Off-road is buzzing over 32-inch wheels - is road cycling next?
Big wheels were everywhere at Sea Otter and MADE, but exclusively on off-road bikes. Could road racing be next? Bike builders say maybe, but not anytime soon
At the MADE Bike Show in Portland, the 32-inch wheel captured attention across various types of bikes, including mountain bikes, bikepacking rigs, and gravel bikes. While prototypes emerged, no road bike built around the 32-inch platform was found. Proponents argue that 32-inch wheels roll smoothly over rough terrain, covering large distances with momentum, especially in a straight line, due to their larger radius meeting obstacles at a shallower angle.
This feature reduces disruption that can slow a bike down, and their increased rotational inertia helps maintain speed once the wheels are in motion, albeit requiring more effort to reach that speed. These benefits align well with off-road cycling, but their potential application in road cycling is intriguing, particularly for athletes who prioritize aerodynamic and rolling-resistance gains.
The concept resonated with some builders, who saw it as a promising area for exploration despite the lack of existing road bikes built around the 32-inch platform.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
