Parlee Taos
Wheel Size: 700c | Tire Clearance: Up to 50mm
The Parlee Taos is built not just to survive modern gravel riding conditions but to push the pace through them. Purpose-built from the ground up, the Taos delivers a confident, high-speed ride that thrives everywhere.
Its longer wheelbase and slacker head tube angle provide stability at speed, while carefully tuned carbon layups maintain efficient power transfer without sacrificing vibration damping over long, punishing days in the saddle. With clearance for tires up to 50mm, the Taos is built to handle everything from fast gravel racing and endless backroads to light singletrack and fully-loaded adventure rides. Internal storage options, mounting points, and modern drivetrain compatibility expand its versatility, making it equally capable as a race-focused gravel machine or a multi-day exploration platform.
Whether you're lining up for ultra-distance events, chasing speed on mixed terrain, or simply going farther off the beaten path, the Taos delivers the stability, efficiency, and control needed to keep on charging.
If you're after Parlee's elite, industry-leading design and performance but want to stick to smoother roads, the Parlee Ouray might be the ride for you.
Highlights and information
PARLEE TAOS: All-Day Fast, Ready for Adventure
Wheel Size: 700c | Tire Clearance: Up to 50mm
The Parlee Taos represents a decisive step forward into the future of gravel riding. Where gravel bikes were once simply road bikes with bigger tires, the Taos is a purpose-built gravel platform engineered for speed, control, and endurance across constantly changing terrain. It's made to anticipate the evolution of gravel riding: rougher, faster, and more demanding than ever before.
Designed around stretched, slacker geometry, the Taos is built to stay composed when fatigue sets in or the terrain stops cooperating. It delivers stability at high speed and efficient power transfer to encourage confidence across mixed surfaces. From smooth farm roads to broken backcountry gravel and even light singletrack, the Taos is built to sustain the pace.
WHY THE PARLEE TAOS STANDS OUT
Parlee has a clear understanding of where gravel riding is heading. With its longer wheelbase, increased reach, and slacker head tube angle working together to create a planted, confidence-inspiring ride, the Taos remains stable even when the road gets gnarlier and gnarlier.
With the Taos, Parlee prioritized control under fatigue. This bike tracks smoothly through loose corners, descends with composure, and minimizes upper-body strain over ultra-distance efforts like Unbound-style racing.
A carefully-tuned carbon layup complements this geometry by keeping the frame stiff where power is transferred and compliant where vibration needs to be absorbed. The Taos stays fast over the entire ride.
WHO SHOULD RIDE THE TAOS?
The Parlee Taos is designed for riders who see gravel as an endurance sport as much as a performance discipline. It’s ideal for gravel racers, ultra-distance riders, adventurous road cyclists, and anyone who regularly finds themselves far from pavement.
If your rides stretch into the double-digit hours, include unpredictable terrain, or demand both speed and stability, the Taos is built to keep you efficient, comfortable, and in control from start to finish.
WHAT CONTENDER BICYCLES LIKES ABOUT THE TAOS
- Confidence at Speed: The longer, slacker geometry makes technical descents and rough gravel feel significantly more controlled and predictable.
- Sustained Performance: Designed to reduce fatigue and maintain efficiency over ultra-distance efforts rather than just short-term speed.
- True Versatility: Wide tire clearance, drivetrain flexibility, and mounting options make it adaptable to everything from race day builds to bikepacking setups.
FRAME MATERIAL
The Taos is built using Parlee’s renowned monocoque carbon construction, using a layup process that eliminates unnecessary weight and cosmetic filler. Every carbon ply optimizes stiffness, compliance, and durability, resulting in a frame that feels both incredibly efficient and remarkably composed on rough terrain. This precision manufacturing approach ensures consistent ride quality across all sizes, with each frame receiving a size-specific layup tuned for performance and comfort.
Geometry & Fit
The Taos is defined by its modern gravel geometry, designed to enhance stability, control, and adaptability across evolving terrain. Together, these features create a gravel bike that is stable when pushed, efficient when loaded, and adaptable enough to evolve with the rider’s ambitions.
- Longer Wheelbase & Reach: Improves stability at speed and keeps the bike tracking predictably on loose surfaces.
- Slacker Head Tube Angle: Reduces twitchiness and improves confidence in technical terrain and fast descents.
- Lower Bottom Bracket: Enhances cornering stability and rider confidence on uneven ground.
- Size-Specific Layups: Each frame size uses a dedicated carbon layup and geometry tuning to ensure consistent ride quality across the range.
- Adventure-Ready Integration: Internal storage, fender mounts, top tube bag mounts, removable front derailleur compatibility, and stealth dropper routing expand the bike’s range from race machine to all-terrain explorer.
Highlighted Models & Key Components
Parlee Taos SRAM Red XPLR AXS
- Frame: Parlee Taos Monocoque Carbon
- Drivetrain: SRAM RED XPLR AXS + power meter
- Wheelset: Zipp 303 XPLR SW carbon wheels
Parlee Taos SRAM Force XPLR AXS | FST
- Frame: Parlee Taos Monocoque Carbon
- Drivetrain: SRAM Force XPLR AXS
- Wheelset: Zipp 303 XPLR SW carbon wheels
Parlee Taos Shimano GRX-825 Di2
- Frame: Parlee Taos Monocoque Carbon
- Drivetrain: Shimano GRX-825 Di2
- Wheelset: Zipp 303 XPLR S carbon wheels
Not Exactly What You're Looking For?
- Parlee Ouray: A performance road bike that blends race-bike speed with all-day comfort and increased tire clearance for rough pavement.
- Colnago G4-X: Built around a lightweight monocoque carbon frame, it combines speed, handling, and stability into a platform that thrives in both competitive racing and fast-paced adventure riding.
The Bottom Line
The Parlee Taos is a clear statement on where gravel riding is heading. Routes have gotten longer, faster, rougher, and more demanding, and the Taos is made to keep up. By combining modern progressive geometry, size-specific carbon tuning, and true all-terrain versatility, it delivers a ride that remains composed and efficient even when the day gets long and the terrain gets unpredictable.
Wheel Size: 700c | Tire Clearance: Up to 40mm
The Parlee Ouray is built around the idea that the fastest road bike is the one you’ll want to ride all day. Instead of forcing the rider to choose between a razor-sharp race bike and a plush endurance machine, the Ouray blends responsive acceleration, confident handling, and long-distance comfort into one remarkably capable platform.
At its core is Parlee’s lightweight monocoque carbon frame, engineered with tuned compliance that smooths rough pavement without muting the ride. Aerodynamic shaping helps preserve speed on fast roads, while a longer wheelbase and dropped seatstays add stability and comfort when the pavement turns broken, chip-sealed, or unpredictable. The Ouray feels equally at home climbing mountain passes, going back down, or turning a solo century into an all-day adventure.
With clearance for tires up to 40mm, the Ouray expands the definition of a modern road bike, opening the door to rough backroads, winter training routes, and the imperfect surfaces most riders encounter every day. Ouray is designed to help you ride farther, feel fresher, and want to keep going.
If you want to take the exceptional Parlee ride quality onto gnarlier roads, the Taos is worth a serious look.
At Contender Bicycles, our best tools for selling bikes are the people who ride them. Everyone at Contender Bicycles has extensive experience riding bikes across many brands. If you have any questions or want to discuss build options, we are here to help.