I have a long leg and a short torso. Part of the gamble with the bike was an experiment to be able to run a normal length stem (110mm) with a normal reach bar (circa 90mm) despite my disproportionate body. This is because I otherwise tend to force myself to fit bikes that are realistically slightly too long in the reach by using 70mm reach bars. If you've never had reason to use such short reach bars, you won't understand that the difference between riding on the tops and the hoods doesn't feel like much of a change; which can be a problem - especially if you genuinely need to rest properly on the tops for a bit, or when you're cooked at the end of a ride.
I've also arrived at the conclusion that the migraines I get are related to posture and neck strain - some of which comes from riding bikes that are realistically too low for me. The tall front end of this helps resolve that (with the Deda stem the bars are circa 20mm higher than recent builds); and gives me more room for future adjustment via higher angle stems and spacers (with the new fork) should the need arise.
Not pictured is the new fork, which I ordered partly because the one it came with is old, measures as a 50mm rake rather than the 45mm the frame was designed around and is cut slightly too short. Due to the already-limited availability of 1-1/8th forks, I went with a Pegoretti Falz v2 - perhaps an odd decision, but it was the only fork I could find at a reasonable price (I bought it raw and had it glossed for less than the price of a matte-finish Enve that wouldn't have matched the frame) and I know I like how the Falz rides, so I think it'll actually be a good choice.
In future it'll probably most often wear these Lightweights too (unless I decide to sell them), but I'm awaiting a new freehub for them at the moment.
The ride of this thing has blown me away. My last 3 builds (in as many months) have all been very firm race bikes - this is at least as responsive as all of them, yet smoother. Not bad for a 12-year-old frame... and so much so that I made a fairly big claim on Insta recently:
"Bold statement time: If I ever make noises about selling this bike, shoot me. In the face. Twice. Preferably point blank. It ain’t ever gonna get better than this...
I’ve had 48 bikes since July 2003 - I might finally have found a keeper."
It is genuinely the best bike I have ever ridden; and, for once, I might actually keep hold of it.
Some more pics:
More pics will follow - with the new fork and the WR Compositi seatpost that it is also now wearing - once I have the Lightweights sorted.
Build list as follows:
Parlee Z1 SL frame
Pegoretti Falz v2 fork
Tune Bobo headset
Deda Superleggera stem (110mm)
Zipp SL88 bars (40cm wide)
Parlee seat clamp
WR Compositi seatpost (PMP currently pictured)
SQlab ErgoWave 612 carbon saddle
Full Campagnolo Super Record 12v groupset (170mm cranks, 52/36t rings, 11-29t cassette)
Dura-Ace 9000 pedals (need replacing for 9100s soon!)
Campagnolo Bora 50 / Lightweight Gipfelsturm Schwarz Edition wheelset
Weight TBC
I've had my Z3 for almost 14 years and still love it. Parlee's customer service is second to none if you ever have any questions for them. What is that bar tape?
