I am currently riding a Parlee RZ7 factory edition. I love everything about it except the drive side drop out. I have had the threads chased once, about 2 years ago. Rear wheel has been removed maybe 5 times since, and still the rear TA never wants to bite and thread in. For aero purposes, it is a blind sunk hole for the threads.
Frustratingly, I am feel like being done with it over that issue. Now the real question:
Have “racing road bikes” gotten shorter and taller without me noticing? The super six evo in 54 is 4mm shorter and 22mm taller than my size M parlee. An S5 is the only thing that gets close with it being 4 shorter and 9 higher, soloist is also pretty close. The nearest for reach is a scott addict, 2mm shorter, but 1mm longer ett, but the stack is 45mm higher! Factor Ostro VAM is pretty close as well, but still shorter and taller.
All that said, has road bike fit philosophy changed in the last 5 years?
Yes manufacturers realised 97% of people buying their bikes need shorter and higher reach and stack numbers.
1 Like
I thought that was the point of “race bike” and “endurance bike”
Many things play into it but ultimately Tom, Dick and Harry aren’t flexible enough, have a strong enough core or have the desire to get that for a long low race bike but they’re also who’s buying these bikes… they’re more likely to buy them if they fit and bike manufacturers are in the business of making money.
There’s probably a benefit in the pro ranks for it but ultimately making money beats a stage win for shareholders.
*and endurance bikes are a bit ugly and no one wants ugly.
I don’t disagree at all. The best handling and fitting bike I have had was a CAAD12 with the stem slammed and a 110 stem.
My parlee slammed was within 1 or 2mm on both stack and reach. My LBS wanted me to ride the parlee with 25mm of spacers before cutting the fork to the point of no return. With the extra stack my shoulders felt really crunched and cooped up.
Are you sure you’re looking at the right sizes? From what I saw quickly:
Parlee M stack/reach = 552/386
Super Six 54 = 555/384
Soloist 54 = 540/383
Addict 54 = 578/386
Tarmac SL8 54 = 544/384
Ostro VAM 54 = 542/384
Maybe i put too much faith in geometry geeks.
