This custom beach racing bike has a hardtail frame and a $1,600 gravel handlebar

By Jack Evans

Published: Thursday, 24 November 2022 at 12:00 am

Jules de Cock has built the ultimate bike for beach racing using a Canyon Exceed frame, Classified hub and a $1,600 custom cockpit.

The 25-year-old races on the road at UCI Level 1.2 for Global Cycling Team and recently won the Grand Prix Al Massira in Morocco.

But the Dutchman specialises on the sand, where he represents the BEAT Cycling club.

European beach racing champion Ivar Slik’s victory in the 2022 Unbound 200 gravel race shed light on the discipline.

Beach racing takes place mainly in the Netherlands and overlaps with the cyclocross racing season.

Speaking to BikeRadar, de Cock says: “You need an aerodynamic position for the high-speed parts of the race, while you also need to handle the bike well enough through the technical sand sections of the race.”

De Cock’s wacky and lavish tech choices reflect these unique demands.

Custom Canyon Exceed beach racer spec

"Beach
The mountain bike frame’s clearance permits de Cock to run 64mm (measured width) tyres.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
"Jules
The Classified Powershift hub and SRAM Force eTap AXS take care of shifting.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
"Speeco
De Cock’s customised carbon cockpit has flared bars, narrow aero extensions and an integrated computer mount.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
"Beachracer
De Cock says the Classified Powershift system enables him to shift under load, which is useful in beach racing. 
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
"Jules
De Cock stretches out on the integrated aero extensions.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
"Jules
Very wide tyres come into their own on the technical parts of beach racing courses.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
"Jules
Beach racing’s steep descents mean the bike has to be comfortable as well as fast.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon

De Cock’s bike is built around a Canyon Exceed frame. The brand’s all-out XC racing hardtail has an 835g claimed weight in its highest-grade carbon.

He’s spray-painted the frame in BEAT Cycling colours and drilled the carbon fork to allow internal cable routing.

The mountain bike frame has clearance for wide, tubeless tyres to give traction in loose sand.

De Cock runs Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres, which we’re told measure 64mm wide when inflated on 35mm-wide internal rims from Classified Cycling.

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Beach racers rarely use a front derailleur, yet need big gears for high speeds.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon

The custom-built, deep-section wheels use Classified’s Powershift technology, a wireless shifting system that’s held within the hub and is designed to replace a front derailleur.

“The ability to shift under load is an amazing addition to a beach bike,” de Cock explains, referring to the Powershift system’s claimed ability to shift regardless of the torque being applied through the drivetrain.

He adds: “Almost all beach race bikes are equipped without a front derailleur, since those things work even worse when dragged across a beach environment with sand, water and salt.

“However, you do need a large gearing range.

“The Classified hub is ideal for this.

“In a winter storm with the wind in your back, the race speed goes well over 50km/h, but you also have to drag yourself up a sand dune at almost walking speed.”

On that note, de Cock uses Shimano SPD pedals because, at slow speeds when pedalling fails, beach racing requires the cyclocross skill of running with the bike.

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When beach races hit speeds of 50km/h, de Cock benefits from the aero extensions.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon

The custom gravel cockpit from Speeco is straight out of gravel racing. De Cock is co-founder and product engineer at the brand that specialises in integrated aero handlebars.

Jan-Willem van Schip was disqualified from the Baloise Belgium Tour for using the Speeco Aero Breakaway Bar in 2021.

The brand says everything about the bar, from width to flare, can be personalised to the rider.

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The bespoke bars could catch on for long-distance gravel racing.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon

De Cock has paired wide, flared drops to aid control on sandy singletrack, with integrated, narrow extensions to get aero on the open beach.

There’s an integrated mount for his Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, which he connects to an SRM power meter.

De Cock uses SRAM Force eTap AXS wireless shifting. He says the “harsh beach environment” will cause cables on a mechanical groupset and Shimano Di2 plugs to corrode.

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The chunky, single chainring is an aftermarket addition.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon

A SRAM Super Boost crank enables him to run a single 52T chainring from Garbaruk on the mountain bike frame.

De Cock perches on a Shimano Pro Stealth off-road saddle.

He says he tried an ISM time trial saddle for extra aerodynamic advantage, but “found out the painful way they are not suited to off-road use”.

De Cock believes the bike’s complete weight is around 10kg.

Custom Canyon Exceed beach racer build in full

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The hybrid build borrows from multiple disciplines.
Niels Amsterdam / Canyon
  • Frame: Canyon Exceed
  • Fork: Custom carbon fork
  • Brakes: SRAM Force hydraulic disc
  • Shifter: SRAM Force eTap AXS
  • Crankset: 52T Garbaruk, SRAM Super Boost cranks
  • Handlebar / stem: Custom Speeco GR cockpit
  • Hubs: Classified Powershift
  • Wheels: Custom Classified Cycling
  • Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Speed, 64mm
  • Pedals: Shimano SPD
  • Saddle: Shimano Pro Stealth Offroad