Thirty-Point-Five Wheels

 So....thirty-two inch wheels are the "Next Big Thing"? Hold on! We got solid rumors out there about a new wheel size. Thirty-Point-Five. 

I know you all are really excited about this! 

And before you type in a comment with an April Fools reference, this is actually a wheel size you can already buy. It exists, and I found a bike HERE.  

I know...I know. It isn't something you'd likely buy because of the unknown brand, but apparently the industry is gearing up to bring this alternative wheel size to fruition. The "Escape Collective" ran an article on Schwalbe's intentions to bring out this size wheel/tire and if they are doing this, again - you know an OE contract is behind this. In fact, the article pretty much says this straight up.  

Supposedly this size sits perfectly between 29" and 32". The obvious thing here is this would fit more people than 32" bikes could. The other obvious thing is we already have this wheel size. 

This bike with 29" x 3.0 tires would be effectively a 30.5"er.

Take any "plus-sized" 29"er, or a Jones bike with 29 x 3.0" tires. These measure 30.5" in diameter already. But yeah......I get it. With a larger diameter rim the tire doesn't have to be so poofy to get to 30.5". 

But this should point out to many of us that 30.5" is possibly a more viable alternative to a "bigger wheel" than 32" because we already know 29+ fits a lot of people out there. 

I also get how this will only enrage the already stirred up hornets nest of negativity over the bicycle industry. The perception is already that things like 32" wheels and "gravel bikes" are inventions we do not need. 

Thirty-Point-Five? Yeah.....That's going to help that right along! I don't know how all of this might play out, but whether or not it is just a ply to garner more interest and create sales is a fair argument. Do we really need this? 

It is fun to think about, but.....yeah. I don't think we need this.