I finally completed my Seaboard GR02. I built it up as a cheap commuter using parts from eBay, AliExpress, my parts bin, and hand-me-downs from upgrading my road and gravel bikes. This was an incredibly easy frame to build up. No issues with alignment, and cable routing was simple, even without any guides.


It's 1x11 with a 40T ring and 11-34 cassette. That's not much of a gear range, but it's about the same as the gear range I use currently on my commute. (I already had the cassette.)


Without pedals, it came out to 21.6 lb / 9.79 kg. I spent a little over $600 building it up.


The Sensah brifters shift pretty well when pared with a Shimano 105 derailleur. I'm not enamored with the Sensah ergonomics because it I have to be more deliberate when shifting to a larger cog than I do with my Shimano drivetrains, but it works.


Brifters: Sensah SRX Pro
Derailleur: Shimano 105 R7000 GS
Cassette: Shimano 11-34
Cranks: Shimano GRX FC-RX600, 40T
Brakes: Tektro MD-C550
Wheels: DT Swiss E1850 Spline
Tires: WTB Byway, 700x44 (currently tubed)
Saddle: WTB SL8 Comp
Seatpost: Carbonda (from my CFR707)
Handlebar: Easton EA700AX, 42cm, 16 deg flare
Stem: UNO 110mm
Tape: Blackburn thick EVA covered with Rocktape kinesiology tape (Experiment - I had this lying around. I Like the feel better than the Blackburn tape, but I'm not sure how it will hold up. I commute without gloves.)

Just took my Elita one saddle out for a 20 mile gravel ride and it’s the most comfy saddle I’ve ever used! I know saddles are a very individual thing, but this one fit  me just right.

Check it out! $24.58  50％ Off | ELITA ONE Carbon Saddle MTB/Road Bike saddle Super Light Leather Carbon Cushions 96g
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mM5KQWC

I have the same sale in wide on my road and gravel bikes and I love it.  They've been holding up well so far so I might try one on my mountain bike as well.  It's one of the lightest wide saddles I've seen,  and they are well made.

My frame arrived yesterday - exactly one month to California. It looks great - I love the orange, especially in the sun. The paint is really good, only a couple of very minor blemished (a couple flecks of dust, a little bit light on the inside of the dropouts) but overall very smooth and even. The welds look nice too.


My XL/56 frame weighs 1976 g, including the headset, axle, and bottle cage bolts. The fork is 501 g including the axle. This is only about 320 g heavier than my Carbonda CFR707, although that included bolts for all of the mount holes. (The Seaboard only has bolts in the two bottle cage mounts on the inside of the triangle.)


It will take me a while to build it up given all that's going on this time of year but I will post pictures when I do. It's a budget build with parts I had and cheap eBay and AliExpress finds.

I can also vouch for the CFR707 quality. No issues building mine up. If I were doing it again, I would go with this frame again.

I'm replacing the Shimano 105 derailleur on my road bike with a GRX. It's a 2x11 with 11-34 cassette. The GRX cage is longer than the 105 cage. Will I need a longer chain? The chain length calculators I've seen don't factor that in, but it seems like the chain would have a longer path with a longer cage...

If you're open to aluminum frames, Tsunami has some options on AliExpress for pretty cheap.

I've been dreaming of a lugged carbon frame for a retro style hardtail build, and then this popped up:


https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805568073173.html


Not exactly the same thing, but still really cool to see something so unique on AliExpress. I wonder how well the bonds will hold up? That was the week point of those old lugged carbon frames. If it was my size and cleared more than a 23mm tire, it would be tempting.