Cycling is very much a male-dominated sport but that, thankfully, is changing. And there’s even less female custom framebuilders than male — another statistic that is gradually changing.
Kansas City is home to Julie Ann Pedalino, who will be making a hugely impressive debut at the New Builder Table this weekend as part of the 2015 North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Louisville.
Julie Ann is apprenticed to Vincent Rodriguez, the owner of Velo Plus, a cafe and bike shop in KC. Vincent also happens to be an accomplished framebuilder and recognized Julie Ann’s immense passion for bikes.
After hiring her as an apprentice mechanic in the workshop, Vincent decided to impart his knowledge of making a bicycle frame by hand. She’s now just finished building up this candy apple ‘cross bike — her fourth frame.
In her own words, “As far as the tubing goes, it’s a bit of a Frankenbike. I ended up using a Paragon head tube, dropouts, and cable stops, a (bi-oval) True Temper OX Platinum down tube, chain stays, and seat stays, a Nova Cycles externally butted seat tube, and a (octagonal) Columbus Life top tube.”
The geometry is standard CX spec: 56cm square with a 68mm bb drop, 42.5cm chain stay length, 72.5 head tube angle and a 73.5 seat tube angle. “I also did some custom bending and squishing on the chain stays for tire clearance”, she says, “and added a little bend on the seat stay bridge.”
Once the fillet-brazed frame was finished, Julie Ann went the extra mile and brought it to a mirror polish, ensuring the transparent red candy coat of paint was a true complement. The hard work paid off, resulting in a chromovelato-style finish which, in its traditional method of application, is virtually unobtainable these days.
With a build kit consisting of a red Chris King headset and bottom bracket, an Industry Nine Ultralight CX wheelset, a SRAM Force CX1 groupset, Brooks Cambium saddle and just the right amount of red anodisation and accessories, Julie Ann’s ‘crosser isn’t a pretty bike — it’s spectacular.
Be sure to say hi to her at the New Builders table in Louisville this weekend. You can contact her through her website, and follow her journey via Instagram and Facebook.
