Parlee Z4 vs Cervelo R3SL?

[Race Radio]

Which would you get? I mostly race road races and a few Grandfondos. Lots of climbing. I am about 190 these days...but of course that will change this year

 

[nightfend]

I'd get the Parlee simply because everyone and their mom has a Cervelo. Way too common place.

 

[Speedneedle]

None of them. Buy a Storck Fenomalist. Same price range. Read my review here: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1180&page=2

Sorry for suggesting an other bike, but it deserves much more attention than it gets, and people ought to try it before they settle on something else.

 

[Black Dog]

Go for the Parlee if choosing between the two. Be different.

 

[nightfend]

None of them. Buy a Storck Fenomalist. Same price range.

Storckx are stupid! What genius made the decision to throw horizontal rear dropouts on a road bike? I get irritated enough changing the rear wheel on my TT bike that has horizontal dropouts. I can't imagine trying to switch out rear wheels during a race as the field rides away.

 

[Speedneedle]

Easy now. I have had my bike for 6 weeks now, and a rear wheel change is max. 5 seconds slower than before after a bit of practice. I do have to concentrate a bit more, but it seems that the trick is to push the deraileur in when removing and installing the wheel. I have a light QR's with a small nut, which helps also.
Besides, not everybody races. So if that is your only gripe, I think it's a minor detail. It's still the best bike I have tried. But ideally, it would have vertical dropouts, but it really isn't a problem.

 

[elapid]

In my bike porn folder, I have Parlee, Crumpton, and Storck (and Lynskey and Seven). I also owned an R3 (not an R3-SL) for 6 months before selling it.

Without having test ridden the non-Cervelos, I would still go for the Z4. Sweet, sweet bike. Not many of them around, unlike the R3 and R3-SL. You're also paying premium dollars for a 200g difference and not much else with the R3-SL compared to the R3. The new paint job on the 2010 R3-SL is rather tacky too. You can customize the paint job on the Parlee bikes to some extent. The Z5 is also being released soon - their lightest bike apparently, but pretty similar comparison between the R3 and R3-SL (http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/4311).

Long story short - Parlee Z4. If you do buy it, please post some photos!

 

[Race Radio]

Sorry to disappoint, but I am going for the Cervelo. I ended up getting a Pro deal that is too good to pass up. Going to take a few months as it is the 2010 frame but I will post some pics when I get it built.