Among Parlee’s many unique characteristics, the nude carbon finish on the custom Z-Zero frames and new Ouray and Taos bikes is a standout.
It’s how we show off the quality of our work, and by waxing it, we’re able to maintain its luster without adding the weight of paint.
The very small tradeoff is that you’ll need to re-wax it once or twice per year, so here’s a quick rundown of how to do it and which products to use.
TYLER: Tom, as a refresher, what’s a “nude” carbon bike frame?
TOM: It’s a carbon fiber frame with no primer, filler, paint, or clear coat (aka “lacquer” for our UK friends) on top of it. Thanks to our extremely high-end production method, this is basically how the frame or fork looks when we take it out of the mold after curing.
We talked about this in a previous Tech Talk if you’d like to learn more about the process and why we do it this way.
TYLER: What wax do you use?
TOM: We use a product called 303 Aerospace Protectant. It’s a thin, white-ish liquid that sprays on clear onto the carbon. You don’t need a lot to be effective. We joke that a 16oz (473ml) bottle will last a lifetime, but it’s probably true.
TYLER: How is it applied at the factory when the bikes are first made?
TOM: We apply it after fabrication and after graphics are applied. It’s basically our last step in production. The application is quite simple. We use clean, soft microfiber cloths to apply and let it dry overnight before shipping the bike out. We typically recommend wiping the bike down with a clean microfiber after the 303 dries overnight. The second wipe down with the clean cloth evens out the finish.
TYLER: How long does the wax last? Are there certain conditions, like rain or dust, that can wear down the coating faster?
TOM: Carbon is super durable and impervious to most things. The 303 is simply protecting the carbon from UV (Ultraviolet) light damage over time. The protection lasts for years, but since the amount of UV varies so much from place to place we recommend a once a year application just to be safe.
Rain or dust will not affect the protection as the 303 “soaks” into the epoxy. If you like your bike a bit shinier, there is no harm in applying 303 more frequently. It’s so thin that it does not build up a film.
TYLER: OK, so depending on conditions, I might have to re-wax my frame maybe two times per year. Could I use Carnuba wax? Or a high quality car wax with UV protectants, Ceramics, etc.?
TOM: Yes, other products can be used. We’ve tried a bunch of them over the years and many of them seem to work well. We choose to recommend 303 as we have 20 years of direct, personal experience with it, it’s easy to apply and it just works.
Some ceramic coatings can darken the look of the carbon so we recommend testing in an inconspicuous area before applying products aside from 303.
TYLER: Do I need to disassemble my bike to make sure I get a fresh coating into all the nooks and crannies? What happens if I miss a spot?
TOM: No, not at all. No disassembly is required. It’s easy to get to all the places with a microfiber cloth. UV damage does not happen overnight. This is all about long-term care. The factory treatment gives a great baseline so we tell people to not get too worked up about missing a spot here or there.
TYLER: If I want a deeper shine or high gloss finish, can I use a buffer to polish it?
TOM: Yes, you could… but we don’t recommend it. Carbon fiber does not gloss up the same way clear coat and paint does when polished. If a client loves the look of glossy carbon we recommend ordering a gloss clear coat custom paint from the outset.
TYLER: What am I not asking? Are there any tips for things I definitely should NOT do when re-waxing my frame?
TOM: The most important tip is to spray the 303 on the microfiber cloth, then apply that to the bike and DO NOT spray the 303 directly on the bike. The spray won’t hurt anything on the bike, but it would be easy to get the spray on the disc rotors if you were not careful, so spray the 303 on the microfiber cloth, not the bike, is the key tip!
TYLER: Last question: Do I need to wash my waxed bike differently?
TOM: No, you can use any gentle, bike-friendly cleaning product - wash and dry your bike like normal. We use the Silca Ultimate Bike Wash, or the Silca Gear Wipes if we’re in a hurry.
The 303 Aerospace Protectant "soaks" into the carbon so you don't necessarily have to re-apply it after washing your bike but, again, if you like the deeper luster that it gives, there’s no harm in re-applying 303 to your bike after washing.
Buy the Parlee Nude Carbon Frame Protectant Kit here.
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As author of Biking for Dummies, Tyler Benedict quite literally wrote the book on bicycles. He’s also the founder of Bikerumor.com and loves geeking out on cycling tech.
Tom Rodi is Parlee’s product manager and has been with the company since 2003. He’s a lifelong bike nerd.
