Parlee Cycles News and Announcements
Some News and Updates from Parlee Cycles.
Parlee Cycles has been a dependable partner for Fit Werx for many years, building some of the nicest road and gravel bikes on the planet. Unlike many other brands, Parlee supported the independent bike shop model throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout their restructuring after the pandemic, they maintained transparency with us. This refreshingly honest approach helped us confidently recommend their bikes through ownership changes and the passing of brand founder Bob Parlee.
More recently, Parlee Cycles new Ouray model received coverage in Bicycling Magazine and Parlee’s latest industry newsletter included an interview with Dean Phillips, the fitter, and owner of our Peabody, MA, location. Additionally, Parlee unveiled Paint Lab 2.0, the latest evolution of one of the best paint programs available. Read on to learn more about what is going on at Parlee.
Bicycling Magazine’s Top Ten Bikes of the Year
The Parlee Ouray was included in Bicycling’s “The 10 Best Bikes Our Editors Rode This Year” roundup!
From the article:
“Not long after I received this Ouray test bike, I learned that Bob Parlee had passed after a battle with cancer. Bob was a big man but quiet and gentle. I rode several iterations of the custom-made carbon bikes that bore his name, and everyone was a masterpiece.
My favorite Bob memory: Many Bicycling lifetimes ago, we hosted an awards BBQ at the Sea Otter Classic. We awarded a Parlee Z-series bike, “Dream Bike of the Year.” Bob sought me out after the event and started thanking me, but then stopped abruptly, grabbed me, and gave me a huge hug. His bike deserved the award because it was so good, but I was still touched to see how much he appreciated the recognition.
Bob’s brand has new owners who continue his legacy with US-made custom bikes and stock bikes like the Ouray. While not one of the custom bikes that built the brand’s reputation, the Ouray feels like those custom Parlees I’ve sampled. Light, crisp, and quick, smooth but not overly damped, and it is unfussy and has the clean lines of the Z-Series as well. Among other user-friendly features, the Ouray has good tire clearance (up to 40mm) and taller stack geometry that will fit many riders.
When I ride this bike, I think of Bob: A sweet, intelligent man who made great products and was happy when people enjoyed his bikes.”
— Matt Phillips
If you have a Bicycling Magazine account, check out the article below!
The 10 Best Bikes Our Editors Rode This Year
Dealer Spotlight: Dean at Fit Werx in Peabody, MA
Tell us about your history with Parlee.
When we first opened our Peabody, MA, location in 2007, Parlee was right around the corner. They were one of the first bike lines we carried and started our long-standing relationship. We could literally walk the bikes back and forth between our locations. Throughout the years, Fit Werx and Parlee Cycles have developed similar business models, focusing on one bike at a time and endeavoring to provide each client with a great experience. Parlee has always been one of our go-to carbon bikes.
What makes Parlee a “go-to” brand?
When it comes to carbon fiber bikes, Parlee Cycles has always made, and continues to make, the best-fitting and best-riding carbon bikes in the industry. We know that they stand behind their product from design to delivery and warranty support. They are extremely responsive and the process is smooth, which we really appreciate. Parlee is an industry leader, whether it was the first to put disc brakes or tri bikes, the first to offer moderate or endurance geometry, or being ahead of the game in tire clearance. When we recommend a Parlee to a client, we know it’s going to fit well and the customer is going to be very happy with the bike. We find once a client knows the Parlee story and experiences ownership, they stay loyal to the brand and their next purchase is frequently another Parlee.
What geometry and fit characteristics make Parlee work for your client base?
When we first opened, Parlee was all custom, which worked well with our “fit first” philosophy. To this day, it is great to know that we still have custom geometry as an option. Once Parlee introduced stock geometry bikes, we found their adaptive geometry fit a wider range of riders than most other options on the market.
Parlee Cycles Paintlab 2.0. The Next Step in Parlee’s Top Notch Paint Program
If you visit either Fit Werx location in the next few weeks, you will likely see a new addition to our displays. Parlee Cycles is updating its paint samples with 3D renderings of its stock colors. Parlee has also simplified its new program, using the terms PLUS, DU0, and MODULE. This new program is designed to offer clients more customization options and to help make their decision-making easy. A new gallery of colors offers more range in finishes, from bold and wild to subtle and sophisticated. Visit Parlee’s new Paint Lab here. A consideration is that any level of paint outside the stock options will add some time to the delivery of the new bike. If you are considering a new bike for this spring, the sooner we order it, the sooner it will arrive.
Click here to learn more about why Fit Werx represents Parlee and the other excellent brands we carry.