Cyclingnews is unhappy to report the passing of Bob Parlee, founding father of Parlee Cycles, after a four-year battle with most cancers. He was 70 years outdated and has left behind his spouse, Isabel, and two sons. Parlee based his eponymous model in 2000 alongside together with his spouse, and within the subsequent quarter century went on to have a major impression on the biking trade.
Parlee, with a historical past of novice racing and maritime composite manufacture, turned his hand to bicycles, apparently unhappy with the titanium choices in the marketplace on the time. Since the model’s inception, Parlee Cycles has maintained a give attention to engineering high quality and stays a real cornerstone of the {custom} carbon market, a considerably extra area of interest space than metal and even titanium.
Parlee could possibly be partially credited with the appearance of the bespoke carbon fibre bike market within the USA – outlined by extremely sought-after frames designed to order with way more particular customisation than was ever made potential by means of different body materials. The model sat alongside names like Seven Cycles and Independent Fabrication, although was distinct by resolutely sticking to carbon fibre as a body materials.
“The actuality is that carbon fibre permits bicycle designers to change into stylists. Frames could be moulded and formed in all conceivable varieties. But don’t mistake type for efficiency. My focus is on designing and engineering bikes which are quick, gentle, sturdy, and enjoyable to trip. I by no means use pointless shapes within the title of design.”, Parlee states on the corporate web site. This rings true in what the model is most well-known for, which is its round-tubed fashions that may be customised each in geometry and carbon layup to swimsuit the wants of the shopper.
His craft was so nicely regarded that professional cyclists, most famously Tyler Hamilton, had been recognized to order his bikes and rebadge them to their appropriate sponsor for racing.
Parlee’s repute on the earth of carbon fibre bikes is nicely earned, with the model being the primary to supply a sub-900g body in 2004, adopted by the manufacturing of a sub-800g Z5 in 2010. Ever on the innovative, it was additionally the primary to market with a disc brake-equipped TT/triathlon bike.
While all of the {custom} carbon work relies in Beverly, Massachusetts, the model started to supply off-the-peg fashions alongside those who had been produced in Asia. Now the lineup accommodates highway, gravel, and TT fashions in {custom} and non-custom varieties.
The model was offered by Bob in 2023 to keep away from chapter to John Harrison, and whereas Bob remained a part of the management as chief designer his battle with most cancers saved him in a state of semi-retirement.
“Bob has been an actual inspiration for all the group right here at Parlee, me included,” Harrison mentioned. “His persistent and unwavering give attention to pursuing an uncompromised and excellent product will proceed to guide the identification of our enterprise endlessly into the longer term. We are all extraordinarily proud to proceed the work that he began.”
In an organization assertion, Isabel expressed the couple’s mutual appreciation for all of Parlee’s workers, and the way grateful Bob was for the relationships he constructed throughout the trade.
Memorial plans shall be introduced by the household at a later date.