Let’s talk about that NEW elephant in the room

[GLuvsMtb]

I'm not convinced that we need this. The pro's will ride square wheels and make them look good if you pay them enough, so that for me is hardly an indicator. Remember how long Shurter stayed on his 650b's when everyone else jumped to 29ers? I also recall a very "scientific" test Sauser did in Jonkershoek illustrating the speed difference between a 650b and 29er, basically riding both bikes up on the same trail and illustrating the supposed gains. 

Dead 26 and 650b stock nearly killed some bike manufacturers and dead 29 stock will certainly take a few scalps. The UCI sandbagged on disk brakes for the roadies to protect the industry and I am very certain that they will do the same with another wheel size. 

On the udder hand we probably need a new fuel to substitute the plateauing gravel bike industry. 

[RocknRolla]

I for one am really happy there is a new wheel size. It's been too long since we had a good wheel size Bikehub debate.

 

[Mamil]

32" wheels and 165 cranks

The big circles are getting bigger and the small circles are getting smaller.

 

[SSCC]

5 hours ago, Iwan Kemp said:

Most likely, 32ers will kill off recreational gravel riding as a 32er will be MUCH faster than a gravel bike. UCI gravel racing will stick to gravel bikes as we know it, but if the market shifts, there will be little to no reason to keep gravel racing going if most consumers are buying 32ers.

What do you mean?

If 32 becomes a new standard then gravel bikes will be designed to fit 32 wheels.

You make it sound as if a 32 is a specific type of bike rather than just a wheel size. But it can be a mountain bike and a gravel bike and even a road bike.

[Iwan Kemp]

4 minutes ago, SSCC said:

What do you mean?

If 32 becomes a new standard then gravel bikes will be designed to fit 32 wheels.

You make it sound as if a 32 is a specific type of bike rather than just a wheel size. But it can be a mountain bike and a gravel bike and even a road bike.

The way I have it, road and gravel bikes will stick to their current wheel sizes. 32", for now at least, will be MTB specific. What frankenbikes hubbers come up with after that, no one will be able to predict.

[Wyatt Earp]

If, and that is a very big if, they take off.

It’s gonna take another 6-8 years for them to dial the geometry in.

Guys who rode those early 26 inch Kona’s and Gary Fishers will know what I’m talking about, and that was on 26 inch.

 

Not even to mention the 29 inch Fishers.

My 2005 Gary Fisher 29 inch rode like a limo, long top tube and horrible on tight trails, I called it my farm gate. 

 

Surly’s Karate Monkey, which came out before the first commercially available 29’ers (Gary Fisher bikes) was better dialed in. 

 

And let’s look at why 29 inch took off.

 BSD of 622 mm has always been available, to go fully commercial, and release a line of bikes, wasn’t too difficult from there on.

Once the geometries got dialed in and more manufacturers made tyres, it was only inevitable for it to fully take off.

Thank heavens the gear ratios were next, as many a rider wouldn’t have been able to turn the cranks at an efficient cadence. 

27.5 kinda took off, simply because 650 was another readily available hoop size. 

This is a whole different world, 660 mm BSD is a whole new wheel size.

[rock]

21 minutes ago, Wyatt Earp said:

 

This is a whole different world, 660 mm BSD is a whole new wheel size.

is 660 not 750d wheels? What happened to this bright idea?

 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/wtb-develops-new-750d-wheel-size.html

[NotSoBigBen]

29 minutes ago, Wyatt Earp said:

If, and that is a very big if, they take off.

It’s gonna take another 6-8 years for them to dial the geometry in.

Guys who rode those early 26 inch Kona’s and Gary Fishers will know what I’m talking about, and that was on 26 inch.

 

Not even to mention the 29 inch Fishers.

My 2005 Gary Fisher 29 inch rode like a limo, long top tube and horrible on tight trails, I called it my farm gate. 

 

Surly’s Karate Monkey, which came out before the first commercially available 29’ers (Gary Fisher bikes) was better dialed in. 

 

And let’s look at why 29 inch took off.

 BSD of 622 mm has always been available, to go fully commercial, and release a line of bikes, wasn’t too difficult from there on.

Once the geometries got dialed in and more manufacturers made tyres, it was only inevitable for it to fully take off.

Thank heavens the gear ratios were next, as many a rider wouldn’t have been able to turn the cranks at an efficient cadence. 

27.5 kinda took off, simply because 650 was another readily available hoop size. 

This is a whole different world, 660 mm BSD is a whole new wheel size.

