Soulcraft Royale - Californian steel

[beepbeep]

It all started with a tatty mid-eighties Colnago Master. I built it up with a modern groupset to use as a second bike. Strangely this second bike quickly became the first choice over a lighter/stiffer/etc/etc carbon BMC. It was however a little on the large side, so the plan was to replace it with a modern steel frame in my size, which would also be lighter and have the convenience of a 1 1/8 headtube.

Enter the Soulcraft Royale.

Built with an ever-dependable Ultegra 6700 groupset, with the exception of the Rotor cranks/Q-rings and DA cassette. Wheel wise I alternate between the Mavic clinchers shown or Easton EC90 tubs. Bars are 3T Biomorphe, which although slightly odd looking, have great hand positions. Finished off with King ti cages and a ti PMP seatpost. A couple of personal touches are the custom decals and polished Arx stem.

The frame weighs just over 1600g.
Complete build – according to the bathroom scales – with Mavics around 8.2kg and 7.7kg with the Eastons.

[Wingnut]

Nice! I saw one in person a few years ago...solid bikes.

[corky]

Always admired soulcraft frames , just could not live with the seatstay/seatube junction always llooks like a wart on a beautiful nose......

[beepbeep]

Cheers @Wingnut I like your observation - sums up Soulcraft well - no fuss, no frills, just a solid bike.

@corky you mean that the seat stays end above the top tube? Not something I've really thought about, coming from a background of nineties Canadian mtbs I even feel at home with it

[corky]

Cheers @Wingnut I like your observation - sums up Soulcraft well - no fuss, no frills, just a solid bike.

@corky you mean that the seat stays end above the top tube? Not something I've really thought about, coming from a background of nineties Canadian mtbs I even feel at home with it

Yeah it's just me but there's no way I could put up with it....I think there's some engineering reason for it but aesthetically......

Fortunately I am sure that I am in a considerable minority...

[beepbeep]

Here's a pic of the Eastons from today's ride in fine but chilly autumn weather.
(Unfortunately the decals are under clear coat otherwise they would have been removed)

[Wingnut]

I like them in the smaller sizes...the seat stay attachment doesn't bother me. They're nice in red...