08/15/2026
So your kid wants to race cyclocross?! Until recently, that meant adding a little air to the tires on their mountain bike and sending them out on course. Then waiting maybe 3 to 5 years for that growth spurt to hit, before finally slamming the seatpost into a “small” adult sized frame.
For as long as ‘cross has been around, 700c wheels have been the standard. They roll fast over rough terrain, carry momentum, and open the door to a nearly endless selection of race-ready wheels and tires. The problem, of course, if that the bikes attached to those wheels have traditionally been way to big for the smallest would-be riders.
Enter, HUP Competition Cycling | .
Their 37cm Evo SL CX bike manages to wrap true kid-sized geometry around full-size 700c wheels. And suddenly, there’s never been a better time to be 8 years old!
The frame is a start, but it’s the complete kid focused build that really makes it possible for riders as small as 4’1” to take advantage of big wheels.
Does any kid need this? No, of course not. And can they fall in love with cyclocross on a $250 bike from Facebook marketplace? Yes, of course!
But are these bikes ridiculously fun to build and unbelievably fast to ride? Also yes. 🙂↕️
🛠️: FastSplits, Jesse Kapsten.