My first ride on a clown bike was on Grumpy's Karakoram, felt like a dikwiel I rode when I was a kid on the farm!

[Iwan Kemp]

16 minutes ago, rock said:

is 660 not 750d wheels? What happened to this bright idea?

 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/wtb-develops-new-750d-wheel-size.html

From the article:
The rim designation for 750d is 660, which is 38mm larger than 622 (700c/29"), which is 38mm larger than 584 (650b/27.5").

[Iwan Kemp]

Another gem from the article...
 

Quote

The larger wheel size is also meant to offer a larger contact patch than traditional sizing, closer in comparison to 29x2.4" mountain bike tires. Why they're not just using some of the many already available fast-rolling mountain bike tires, I don't know, but hey maybe I just don't understand innovation.

 

[Iwan Kemp]

1 minute ago, Iwan Kemp said:

From the article:
The rim designation for 750d is 660, which is 38mm larger than 622 (700c/29"), which is 38mm larger than 584 (650b/27.5").

This reads like an American trying to explain the imperial system of units...

[Bro Derek]

48 minutes ago, Wyatt Earp said:

If, and that is a very big if, they take off.

It’s gonna take another 6-8 years for them to dial the geometry in.

 

The thing is, they don't need to take off, they just need to exist as an option. 

By banning them you're not allowing them to take up space.

Taking off and being allowed to be ridden are worlds apart.

A company like NINER had pretty good 29er geo off the bat as they just made 29ers. A company or two that want to make 32ers could dial it in pretty quickly.

There are also far better virtual tools and continuation in progressive ideas in MTB geo now to make the change less of a jump in thinking.

I just find the whole 'Ban it' concept ridiculous. especially by the general public who are in no way forced to engage in a new wheel standard if they don't want to.

Ignore the gains or performance aspects, the concept of banning something over whataboutisms is almost as though the big players in the industry who don't want competition are calling the shots.

If 32ers suck then they suck, if they are good then they are good. But not allowing them to be ridden? That is some backhand nonsense

[Iwan Kemp]

20 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

The thing is, they don't need to take off, they just need to exist as an option. 

By banning them you're not allowing them to take up space.

 

I think you're missing the bit where if banned by the UCI, it won't be allowed at sanctioned events. they can still exist and be in use.

 

Much like EPO, it's frowned upon in UCI events, but it still exists and can be used should you wish to. 

[Bro Derek]

1 minute ago, Iwan Kemp said:

I think you're missing the bit where if banned by the UCI, it won't be allowed at sanctioned events. they can still exist and be in use.

 

Much like EPO, it's frowned upon in UCI events, but it still exists and can be used should you wish to. 

No, I'm not at all. 

I am not in the dark as to how it works. No need to assume anyone is an idiot.

But on that, comparing wheel size to EPO? That's a stretch, or not at all relevant. 

PEDS are not a slightly larger wheel. They are cheating.

Using a different wheel size isn't cheating..... unless it's better, then why ban it if it makes the sport you're governing better?

[Iwan Kemp]

2 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

No, I'm not at all. 

I am not in the dark as to how it works. No need to assume anyone is an idiot.

But on that, comparing wheel size to EPO? That's a stretch, or not at all relevant. 

PEDS are not a slightly larger wheel. They are cheating.

Using a different wheel size isn't cheating..... unless it's better, then why ban it if it makes the sport you're governing better?

Wow, nobody assumed you're an idiot. Not even close. It genuinely comes across as if you're thinking UCI ban means the end of the wheel size forever and a day. 

Edited August 12, 2025 by Iwan Kemp

[DieselnDust]

7 hours ago, Bro Derek said:

Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water

No one will be forcing anyone to make them. Bike brands can choose.

If they ban them then they cannot choose to make them, which is ridiculous.

Niche brands can fill that gap until other big companies feel it is a market worth exploring. But by banning it you are protecting the current shape of the bike market and cutting out an avenue for others to fill.

Change isn't bad, companies don't have to embrace the change, but by banning stuff because 'some' big players feel it isn't profitable?

Come on.... banning wheel size change over mass economics is ridiculous. Let Moot and WTB have some fun for a while and see if it even has a place before throwing a blanket over it

A UCI ban doesn’t stop a manufacture from making a 32er. You just can’t use it in any uci sanctioned event.i would hate to be forced to have to buy a new bike in order to compete because in SA distributors will hop on the 32 gravy train for all the 50 something pros who can afford them. The rest will  be playing Padel. 

since y’all hate the UCI anyways, its doesn’t affect you. For the rest , #bantheshhytebeforeitrakeshold