'Big wheels, big tyres, let's roll!' – Canyon builds LeBron James a custom 32-inch gravel bike
The one-of-one 3XL Canyon Grizl features a new geometry, a ground-up carbon construction and prototype DT Swiss wheels
LeBron James, the towering 6'9" NBA star, has been fitted with Canyon Bicycles' latest custom 32-inch gravel bike, named the Grizl Pro. The basketball legend, who is also a minority shareholder in the German company, took to social media to share a photo of himself riding the oversized wheels, stating, "Big wheels, big tyres, let’s roll!"
Canyon's Grizl Pro is the first gravel bike ever built around the emerging 32-inch wheel size, designed specifically for the NBA star. The bike features a massive 680mm stack, 470mm reach, and a 1,201mm wheelbase, with 476mm chainstays - dimensions rarely seen in mass-produced bikes. These larger dimensions help to accommodate James' size, providing a more proportionate fit and potentially improving comfort and handling.
Canyon's Grizl Pro also boasts a 32-inch DT Swiss wheels, which proponents of larger wheels say can roll more easily over rocks, ruts, and washboard surfaces. Despite the bike's experimental construction, Canyon insists that it is neither a prototype nor a display model but rather a custom-built machine engineered to meet James' unique needs.
The partnership between Canyon and the NBA star is part of a broader effort to promote cycling among the general public. Canyon's Design Engineer Matej Sömen stated that the Grizl Pro is not just a one-off build but also a means to evaluate new construction processes and refine the development of bikes for professional athletes and the wider public. The collaboration is also part of Canyon's "Find Your Freedom" cycling advocacy campaign, which aims to encourage more people to enjoy the sport.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
