A few weeks ago, we received the news that Bob Parlee had lost his battle with cancer at the age of 70. Although the US carbon pioneer and custom frame builder was not one of the best-known names in the industry, his creations achieved cult status, especially in his home country. The Parlee brand will continue without the company founder, as the company was already supported by an investor last year after it got into financial difficulties. The breath of fresh air also includes the expansion of the product range to include models that are offered in standard geometries (previously Parlee only built customised frames) and are intended to be somewhat less exclusive in terms of price.
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Parlee Ouray: The all-road bike has its price
Instead of being manufactured in the company's own production facility in the USA, they are produced in Europe, more precisely in Portugal. These include the Taos gravel bike and the Ouray shown here; an aero road racer is to follow. These Parlees are not really cheap either, but for the money you get a bike that is probably aptly described by the term "understatement".
The immaculately finished, clearly visible carbon fibre mats are only protected by a thin layer of wax, which also saves weight. The frame has a clear, modern line, but dispenses with technical frippery. The classic, round seat post with proven clamp is a prime example of this. With the UDH derailleur hanger and T47 bottom bracket, the Parlee adapts new standards that promise longer durability and easier servicing.
Changing tyres on the all-road bike
The Ouray is essentially a comfortable road bike that can be converted for rough terrain with tyres up to 38 millimetres wide. The equipment with road bike gearing and aero rims is clearly road material, but if you want to, the Ouray can also be used for off-road adventures. The treadless 35-millimetre tyres that we fitted for this comparison bulge almost to the maximum on the wide, hookless Zipp rims. There is room for more in the frame and fork, but even with this set-up, the bike can keep up with the Giant Revolt on many off-road sections: The straight-line stability is formidable, as is the comfort level.
This changes as soon as it gets wet or the surface becomes loose, then the smooth tyres quickly start to float. On the road, however, it is all the faster. The fact that the riding position on the Ouray is almost as sporty as on the Canyon Inflite is less due to the frame itself, which actually offers a very comfortable cut. However, the Pro handlebar combo positions the shifters far forward and low. This stretches the rider and puts a lot of weight on the front wheel. If you prefer more comfort, you can express your wishes to the dealer: There are twelve preconfigured equipment variants with groupsets from Sram or Shimano; stem length, handlebar width, seat post and crank length can be customised at no extra charge.
All-road bike: The Parlee Ouray in detail
- Price: 16,000 euros
- Weight of complete wheel: 7.1 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL (test size greased)
- TOUR grade: 1,6
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 462/545/164 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 599/367 millimetres/1.63
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 646/566 millimetres/1.14
- Wheelbase/caster: 1000/70 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (2x12; 48/35, 10-33 t.) | SRAM Red AXS (2x12; 48/35, 10-33 t.) Photo: 2.0
- Brakes: SRAM Red (160/160 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Tyres: René Herse Bon Jon Pass 35 mm (eff.: 38 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Impellers: Zipp 353 NSW
- Impeller weights: 1114/1466 grams (front/rear)
Measured values
- Driving stability: 7.93 N/mm | Grade: 2.0
- Rear comfort: 155 N/mm | Grade: 2.3
- Comfort front: 73 N/mm | Grade: 2.0
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 57 N/mm | Grade: 1.7
Advantages and disadvantages of the all-road bike
- Plus: Very light, good-natured handling, excellent workmanship, free customisation at Kau
- Minus: expensive
All-road bike alternatives to the Parlee Ouray
Argon 18 Krypton
The Canadian Allroad model comes with narrow road tyres as standard, but gravel tyres up to 40 millimetres wide can be fitted. The Argon 18 Krypton convinces with a comfortable and directionally accurate chassis, the seating position is comparatively sporty. Price: from 2363 euros.
Giant Contend AR
Giant offers all-road riding fun for the smaller purse with the Contend AR. Starting at 1699 euros, you get a solid aluminium frame with a decidedly upright riding position and tyre clearance of up to 38 millimetres. The compromise is a rather high weight of 9.5 kilos, the profiled standard tyres are already suitable for off-road excursions.
Koga Roqa
The Roqa is available with either road or gravel tyres, everything in between is possible. With single drive, it can even be fitted with tyres up to 45 millimetres wide. With a very upright riding position, it is predestined for leisurely tours. The entry-level model with Shimano 105 groupset starts at 2999 euros.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
