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32" wheel XC bikes coming in 2025?

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#361 ·
prj71 said:
Funny thing is we now have people that make such statements about fat bikes. They think big tires replaces suspension.
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Fat bikes have been around...20 years? It was said from the beginning, and true before they existed. Of course, to a degree. You gain a few cm of realistic "travel" in the tire, meaning you don't need it from bike flex and suspension compression.
What I only now as I write this realize, is that a tire absorbs (springs, really) a shock perfectly along the axis it's needed. A fork is angled for many reasons, but a 4" fork under most conditions give you 4" of shock reduction. The bike can rotate relative to the contact patch(es) with the ground, the tire can only touch it, or miss it.
 
#363 ·
Jayem said:
Good suspension is the key to dealing with braking bumps and staying in control. There's nothing like great suspension when you got huge dug out braking bumps and the bike is in total sync with the bumps and just sucks them up no problem. It's crap suspension when you gotta slow down or get light on the bars and can't just ram into it either straight ahead or in a turn.

I remember when 29ers came out everyone was saying that it was a replacement for suspension or you didn't need as much. I found that to be completely untrue. What I found true is that yes, if you could hold on you would have more speed and roll over objects better, but that was a big "if" and you still needed suspension to do so and really unlock that ability to carry more speed. I do feel that maybe you don't need quite as much, but it's more like you still need like at least 80% of what you would have with 27.5 and you really can't just lessen the travel a bunch. It'll be like crap in those braking bumps trying to hold on while the wheel bounces all over the place. Again, if you can manage to hold on, you might be able to carry some more speed, but you need good suspension in the first place and enough travel for that suspension to work.
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Where I live trails are quite tame. Braking bumps on an artificial gravel path was about as bumpy as it got at least when I switched from 26" to 29". I seemed to deal with the dumps as well as 26" racers (I'm talking XC, not enduro or whatever long travel stuff). The roll-over on roots, the peak grip in turns, reduced speed scrub and general stability made it a no-brainer for me.
Some really fit racers (well above my level) suddenly struggled to keep up even on quite tame trails with the odd step-up, the day I got the first Fisher 29" hardtail and that was before tires got good. The moment I got a rigid fork, I rarely rode suspension anymore.
Sadly I did end up buying a bunch of White Brothers 80mm forks. What to do with those? Hardly ever used...
Even when I eventually get a full suspension bike, the WhiteBros will be painfully outdated, and way too short to work.

So BMC started with the conversion of a fully to 32". I wonder how relevant that will end up being. Or could a short travel 32" cover a lot of bases?
For vertical drops, rim diameter can't make up for tire height unless it can ovalize in a controlled manner. That'd be something. Compress only the "tire" part until a certain size drop is sensed and the rim turns into a slow rebound spring...
 
#366 ·
Davidcopperfield said:
I love the idea. I shall purchase it, but would rather a 36er version! :)
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That's an old thread in your signature :)
What suspension fork to use for an XC 32"er?

DirtySixer uses single crown upside down forks with reduced travel.
The BMC proto has an extension added at the bottom.

Are there 29+ forks with 410 mm or more to the brace?
 
Discussion starter · #367 ·
Cloxxki 2.0 said:
That's an old thread in your signature :)
What suspension fork to use for an XC 32"er?

DirtySixer uses single crown upside down forks with reduced travel.
The BMC proto has an extension added at the bottom.

Are there 29+ forks with 410 mm or more to the brace?
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The new Fox Podium inverted fork would probably work but it's super heavy for xc. I bet a Cannondale lefty fork would also work and be much lighter.
 
#368 ·
Older-model Leftys can be travel-limited with spacers to accommodate larger wheels, yes, in fact this was done between 26" and 29er bikes. I've done it myself, even made my own carbon steerer. Don't know if the same applies for Ocho models however, it's a very different fork vs the old double-crown models and not as user-servicable.

Although the prototype BMC is enticing, other than carbon 32" rims, nothing for that bike is for sale now, including the prototype Aspen tires.

cyclinic.com.au

Cannondale Lefty Travel Reducers

Cannondale Lefty Travel Reducers Pack of 3 x 10mm nylon reducers Used in the conversion to 29" compatibility with DLR/PBR/XLR Lefty's Note - Used in conjunction with specific air chamber spacing to convert from 26" to 29". Part# HD010/
cyclinic.com.au cyclinic.com.au
 
#373 ·
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#377 ·
Clyde Ride said:
Oh no! More solo riders will crash and die!
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Were the rules changed? Are 32" wheels currently legal, then?
I struggle to find the article where wheel size is specified. Google mentions a maximum rim width of 33 mm, but even that I don't see in the documents. Perhaps they did away with superfluous regs, and now indeed consider making an exception to ban 32"?

When I was in contact with Gary Fisher and the UCI, it was too hard to do better than just change the 6 into a 9.
26" was the maximum, and nearly all bikes had a larger than 26.00" wheel diameter. The rim is 22.5" so 1.75" tall tyres would reach 26" already.
Using inches is demented for regulations anyway. We're not building a home from wood in the US here. It's precision manufacturing of rims and tyres to sub-mm tolerances.
 
#378 · (Edited)
Lelandjt said:
Thank god.
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Those who genuinely thank God, tend to capitalize the name?
What's divine about wishing people can't ride and race what they want because brands were dissuaded for making it as not eligible for racing?
Was it so painful for you to switch from 26" to 29" or 27.5" over the past 26 years?

That's being grateful no more green underwear will be produced. How does it affect you whether there are 32" bikes being enjoyed or not?
 
#380 ·
Cloxxki 2.0 said:
Those who genuinely thank God, tend to capitalize the name?

Was it so painful for you to switch from 26" to 29" or 27.5" over the past 26 years? How does it affect you whether there are 32" bikes being enjoyed or not?
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Cuz those dummies think god is a big daddy in the sky who needs to be respected. I know it's just a saying.

Yes, having to stock parts for 3 wheel sizes sucks. I don't want to add a 4th. We don't need more complication & expense so that some riders don't have to feel bumps in the trail. There's already smooth trails those guys can enjoy.
 
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