Veldt 32" gravel bike

[NGM]

48 minutes ago, guidodg said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZk1ogf-r1o

I'd imagine gravel is one of the best use cases for these and it's pretty easy to see them being common place in the future. Relative to XC, say, straight line speed and minimal rolling resistance is far more important than maneuverability. If they are faster without any significant tradeoffs, then why wouldn't it become the standard in some disciplines? It's hard to see this size being workable for some of the shorter road riders like carapaz, but the likes of Tim DeClerc would have been quite at home on 32". I wonder if we'll ever see 2 different sizes in the peloton.

That said, I bumped into somebody riding a pyga pascoe the other evening; a 650B bike I owned and then sold in about 2017 to get a 29er. It's still the most fun-to-ride bike I've ever owned despite the handful of decent dual suspension 29ers I've ridden since then, and now that I don't care about being fast, that's all that matters. And even then, I've actually still never come close to some of my best times on technical descents that I got with that bike. I wish I'd never sold it, although, I'm not sure how easy it is to get spares these days. 

[Bro Derek]

14 minutes ago, NGM said:

I'd imagine gravel is one of the best use cases for these and it's pretty easy to see them being common place in the future. Relative to XC, say, straight line speed and minimal rolling resistance is far more important than maneuverability. If they are faster without any significant tradeoffs, then why wouldn't it become the standard in some disciplines? It's hard to see this size being workable for some of the shorter road riders like carapaz, but the likes of Tim DeClerc would have been quite at home on 32". I wonder if we'll ever see 2 different sizes in the peloton.

That said, I bumped into somebody riding a pyga pascoe the other evening; a 650B bike I owned and then sold in about 2017 to get a 29er. It's still the most fun-to-ride bike I've ever owned despite the handful of decent dual suspension 29ers I've ridden since then, and now that I don't care about being fast, that's all that matters. And even then, I've actually still never come close to some of my best times on technical descents that I got with that bike. I wish I'd never sold it, although, I'm not sure how easy it is to get spares these days. 

Road cycling currently has a maximum tire circumference rule and a sexy 'roll through' tool for testing

So wheels and tires can't be larger in diameter than 700mm

It would take a rather big change in bike shape/wheel size law to change the WT road rules which isn't likely

[guidodg]

I don't see any need for 32ers on road at all...but for gravel it's a no-brainer

[NGM]

41 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

Road cycling currently has a maximum tire circumference rule and a sexy 'roll through' tool for testing

So wheels and tires can't be larger in diameter than 700mm

It would take a rather big change in bike shape/wheel size law to change the WT road rules which isn't likely

Ah right. Ya I thought something like that existed, did a quick search and couldn't find info. Didn't look hard enough!

[CARANXCycleMobile]

On 3/22/2026 at 8:20 AM, guidodg said:

I am smitten...

https://www.chirubikes.com/en/kit-cadre/vagus-copie/

 

 

 

It looks like a thing Boswell Wilkie could use for entertainment 😂

[NotSoBigBen]

5 hours ago, CARANXCycleMobile said:

It looks like a thing Boswell Wilkie could use for entertainment 😂

Many, including myself, said the same about 29'rs ... regardless of our logical thinking about 'where will it end' between the marketers, early adopters and latest and greatest chasers this too will be what everyone needs and must have and will sell like hot cakes I guess

Don't mind me though, just old and grumpy I suppose ... and can't afford to keep up!

[DieselnDust]

3 hours ago, NotSoBigBen said:

Many, including myself, said the same about 29'rs ... regardless of our logical thinking about 'where will it end' between the marketers, early adopters and latest and greatest chasers this too will be what everyone needs and must have and will sell like hot cakes I guess

Don't mind me though, just old and grumpy I suppose ... and can't afford to keep up!

watching and commenting on every promotion of bike industry "innovations" just further enables their lust to make your current kit obsolete. So I just don't bother acknowledging certain "innovations" and their ambassadors anylonger

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

5 hours ago, NotSoBigBen said:

Many, including myself, said the same about 29'rs ... regardless of our logical thinking about 'where will it end' between the marketers, early adopters and latest and greatest chasers this too will be what everyone needs and must have and will sell like hot cakes I guess

Don't mind me though, just old and grumpy I suppose ... and can't afford to keep up!

I’ve done a lot of reading of older forum posts over the past couple of years and some of the posts are really funny if you read them now. There was MUCH disdain/lack of trust about 29”, tubeless, carbon MTB frames and 12 speed drivetrains 😂 😂 

[splat]

10 minutes ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

I’ve done a lot of reading of older forum posts over the past couple of years and some of the posts are really funny if you read them now. There was MUCH disdain/lack of trust about 29”, tubeless, carbon MTB frames and 12 speed drivetrains 😂 😂 

And tubeless tyres and disc brakes

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

I’ve done a lot of reading of older forum posts over the past couple of years and some of the posts are really funny if you read them now. There was MUCH disdain/lack of trust about 29”, tubeless, carbon MTB frames and 12 speed drivetrains 😂 😂 

 

And "gravel bikes" ...

[guidodg]

exactly… let’s revisit this post in 2 years…

[ChrisF]

4 minutes ago, guidodg said:

exactly… let’s revisit this post in 2 years…

 

Pretty safe to say .....

 

I will still be too short for a 32"....

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

54 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

And "gravel bikes" ...

Yes! They were just renamed skinny-tekkied hardtails really. 

Though in serious our 27.5 is so much easier to ride than the 29ers. I feel very much “in” the bike. And the 29ers have their merits and downsides. I actually quite enjoy a 26er if I’m honest. But I’m 166cm and slow, so there’s that. 

[betaboy]

Man those frames look fugly! So here’s what you upgrading:

- slower steering ✅

- stupid fork rake✅

-brain freeze head tube angle ✅

- potential foot overlap (not toe) ✅

-heavier frame with long chainstays ✅

-new longer spokes ✅

- heavier tires ✅

-new gear ratios ✅

-135 link chain ✅

So who will sign up for these amazing innovations? 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
 

[ChrisF]

8 hours ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Yes! They were just renamed skinny-tekkied hardtails really. 

Though in serious our 27.5 is so much easier to ride than the 29ers. I feel very much “in” the bike. And the 29ers have their merits and downsides. I actually quite enjoy a 26er if I’m honest. But I’m 166cm and slow, so there’s that. 

 

I love my 27,5 MTB .... 

 

On a 29" I must run a short dropper post.

[NotSoBigBen]

8 hours ago, betaboy said:

Man those frames look fugly! So here’s what you upgrading:

- slower steering ✅

- stupid fork rake✅

-brain freeze head tube angle ✅

- potential foot overlap (not toe) ✅

-heavier frame with long chainstays ✅

-new longer spokes ✅

- heavier tires ✅

-new gear ratios ✅

-135 link chain ✅

So who will sign up for these amazing innovations? 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
 

Short answer? Many I suspect will despite your reservations 🤪