No Compromise 16 lbs Parlee Ouray
Ready to Take on Pavement or Gravel and Under 16 LBS
Recently, we collaborated with a client on a race-oriented multi-surface project. The result was one of the lightest and smoothest gravel-capable bikes one can ride. Ready to ride with pedals, bottle cages and wide tires, the bike weighs just 16 lbs. How did we achieve this?
The Parlee Ouray Frame
Since everything begins with the frame, the platform used is the new Parlee Ouray. We posted about the new Ouray in June. With a frame weight in a size medium of only 830 grams while providing one of the most generous fit windows on the market, the Ouray is an exceptional way for many riders to get a superlight frame without compromising on fit. When Parlee was revisiting their road and gravel offerings, they decided to move production from China to Europe. The expertise of their new partner, combined with Parlee’s design knowledge, results in a frame that is polished enough to be released in a nude finish. Eliminating paint not only saves weight but also creates a striking appearance for the bike.
The Component Group
Knowing that lightweight and functionality were the two primary goals of the bike, the new 2025 SRAM RED AXS HRD group was an easy choice. Introduced in June of this year, SRAM RED AXS is not only the lightest electronic shift group on the market, but it features significant performance upgrades in hood shape and braking performance from other offerings as well. The total weight of the group set is 1499 grams. When the groupset was officially released, we published a post detailing the changes. You can read it here.
Saddle & Cockpit
The Fizik Adaptive R1 saddle has proven to be comfortable for many riders while also being lightweight. The Parlee carbon seat post that came with the frameset is light, proven, and matches the ride of the frame well. While Parlee provides a number of cockpit options from FSA and Shimano, the Shimano Pro Vibe Evo cockpit was selected for this build due to the aesthetics, design, and fit. The Pro Vibe features internal routing and an aerodynamic design and Shimano’s modular design of this cockpit allowed us to select the appropriate stem length and handlebar width for the rider. Additionally, Shimano included shims that enable a 4-degree angle adjustment on the stem, providing extra fit versatility.
Berd Wheels
Berd wheels won both the men’s and women’s mountain bike gold at the Paris Olympics under Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock. For this build, we selected the Berd Sparrow Carbon wheelset, featuring Dyneema spokes laced to Talon hubs, paired with Rene Herse Barlow Pass tires. The Sparrow wheelset is designed specifically for gravel riding. Dyneema is a polyethylene fiber that boasts an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio. Furthermore, the inherent vibration-damping properties of Dyneema help to smooth out bumps on the road. Remarkably, these wheels weigh only 1,108 grams for a pair, saving about 1/2 a pound of rotating mass when compared to some of the most established high-end wheels on the market. Stay tuned for a more in-depth discussion about this company shortly.
What About the Ride of the Ouray
As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Our client took his first voyage straight from the shop. His email that evening started with “Bike is amazing. First ride was great. I was most surprised at how smooth it felt on the dirt and pavement.” This is how we felt after test-riding the bike. In the past, a bike pushing the weight envelope might compromise with a stiff, harsh frame coupled with unforgiving light wheels. That did not happen with this combination. Not only is this Ouray very light, but it is one of the best riding bikes one can create. This is testament to Parlee doing their homework on their latest frames in combination with taking the time to spec the components, wheels and tires to match the rider’s fit and use profile. The end result is a compromise-free bike that can take on most any paved or maintained gravel road one can find.
If you would like to know more about this bike or other ways we can help you enjoy riding more, contact us.
