you want in a high performance frame? The Parlee Z4 brings out the best that you can get from carbon material.

8am the following day it was time to part with "my" Parlee and hand it back. Well it felt like mine. It's such a great bike that I wanted so much to just ride past Cycling Edge's shop and just forget about the drop-off. But Peter was there, waiting outside for me. Damn, sprung!

Cycling Edge stock a variety of premium quality bikes and bicycle components that can be tailored to your needs with complete Parlee's starting from $6,950. They are located at 248 Coventry Street, South Melbourne. Call Jared Bailey on 03 9645 0775 or 0400 138 000 to book a test ride. Their website address is www.cyclingedge.com.au.