Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

A Parlee Z5 built by a secret workshop in Sydney

Parlee Z5 SLi

Lockheed Martin, one of the world’s largest defense contractors, has a department devoted to developing projects destined to fly under the radar… literally. It’s called Skunk Works, and lists the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk and the F-22 Raptor in its portfolio.

Skunk Works is also the nickname of a secret workshop in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, dedicated to assembling racing bicycles that fall inside the sub-6kg category.

Parlee Z5 SLi
Parlee Z5 SLi

Sydney’s Skunk Works is a non-profit organization — the price of a build is a full beer fridge — and they also offer a parts procurement program for specialist components. Last week a bantamweight Colnago C-59 exited the garage doors, but today we’ll look at the Parlee Z5 SLi owned and ridden by the Skunk Works director.

It’s a daily rider, not a scale tipper, so it’s a somewhat more robust build than what is actually possible.

Parlee Z5 SLi
Parlee Z5 SLi
Parlee Z5 SLi

Bob Parlee has been building ultra fine custom carbon fiber racers since the year 2000, with a focus on quality, strength and light weight.

The Z1 has been a Parlee staple since the first year and, like each model in the lineup, improves incrementally each year since according to rider feedback and technological advancements.

This is the compact Z5 SLi, weighing in at 750-875g for the frame alone and designed to integrate both mechanical and electronic groupsets.

Parlee Z5 SLi
It’s an excellent base to start from. A look at the components should, though, start at the top: The one-piece seat/post combo is by a young specialist from Slovenia, Berk Composites.

Parlee Z5 SLi
Up front is a 3T Ergonova LTD handlebar that’s been sanded to match the dark Skunk Works theme and holds the Campagnolo Super Record levers. They, in turn, are grasped by an Extralite Roadstem OC stem and Ultratop cap. EE Cycleworks brakes and ENVE carbon pads haul everything up.

Parlee Z5 SLi
The most important components are the wheels: Alchemy ceramic hubs are laced to ENVE 6.7 Smart System rims, shod with Veloflex Carbon and Extreme tires and skewered with Tune DC-14 pins.

Parlee Z5 SLi
They’re turned by THM-Carbones cranks and chainrings by David Earle’s Praxis Works. As mentioned, this is a daily rider, so it is carrying the mule wheels.

With the race wheels, two Emporelli bidon cages and Speedplay pedals, the scales read 5.3kg.

Parlee Z5 SLi
Parlee Z5 SLi