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

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj3r5Jzf_s8
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Rj3r5Jzf_s8
Generated: 2025-07-15T06:33:12.162+00:00

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## 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.

### Sponsorship Request & Initial Bike Acquisition

- Camden, a young mountain biker, requested Seth's sponsorship for his sister Lucy to join her school team
- Seth initially bought a too-large Specialized Myka 29er from Facebook Marketplace
- A smaller 2011 Specialized Myka was found for $200, fitting Lucy's height and featuring 29-inch wheels and a low standover.

### Bike Disassembly & Initial Challenges

- The bike was disassembled, revealing mismatched brakes (hydraulic/mechanical) and worn components
- The RockShox fork needed service, but replacement wiper seals were unavailable locally, requiring an overnight order
- The internal spring's heat shrink tubing was torn, leading to potential noise, which Seth addressed with an improvised inner tube sleeve.

### Frame Modifications & Component Upgrades

- A hole was drilled in the frame to internally route the cable for a new tiny dropper post
- The original 170mm cranks were replaced with shorter 145mm FiveDev cranks for better fit
- The drivetrain was upgraded to a Shimano CUES 10-speed system for a wider gear range
- New trail handlebars were installed and cut to 720mm for better control and fit.

### Brake & Cable System Overhaul

- Mismatched brakes were replaced with matching hydraulic disc brakes for consistent stopping power
- Cable housing was replaced with purple accents to match Lucy's favorite color
- The dropper post cable was routed through the newly drilled hole, requiring careful bending.

### Wheel & Tire Setup

- Original cross-country tires were replaced with more aggressive CST Rock Hawk (front) and Jack Rabbit (rear) tires for better grip
- TPU inner tubes were installed to save weight, and 3D-printed adapters were used for the Presta valves.

### Final Assembly, Test Ride & Troubleshooting

- All components were mounted and adjusted, including the new headset and shorter stem
- A test ride revealed a squealing sound from the rear wheel, traced to the Velocity hub's bearings and a rubber O-ring, which Seth greased for a smoother operation
- The completed bike weighed the same as the original despite numerous performance upgrades.

### Delivery & Impact

- The bike was shipped to Lucy, who was excited to receive it and immediately started riding, even logging Strava miles
- Camden also received a Pedro's toolkit and Crankbrothers Stamp 7 pedals as a thank-you for initiating the project
- The project was a success, providing Lucy with a high-performance bike and fostering a positive cycling experience.

![Screenshot at 0:00: Man holding 'Dear Seth' letter in bike shop](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-00-00.png)
![Screenshot at 0:20: Full view of the initial Specialized Myka XC bike](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-00-20.png)
![Screenshot at 0:32: Table displaying various new bike upgrade parts in boxes](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-00-32.png)
![Screenshot at 0:53: Man loading a newly purchased white and green bike into a truck bed during rain](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-00-53.png)
![Screenshot at 1:45: Digital scale showing the bike's initial weight of 12.40 kg (27 lbs 10 oz)](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-01-45.png)
![Screenshot at 2:35: Close-up of a hand drilling a hole into the bike frame for cable routing](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-02-35.png)
![Screenshot at 3:59: Exterior shot of 'Squatch Bikes & Brews' bike shop with store hours visible](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-03-59.png)
![Screenshot at 4:17: Bike shop employee using a hammer to press a new seal into the bike fork](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-04-17.png)
![Screenshot at 5:30: Man demonstrating how to install an inner tube sleeve onto a fork spring](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-05-30.png)
![Screenshot at 11:14: Final full view of the upgraded Specialized Myka mountain bike outdoors](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Rj3r5Jzf_s8/00-11-14.png)