Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I always build and ride cheap carbon road bikes, so today I'm going to be building a cheap steel road bike with parts from AliExpress…
SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below):
srko.co/tracevelo
Full disclosure, I have never ridden a steel road bike. My first road bike was a Claud Butler with an aluminium frame, but since then I have been lucky enough to own all carbon road bikes. However in my comments section, people always say ‘steel is real’, so I decided to find out if this is true.
The basis for the build is a cheap chromoly steel bike frame that I bought on AliExpress from a brand called Seaboard. I’ll be using a mechanical groupset from a Chinese brand called Sensah, and with external cabling, the bike should have a really back to basics feel.
So in this episode, I’ll show you how to properly protect a steel frame with Boeshield, give you a rundown of all the parts (most of which i sourced from AliExpress), show you how to build the bike from start to finish, and then give you my impressions of how it rides.
Affiliate links to the parts used (Steel road bike build):
https://linktr.ee/tracevelo
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:58 – Protecting the steel frame
05:22 – Parts rundown & cost
07:05 – Siroko sponsor
07:56 – Build - Cabling
11:11 – Build - Headset setup
15:11 – Build - Brake hose routing
19:05 – Build - Bleeding the brakes
22:39 – Bike reveal
26:42 – Bike weight
28:39 – First impressions & changes
31:36 – Steel ride feel
35:22 – Bonus clip (Brakes and BB)
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
I always build and ride cheap carbon road bikes, so today I'm going to be building a cheap steel road bike with parts from AliExpress…
SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below):
srko.co/tracevelo
Full disclosure, I have never ridden a steel road bike. My first road bike was a Claud Butler with an aluminium frame, but since then I have been lucky enough to own all carbon road bikes. However in my comments section, people always say ‘steel is real’, so I decided to find out if this is true.
The basis for the build is a cheap chromoly steel bike frame that I bought on AliExpress from a brand called Seaboard. I’ll be using a mechanical groupset from a Chinese brand called Sensah, and with external cabling, the bike should have a really back to basics feel.
So in this episode, I’ll show you how to properly protect a steel frame with Boeshield, give you a rundown of all the parts (most of which i sourced from AliExpress), show you how to build the bike from start to finish, and then give you my impressions of how it rides.
Affiliate links to the parts used (Steel road bike build):
https://linktr.ee/tracevelo
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:58 – Protecting the steel frame
05:22 – Parts rundown & cost
07:05 – Siroko sponsor
07:56 – Build - Cabling
11:11 – Build - Headset setup
15:11 – Build - Brake hose routing
19:05 – Build - Bleeding the brakes
22:39 – Bike reveal
26:42 – Bike weight
28:39 – First impressions & changes
31:36 – Steel ride feel
35:22 – Bonus clip (Brakes and BB)
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
