Triathlete Evie Becomes Handsling's Youngest Customer

One of the advantages of Handsling Bikes being an independent brand is the flexibility it provides to build highly customised bikes.

From Starsky & Hutch themed paint scheme to a complete bike weighing just 5kg, we pride ourselves on offering a personalised service.

So when Beth Bramall came to the workshop asking for a performance road bike that her fast-growing daughter could race over the next few years, it was a case of challenge accepted.

The end result is a carbon fibre Handsling A1R0evo that looks great and is race legal for 12-year-old Evie's junior triathlons and road races.

What's more, the bike is future proofed. When our youngest (and smallest) customer outgrows the current measurements, the workshop will fit a longer seat post and stem and wider bar.

The Brief

Off the peg came a size 50 A1R0evo carbon frame in Pearlescent Teal, our smallest sized frame with a 10cm head tube. We took Evie's measurements and mocked up the frame to ensure a good fit. 

Then came the tricky bit - sourcing cranks, cassette, bars and wheels that comply with British Cycling's bike spec for junior racing. For example, the maximum distance covered per crank revolution is 7.93m, while wheel rims must be alloy and a maximum 35mm depth. 

The Build

Working from the front, we fitted a 32cm wide HUP compact drop handlebar that's purpose-built for kids racing.

Next up, the groupset. It took some tracking down, but we sourced a rarely found Shimano 105 with 50/34 chainrings and 160mm cranks. To comply with British Cycling regs, we fitted a Miche 18-28T 11-speed cassette. 

Handsling's expert wheelbuilder Ian Lynch hand-built a pair of alloy rimmed disc brake wheels with 30mm rims. 

Keeping it Aero

The A1R0evo is all about maximising aerodynamic performance. For Evie's bike, this meant combining the integrated cable routing with a non-integrated stem and bars. 

The solution was to route the cables and hoses through the headset and along the bars using a purpose-engineered rubber cap. This resulted in a bike that retained the A1R0evo's neat, streamlined look. 

New Bike Day

Evie was thrilled when she collected the bike with her mum. After a quick ride near the workshop, the team made some adjustments to her reach, swapping out a 10cm stem for an 8cm. 

She rides for Solent Pirates Youth Cycling Club in triathlon, hill climbs and road races. She has already won the BSCA National Hill Climb Championships at Ditcham Park riding her A1R0evo. 

 

And here's the feedback from mum Beth:

"An amazing experience from start to finish! The team at Handsling went above and beyond to create the ultimate road bike for our 12-year-old daughter. She's a very petite 12-year-old and trying to find a bike that had the spec to match her racing needs was proving impossible. The time the team took with us and the efforts that went into sourcing and creating her dream bike were mind-blowing. I have one incredibly happy daughter and would highly recommend!"

Get in touch at sales@handslingbikes.com for more info on customising our road, cyclocross and track bikes for junior riders.