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| Image courtesy of Velocity USA |
While the benefits of a larger wheel size are straight out of what I've learned from the transition from 26"ers to 29"ers, many feel 32' is just a ruse by cycling insiders to make more money. Of course, capitalism is certainly a motivation, but there is actually good, researched reasoning behind the idea. See THIS YouTube video for the details.
Meanwhile, all you have to do is pay attention to what is bubbling up to the surface regarding the necessary pieces to put together a 32" wheeled XC racing bike. Things like tires are already here. One of the next things to look for is a suspension fork, (rumors abound concerning big name suspension fork companies looking at 32" wheels) but for now, only Wren Sports is a 'real' option. Rims would be another issue to overcome, and just this week Velocity USA announced a 32" diameter Blunt with hole drilling from 28H - 40H available.
While XC MTB is the focus now, gravel bikes will be seen soon enough sporting this wheel size, especially since a suspension fork is not necessary for success in the gravel market. I know of at least one niche manufacturer who is looking into this currently, but I would not be at all surprised to find out there are others developing bicycles for gravel and 32" wheels. I'd keep a keen lookout for something to pop up around Sea Otter time.
Personally, I feel 32" wheels have a place in gravel cycling. I would certainly be all over trying a bike out fitted with 32" wheels and having the proper geometry. Maybe it is worth a custom frame.
But I need a bicycle like I need another hole in my head, so.....
Stay tuned.
10 comments:
32" Wheels, I will check back in 5 years and let them work out issues for average sized people. With that said, I see this being larger step function in bike handling issues than 26 to 29 wheels. 700cc tires already existed for decades, this will be a larger learning curve, and this has already been in process for 10 years already. 32s and 36s have been talked about in gravel circles since 2014 at least. If 32" was good direction we would of seen it by now by Salsa or Surly or some early adopted brand. The trick is not to be first in, but the better second in company.
I'm ready to try it out and know for sure. I'm not going to sit around and postulate. I just want to ride, feel and decide... just like I did with 29" wheels. Otherwise it's all just mental masturbation. I'm glad that we're going to get the chance to see what it's all about.
We're 10 years from us all riding penny farthings again. Heck I'm going to go ahead and break the embargo about Sram's 15speed group coming in 2032.
@MG - I'm right there with ya, Brother! Interested, but not obsessed.
@N.Y. Roll - As far as "we'd have seen it by now" goes, I disagree with this take. First of all, the limitations of the biccyle industry dictate a slow roll into anything "new", which was the place anything "gravel" was at ten years ago up until COVID. Then we had the disruption of the pandemic, which has been unprecedented in terms of manufacturing and sales.
We still really are not over the disruption of COVID times, and sales reflect an uneasiness on the part of consumers to buy anything currently offered besides a rare couple of categories in bicycles. (Gravel, high-end road, maybe eMTB/eBikes)
This 32" thing then may be seen by brands as worth pursuing because of the excitement it generates amongst "bike nerds" who would be curious enough to buy in right away hoping to gain an advantage in performance, "cool factor", or both. Sure, that's a transient marketing ploy, but what else can they do now?
@Motorcraftsman - I'd laugh and think you are being sarcastic, but ya know...... You might not be wrong!
so what you are saying is the bike industry is colluding against the user and not delivering the best possible products to consumers when they discover advantages of improvements?
@N.Y. Roll - To answer your last comment above: No.
And you are over-simplifying the context of my comment. One not only has to believe a product will actually improve upon previous or current offerings, but they also have to have (a) a willing to buy market, (b) a product which is 'ready to go' and not one with inherent flaws which could derail sales, and (c) the economic and financial climate to do all of this in without bankrupting the company.
Right now a lot of those details are not sussed out or are in question, which are outside of the supposed fact that "32"ers are better".
I was able to spend some time riding on a stormchaser equipped with 32" wheels and tires. The increased gyroscopic effects of the larger diameter were noticeable to me, even when riding on pavement. Not sure how I feel based on that particular ride.
@S. Fuller - Stormchaser and 32 inch wheels you say? Interesting.....
My riding of a 36"er, (years ago with heavier tires and wheels than what 32"er will have), showed that gyroscopic/flywheel effect big time. I think if the rider knows how to work momentum, a course like Gravel Worlds or a lot of stuff in Iowa would be fun. Anything where you have to grind out a long climb would be kind of horrible, in my estimation. But yeah, I'd love to try it.
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