Once upon a time, I bought a Seaboard GR02 as an upgrade to my Marin Nicasio. It was a wonderful bike, the lightest one I’ve ever had at 10.3kg. I even went bike-touring with it to Sagada, earning it the nickname “Sagada Survivor.”

Although there was nothing wrong with it (apart from how the tubing looks like Toblerone), I sold it after deciding to have my Bridgestone Eurasia modified. My time with it was sweet but short. That is, until I bought it back a year after I sold it.

This wasn’t a decision that needed much thought, for I did not need another bike in my stable of two—my Bridgestone Eurasia and Java Neo 3. However, nostalgia is a powerful force.

I occasionally glance through Facebook Marketplace, and I saw a listing for a particular gravel bike. The title was generic, but the photos were enough to convince me that the frameset was mine—the chameleon blue color, stock Fiido pedals, and most of all, the Sack It frame bag. If it weren’t for the last item, perhaps I would have hesitated.

Meetup at TriNoma

The owner was from Meycauayan, Bulacan, so we agreed to meet halfway at TriNoma. The rendezvous was rather eventful. I took my Java Neo 3 on the MRT and met with the seller at the mall’s driveway. I originally expected to book a Grab car to bring the frameset home.

But since I was able to walk around the mall with the fork in the basket and the frame slung around my shoulder, I figured I could ride the MRT with it. And that actually worked since the frame was that light.

I was able to bring my “new” frameset inside the train, although the guard told me to wrap it. Thankfully, the seller covered it in plastic. The train wasn’t congested since I was at the end station during off-hours.

After alighting from the train and the station, I was able to bike back to Kapitolyo without a hassle. What was almost as impressive was that I was able to build the bike the following day using parts-bin components, notably the wheels from Myta’s Trek Domane and the cockpit from her mini velo.

A few considerations about the Seaboard GR02 build

The advantage of the Seaboard GR02 is that it can run with 700c by 42mm or 650b by 48mm wheels, at least for the Large (53) size. As much as I prefer the supple ride of 650b, going with 700c would have made the build lighter.

Aside from the wheel size, I also had to decide on the drivetrain. I originally thought of going with a Shimano GRX 812 RD, so I could use my Rivendell Silver shifter. However, that part was worth double the price of a Shimano Deore M5100 RD, which has even more range. Since I had a compatible Ene Ciclo thumb shifter, I opted for the MTB RD. The brakes were the same TRP Spyres that I originally got for the frameset.

Choosing the crank was another major decision.

I was fine with the ixf crank that I’ve been using since I got my Marin Nicasio. But there’s a saying that goes “buy nice, or buy twice.” Considering the countless times I’ve upgraded my parts, I figured it would be wiser to go with a future-proof crank—a Shimano GRX RX610 (165mm crank arm length, 38T chainring) paired with a Shimano Sora BB-RS501 from Tambay Cycling Hub.

Since the groupset is all mechanical with a friction shifter and short-pull disc brakes, the bike could easily be converted between flat bar and drop bar.

From Sagada Survivor to office-commuter

Although the build wasn’t final, I was able to ride my Seaboard GR02 once again. It felt like I picked up where I left off. Rather than touring outside the city, I found myself riding it to the office. I’d attach the Tapir handlebar bag from Coyote Bikepacking Gear, where I’d put my lunchbox and Sack It sacoche. On the other hand, my clothes were stored inside the frame bag. The bike was light and nimble. And after raising the seatpost a bit, I was able to put down the power a bit more efficiently.

Backsweep boy

My intended cockpit for the Seaboard GR02 centered around sweptback handlebars. Traction didn’t have the B00 in stock, and I didn’t want another B56, so I looked elsewhere. I ordered a Nitto replica from Indonesia via Shopee, along with Avid FR5 brake levers worth P330 from Litepro, and a stem and seatpost from Uno.

Compared to the Velo Orange Left Bank, these handlebars are much wider at 59cm. Although it makes squeezing through gaps much harder, the steering is much more stable with plenty of real estate on the flat part—perfect for sticker bombing.

The 130mm stem with an angle of +35 degrees gave ample rise and reach, so that my body was upright and the cockpit wasn’t cramped. I couldn’t use ordinary flat-bar grips because of the limited space, so I went with purple Passe cotton bar tapes with matching Litepro bar ends.

Gravel-chari

My Seaboard GR02 oozes with personality, and riding it is just as much of a delight. You get the posture of a Dutch bike or mamachari, and the sportiness of a gravel bike or endurance road bike. No performance cyclist would do this to their bike, but this is a very sensible choice for ordinary people. Combine the upright fit with the bike’s lightness, and you get a lightweight city cruiser—a “gravel-chari.”

Despite this, the bike isn’t necessarily my fastest ride. I tested it out during the usual Car-Free Sunday at Ayala Avenue. An average speed of 23.3km/h may be pretty quick, but it’s still slower than my Bridgestone Eurasia at 26.0km/h. I’m starting to think that there’s more to performance than a bike’s weight. Perhaps whatever gains I had with the Seabaord were offset by the drag and unoptimized bike fit.

A bike of contradictions

It’s ironic how none of the bikes in my stable follow conventional notions. My Bridgestone Eurasia is a touring bike with the fit of an endurance road bike. It’s my heaviest bike, but it’s also the one I can go the fastest with—even with a full set of racks.

On the other hand, my Seaboard GR02 is much lighter and more capable with the right parts. If I really wanted to, I could set it up for Audax. But since it’s stuck as an office commuter, there’s no point in extracting its full potential. Despite being a utilitarian bike, it doesn’t actually carry as much cargo as the Eurasia. And I don’t intend on putting any rack since it’ll significantly affect the handling.

If you own a bike like the Seaboard GR02, should you consider doing the same as I?

The beauty of bike-building is that there’s no single definitive way to customize one. Everyone has different needs, which makes some bikes more useful than others. That’s why you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment, especially with a versatile frame like the Seaboard GR02.