Not another Z5?!…
- Frame: Parlee Z5 (small)
- Forks: Parlee
- Wheels: Kinlin XR-270′s to DTSwiss 240′s with DTSwiss RWS Ti skewers
- Chainset: Dura Ace 7950 – 50 / 34 chainrings
- Levers: Dura Ace 7900
- Bars: Ritchey WCS EvoCurve – 40cm
- Stem: Ritchey WCS C260 BB – 100mm
- Seatpost: Ritchey WCS Alloy – Zero setback
- Saddle: Fizik Airone CX braided
- Front Mech: Dura Ace 7900
- Rear Mech: Dura Ace 7900
- Tyres: Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX II – 23mm with Vittoria latex tubes
- Brakes: Dura Ace 7900 with Kool Stop salmon pads
- Pedals: Speedplay Zero Ti
- Bottle Cages: Profile Design carbon
Tell me a bit about it:
Not much to say, really. It rides amazing; which is pretty much what you hear from every other Parlee owner. I’m currently in the market for some carbon wheels, but I haven’t decided on which. I think that would really complete it from an overall sense. Although, I love how it came out.
Nice simple colourscheme, but you realise you’re going to lose points for that Ritchey stuff, right?…
Wheels aside, the usual suspects are present and correct, and it’s a solidly spec’d bike (obviously I wouldn’t personally have chosen the Ritchey kit though). The white frame and only-very-slightly off-white logo is a pleasant change from the mostly black Z5s I’ve seen of late too.
For me there’s something missing though. It’s a great looking bike and I’m sure it rides well, but there’s just nothing there that makes me think “that’s a nice touch” or “that finishes it off nicely”. It’s just a bit… bland.
How to generate that interest is another matter. Perhaps some Bike Ribbon Eleganza bar tape in black with a white stitch, and maybe some white cabling? A white saddle and bar tape would give it a bit of a white-black-white theme too which could break up the black monotony, or maybe find a colour you like and just do the cables in that (those grey Dura-Ace ones would be better if there was something else to pick up on the colour too). Perhaps something a little more lairy like the Cinelli ‘Mike Giant’ bar-stem combo?! With any luck your next wheel choice will add some interest too.
It’s tidy, nicely finished but lacking that little something – a no doubt underwhelming 6/10.
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