Parlee Taos Gravel Frame

With the Parlee Taos carbon gravel bike, the American company has created a bike designed to explode any preconceived notions about fast gravel bikes. Their unique monocoque construction effectively results in a lightweight frame ideal for long distance gravel racing, but also remains ideal for comfortable exploratory weekend treks.

Parlee Taos - traction at its core

For the Taos, it’s all about traction. That might seem obvious in theory, but it’s surprising how many gravel bikes built around going fast are actually quite poor at tracking the ground. A lot of that failing comes from the frames being made too rigid so that they can approximate the type of power transfer that is normal for road bikes. With the Parlee Taos, though it definitely offers a really responsive ride, the level of compliance introduced into the precision carbon layup means that the frame allows the wheels to follow the inconsistencies in road surface, making sure you never lose traction.

Precise handling

They say in running that injuries only happen when your foot is on the ground; well in gravel riding, power is transferred only when your tires are on the ground. But it’s not just about speed; it’s about confidence. Can you feel confident taking your speed into a corner knowing that your Taos will track perfectly? Of course you can! Having that traction to keep the bike upright even in sketchy gravelly situations will enhance every ride, whether you are out to smash the competition in a race, or just want to get home from an adventure without a new harvest of gravel road rash along your flanks.

Single piece carbon frame design of the Parlee Taos

The frame shape of the Parlee Taos adds to the comfort levels with a sloping top tube and dropped stays offering compliance for all day comfort, while the compact design enhances lateral and torsional stiffness for immediate power transfer. Using the true single piece carbon construction allows Parlee designers to keep the overall weight down for the frame as well since extra material is not required at the tube joining points. There is no compromise on durability thanks to the precision layup process.

The designers are so proud of their carbon handiwork that they can offer a nude carbon unpainted frame option which allows you to see just how precise each ply sheet is placed. And unlike a lot of manufacturers today who provide pre-spec’d frame builds, every Parlee Taos is made to order with your desired cockpit, including bar width, stem length, seat and seatpost configuration, wheels, tires, drivetrain, and accessories. Parlee also offers a wide range of custom paint options.

Tire compatibility and suspension options

Able to fit up to 50mm tires on 700c wheels, the Parlee Taos also offers a suspension-corrected geometry that allows you to add a suspension fork without altering ride quality. That’s for those folks who want to get really rowdy with this bike off-road. But the more road-oriented riders will also find their needs considered since there’s a front axle flip-chip to adjust the wheelbase and head angle when using smaller tires for a more road-based ride quality. The Taos can roll with either 1x or 2x thanks to the removable front derailleur mount. The internal downtube storage, top tube bag mounts, and stealth dropper seatpost routing enhance the bike’s overall utility without compromising on sleek look or ultimate performance.

By now you are probably asking whether the Parlee Taos carbon gravel bike is the best dropbar bike in the world. We wouldn’t like to get into an argument about it, but we’d definitely like to take the next several years riding it in all places and conditions before making up our minds!

Be sure to also check Colnago gravel bikes!