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NAHBS: Day one - Vanilla, Parlee, Della Santa

Roland Della Santa celebrates forty years of framebuilding with a limited-edition run of anniversary framesets.

  • Vanilla Bicycles introduces its third Speedvagen model to supplement the existing road and 'cross frames.
  • The massive 15mm-wide dropouts are uber-stiff but apparently fairly light given their unique hollow construction.
  • The production dropouts will be fully boxed-in.
  • It's hard to tell but there's a new Chris King InSet hidden inside there.
  • The cut-out Speedvagen logo is backed by a carbon fiber insert.
  • Sacha White does his own version of an integrated seatmast.
  • The custom head is made of stainless steel and uses Thomson cradles and hardware.
  • This year's Speedvagen road bike looks stunning in red.
  • The dramatically shaped seat stays are flattened and curved for extra comfort.
  • Tiny housing stops are elegant and functional with their built-in barrel adjusters.
  • Only a lucky few get to ride a bike with this logo.
  • This beautiful townie is undoubtedly a little nicer than the one most people use to get the groceries.
  • Registered graphics make for a racy look.
  • As is fast becoming a Vanilla trademark, the rear brake line is routed directly through the integrated mast.
  • A neatly done chain guard keeps pants clean.
  • Yes, folks, even the display stands are creative. These are made from poured concrete.
  • Mud anyone?
  • White's Vanilla and Speedvagen brands have grown to include more than just bikes.
  • Parlee showed off its latest options for its flagship Z1.
  • The integrated seatmast is topped with a Ritchey head.
  • This one also utilizes the BB30 standard and is fitted with a SRAM Red crankset.
  • Parlee doesn't use a metallic sleeve for the press-in bearings, preferring instead to mold the bearing seats right in and readjust the fiber lay-up to handle the load.
  • Parlee's track-specific Z1 is also now in production.
  • The dropouts are made from both titanium and carbon fiber.
  • This particular Z1 Track belongs to Jackie Simes IV, a fourth-generation American six-day racer.
  • Parlee's new 'cross bike is also ready for the mud.
  • Carbon fiber top tube housing stops are molded as a strip and then individually cut and milled.
  • Even the brake housing stop is carbon fiber.
  • The front derailleur pulley mount is an exercise in overkill.
  • This single-speed Parlee belt-drive 'cross bike looks ideally suited to nasty weather.
  • Parlee's dropout design is already well suited Parlee's dropout design is already well suited for the Carbon Drive Systems belt installation.
  • Naturally, Parlee made their own spacers for the rear cog.
  • The Parlee Z4 is what is used by the Fly V Australia team for road events.
  • Unlike the Z1, Z2, and Z3, the Z4 uses an internal-cup headset.
  • Fancy a Parlee for some wet-weather riding?
  • Sure, you can put fenders on that!
  • Yes, even Parlee's fender mounts are carbon.
  • The lower fender mounts are neatly integrated into the dropout interface.
  • Optional 'ghost' lettering makes for a stealthy look.
  • Roland Della Santa celebrates forty years of framebuilding with a limited-edition run of anniversary framesets.
  • Della Santa is limiting production to just twenty framesets as he's limited by the number of old Nervex Pro lugs he still has on hand.
  • Della Santa says that just prepping the lugs takes a day and a half per frame.
  • The seat cluster includes added-on points and beautiful Masi scoops atop the seat stays.
  • In keeping with the intended 70s look, the cables are run on top of the bottom bracket shell.
  • Three slots are hand-cut into the bottom bracket shell.
  • Does your steel frame look this clean even on the inside?
  • Campagnolo bits are used throughout.
  • Della Santa prefers horizontal dropouts even on his most modern frames.
  • Fork tips and crown are both chromed.
  • This Della Santa belongs to long-time admirer (and show organizer) Don Walker.

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Roland Della Santa celebrates forty years of framebuilding with a limited-edition run of anniversary framesets.

© James Huang