Parlee finishing kit

Bars £320, stem £260, seatpost £250, parleecycles.com

ob Parlee founded Parlee Cycles in 2000 with the simple but lofty goal of making carbon bike frames better. Now, no longer content with refining frame design, the carbon fibre specialist has developed a range of finishing kit to complement its frames.

‘We decided to produce finishing kit because we felt ride quality could be improved, not only with the design and engineering, but also in the ergonomics,’ says Parlee’s Tom Rodi.

It was the latter in particular that informed the design of the bars. They feature customisable drops (where the tails can be cut to a preferred length) and are 35mm in diameter at the clamp area, where most bars are 31.8mm. The stem is an oversized design as well, matching and accommodating the bars.

‘Larger cross sections suit carbon construction better – it’s easier to create torsional stiffness and modulate bending stiffness for a combination of comfort and efficiency,’ says Rodi. A standout feature of the kit is its simplicity. ‘The final area of focus was usability,’ says Rodi. ‘We wanted the kit to be easy to set up, adjust and service.’