Despite ongoing overstock issues that could be exacerbated by adding a new wheel size into the market, 32-inch-wheels are indeed coming. The Show Daily took a look at the latest developments.
At both Taipei Cycle and Eurobike, there has been plenty of off-the-record talk of 32-inch-wheeled bicycles ready to hit the market soon, mostly in the endurance segment on gravel bikes or short-travel mountain bikes. The thought is similar to when 29-inch-wheels hit the market 20 years ago: Bigger wheels hit obstacles at a shallower angle, promising less loss of momentum when rolling over, more traction and more speed over longer distances.
Apart from the added weight, fitting these larger wheels into frames without lifting the handlebars too much is going to be a challenge, and so will be the construction of full-suspension frames. Prototypes shown at the Eurobike booth of Maxxis Tires and teased by BMC at World Cup races in Andorra show that the challenge has been accepted.
First products have been on display at regular tradeshows, most notably rims, wheels and tires. At Taipei Cycle Show, Xero Wheels had a complete wheelset with carbon rims on display, allowing for a comparison with a 29-inch wheel. One characteristic are the high-flange hubs that make for shorter effective spoke lengths, adding much-needed lateral stiffness.
Glory Wheel follows a similar path with its 715 J-Bend hub that also features oversized flanges. For XC racing, these hubs are combined with sleeve-joint alloy rims carrying the model name XS3021. As for the rear wheel, Glory Wheel opts for an axle with a diameter of 17mm and an OLD of 148mm. Expect heated discussions on which axle dimensions work best for this wheel size in the near future.
More alloy rim offerings for the novel 32-inch size come from the likes of Jet Set and Alex Rims, with the latter relying on the proven and stiff profile of its MD30 rims with an inner width of 30mm to beef up the entire wheel. As for tires, Maxxis has already presented the fast-rolling Aspen model in a 32×2.4-inch size at this year’s tradeshows, following hot on the heels of VeeTire with its T Monster in the same 32×2.4-inch size.
As for matching forks, upside down forks like the ones of Wren Sports can easily be adapted to fit larger-diameter wheels without causing additional tooling costs, and the launch of conventional suspension forks for 32-inch wheels is but a matter of time.