Seaboard CR05 - Blue Steel

[abedfo]

Just received a Seaboard CR05 in blue/chameleon. It is absolutely gorgeous paint in person and the pictures do it zero justice. I paid a grand total of £254 back in the November ali express sales. Literally cant wait to get it built, just need to pick up some rust inhibitor to line the inside of the frame. Here is a picture of it in the stand.

[abedfo]

Suprisingly the frame seems to have some sort of black coating on the inside. Also the front fork thru axle design has done away with the weird nut seen in the Trace Velo build video.

[User_Name_Is_Taken]

Enjoy it! I just finished building mine with an L-TWOO RX12 groupset. The internally routed rear brake line was a bit of a hassle, but overall, everything went together smoothly.

[abedfo]

Couldn't resist putting together a few bits to take a photo 

A few annoying bits to buy as is always the case with a parts bin build.
1. The correct length calliper bolts for the rear brake
2. Carbon paste
3. Shim/clamp things for the band on FD
4. Some cool, steel, frame barrell adjusters (https://donhoubicycles.com/products/barrel-adjusters-stainless)

Things to note so far. Firstly the elita one seatpost clamp is rubbish and I will probably just use the one that came with bike. Secondly the 30mm tyre clearance stated Is optimistic, on the photo below are some tyres that measure between 30-32mm and the clearance is fag paper thin with the seat tube. I do have some tyres that measure 28mm so will try those at a later date.

The current weight of the bike in pic below is 7.5kg. I'm hoping that I can keep it close to 8.5kg (with pedals maybe)

[abedfo]

Enjoy it! I just finished building mine with an L-TWOO RX12 groupset. The internally routed rear brake line was a bit of a hassle, but overall, everything went together smoothly.

Looks stunning, hope it rides well! this is my first steel bike so i really will see if it is real.

[bremerradkurier]

With a name like Blue Steel, this so needs a Zoolander head tube label.

[amacal1]

Holy hell, both the blue and silver are SEXY. Wow, that's a pretty bike.

I'd love to get one, but with the current US prices, they were just a bit more than I thought worth it. Seeing these pictures is giving me some serious regret at not getting one, though.

[abedfo]

More photos, for some reason the colours on the photos on here look nothing like they do on my phone. Does anyone know the best way to upload?

[kubackje]

More photos, for some reason the colours on the photos on here look nothing like they do on my phone. Does anyone know the best way to upload?

Probably your screen setting in your phone are enhancing colors. You using an iphone )

[User_Name_Is_Taken]

Looks stunning, hope it rides well! this is my first steel bike so i really will see if it is real.

I got it out for a 25 mile ride before the rains returned. Although steel isn’t as sublime as my other titanium bikes, it’s a fantastic ride that I’d take over carbon any day. It’s not the quickest bike that I own, but it’s insanely comfortable. 28 is definitely the maximum tire size. Plenty of width on the chain stays, but the seat stay is the limiting factor, especially once you install the front derailleur clamp.

[abedfo]

I got it out for a 25 mile ride before the rains returned. Although steel isn’t as sublime as my other titanium bikes, it’s a fantastic ride that I’d take over carbon any day. It’s not the quickest bike that I own, but it’s insanely comfortable. 28 is definitely the maximum tire size. Plenty of width on the chain stays, but the seat stay is the limiting factor, especially once you install the front derailleur clamp.

I can't wait to try it. I've ordered some vittoria corsa 28s so hopefully they won't balloon too much. I got the bloody brake house routed, took about 2hrs of frustration. In the end I got insanely lucky when frustratedly I was ramming a gear cable down the opening and it magically popped out the other side   

[abedfo]

Finally did a test ride. A heady 7km at lunchtime. Took it on what i would call an urban cross ride, jumping of curbs and stuff to see if ive tightened all the bolts properly (the headset wasnt, scary).

Overall really like the bike thus far. really quiet and smooth (though ive been riding gravel all winter so dont have the best frame of reference).

Immediate things i dont like are the 3d printed saddle which is uncomfy. And the elita one seatpost, which has the worst access to the saddle bolts ever devised. Will adjust saddle angle and it will be good no doubt.

Will hopefully get a good few miles in soon and do a proper post with part etc.

p.s. im really awful at taking in focus shots, though i blame my samsung s21 ultra