Eddie’s Parlee Z-Zero RD

This week’s bike of the week is a super classy Parlee Z- Zero RD in British Racing Green inspired by classic Jaguars – but that features a subtle tribute to two-wheeled Flandrian racing heritage if you look closely…

Eddie is one of those clients that trusted us with his custom bike projects back when we were in NYC. Sometimes we miss those halcyon days on the Upper West Side when we first started to establish ourselves as a leader brand on the custom bike scene: Eddie was one of those special people who turned our dreams into reality.

Moving forward 15 years, Eddie reached out from his new residence in Brazil and asked if we could assist him with a new bike using the data we had on hand from his previous custom bikes. Knowing his 100% satisfaction with his current fit position, we contacted Parlee so that we could recreate the success we had with his original custom bike.

The gorgeous Z-Zero RD (Road Disc) is handmade one at a time in Beverly, Massachusetts and is constructed using Parlee’s exclusive molding process which is neither lugged, nor tube-to-tube: Parlee says it’s a joining method that’s “more precise, more costly and unmatched in strength, using only carbon fiber to fuse each tube to another in a way that yields a wholly unified structure with almost zero redundant material.”

Additionally, a variety of tube designs allows Parlee to perfectly custom-tune the ride to each client’s needs. Like the frames, the Z-Zero tubes themselves are made by hand in Beverly, MA and they’re 10-15% lighter on average than typical carbon tubing yet feature better torsional performance and more comfort.

A few weeks later (a total of 12 including the time taken for the painting) Eddie's frame arrived with us at Signature so that we could build it with the best components selected by Eddie himself.

Eddie is an all around type of rider who enjoys climbing, but he also likes to take part in fast group rides. We used the latest Shimano Dura-Ace 12 speed group with the Lightweight Meilenstein Evo carbon wheels, the perfect balance between weight and performance, just like Egan Bernal's set-up during his Tour de France victory in 2019.

Eddie wanted a classy color, something ageless but also beautiful in the sunlight – there’s plenty of it where he lives. He loved the Jaguar color so we opted for the stealthy British Racing Green. To complement it, and to add a bit of cycling iconography to the frame, he wanted the Lion of Flanders on the back of the seat tube outlined with yellow. This not only elevates the main color but also tells a story for those who recognize the Lion on the road.

We can't thank Eddie enough for his trust with a new custom bike project: we are here to continue delivering experiences and projects like these to clients like Eddie and also to continue the Signature Cycles legacy for many years to come!