She Needed a Bike to Join the Team—So I Built Her One!

Quick Overview

Seth successfully built a custom mountain bike for Lucy, a young rider whose brother Camden requested sponsorship, transforming a used Specialized Myka into a high-performance 29er with upgraded components like a dropper post, new drivetrain, and shorter cranks, all within a tight two-day deadline, ensuring Lucy has a capable bike for her school mountain bike team.

Key Points: Seth sponsored Lucy, Camden's sister, by building her a custom mountain bike after her parents helped Camden get his own. He acquired a used 2011 Specialized Myka 29er for $200, which was a small women's cross-country bike with a low standover height, ideal for Lucy. The bike underwent a complete overhaul, including disassembling, cleaning, and upgrading components like the fork, drivetrain, and brakes. Seth installed a dropper post by drilling a hole in the frame and replaced the long cranks with shorter 145mm FiveDev cranks for a better fit for Lucy. He upgraded the drivetrain to a Shimano CUES 10-speed system and replaced mismatched brakes with matching hydraulic disc brakes. Aggressive CST Rock Hawk and Jack Rabbit tires were installed, and the bike's final weight remained the same despite significant upgrades. Lucy loved the bike, immediately started riding, and Camden received a toolkit and pedals for inspiring the project.

Context: Camden, a young mountain biker, reached out to Seth to sponsor his younger sister Lucy, who wanted to join their school's mountain bike team. Camden praised his coaches and parents for their support in getting him a bike, highlighting the positive impact mountain biking had on his life. Seth, known for his bike-building videos, decided to take on the challenge of building a suitable bike for Lucy, facing a tight two-day deadline before leaving town.

Detailed Analysis

Seth received a letter from Camden, a young mountain biker inspired by Seth's videos, asking for sponsorship for his younger sister Lucy to join their school mountain bike team. Seth agreed and initially bought a used Specialized Myka 29er from Facebook Marketplace, planning to upgrade it. However, he realized the bike was too large for Lucy, who is 4'9", and he only had two days before leaving town. He quickly found a smaller 2011 women's cross-country Specialized Myka with a low standover height and 29-inch wheels for $200. Despite its good base, the bike had mismatched brakes (one hydraulic, one mechanical), worn grips, and a fork needing service. Seth decided to completely overhaul the bike, starting with disassembling and cleaning the frame. He faced challenges with the fork, needing new wiper seals that weren't readily available, and the internal spring's heat shrink tubing was torn. He improvised a solution for the spring using an inner tube and sourced new seals from a local bike shop, Squatch Bikes & Brews. He also replaced the long 170mm cranks with shorter 145mm FiveDev cranks, upgraded the drivetrain to a Shimano CUES 10-speed system for better range, installed a dropper post by drilling a hole in the frame, and added new handlebars, grips, and matching hydraulic disc brakes. The original cross-country tires were swapped for more aggressive CST Rock Hawk and Jack Rabbit tires, set up with lightweight TPU inner tubes. After a test ride revealed a squeaking rear hub, Seth serviced the hub bearings with grease. The final bike weighed the same as the original despite significant upgrades, and Lucy was thrilled with her new ride, already logging miles and expressing her love for the bike.