The 32"/32er Discussion Thread

emma-langley-and-pablo-the-prototype-are-ready-for-the-race-v0-acl2it15jljh1.jpg

Emma Langley's bike at Leadville.

emma-langley-and-pablo-the-prototype-are-ready-for-the-race-v0-x53y7cbjlljh1.jpg

😅

I'm not at all embarrassed to say that I care about how my bikes look and how I look on the bike! but god daym those wheels look HUUUUUGE on her aye?!
 
Dales Cannon said:
Contact patch area is the same regardless of diameter, the shape though changes and gets longer and narrower as diameter increases.
Click to expand...

I'm having a debate with someone on reddit (as you do lol!) in relation to cornering. I'm not at all doubting that 32" wheels might make for better cornering grip, but more specifically I'm arguing that bigger wheels make it harder to negotiate tight uphill switchbacks due to the longer wheelbase, at least for me. IE: There's a tight switchback at Loftus that forces you to take a wide line in order to make it on a 29er. On a 27.5" bike or 26" I can make it at ease without even having to take a wide line so I know the smaller wheels make it easier to make it around this tight switchback, but I can't prove it lol.
 
Justin Fox said:
I'm having a debate with someone on reddit (as you do lol!) in relation to cornering. I'm not at all doubting that 32" wheels might make for better cornering grip, but more specifically I'm arguing that bigger wheels make it harder to negotiate tight uphill switchbacks due to the longer wheelbase, at least for me. IE: There's a tight switchback at Loftus that forces you to take a wide line in order to make it on a 29er. On a 27.5" bike or 26" I can make it at ease without even having to take a wide line so I know the smaller wheels make it easier to make it around this tight switchback, but I can't prove it lol.
Click to expand...
Unless your front wheel is on the very outside of the corner, and the rear wheel is contacting something on the inside of the corner - technically it's not a wheelbase issue. Often a longer wheelbase - particularly at the chainstay end make handling feel more stable, so can sometimes help with tight switchbacks (it's counterintuitive, and somewhat situational). The bigger wheels have more rotational intertia(?) so are less willing to change directionie: (more force required at the handlebars).
 
Justin Fox said:
View attachment 426950

View attachment 426951

View attachment 426952

10kg's with Schwalbe Radial 32" Romi, FOX 32" 34 stanchions and 120mm travel, Industry Nine and WeAreOne's new HUSH 32" wheelset.

www.facebook.com

Sam Whittingham

Let's see what all the fuss is about. Schwalbe Tires was one of my first OE partners over 25 years ago when all of Schwalbe North America was located in small house in Victoria, BC. I used to go and...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
Click to expand...
That rear cog is very pretty
 
There is a certain trade off with bigger wheels because of the extra weight too. F=ma so more mass means more force to accelerate them on long rolling courses where you can maintain momentum you're less likely to feel it but for tight switchbacks and steep undulations where you are losing lots of speed a lot, you'll feel that after a while.

I've seen 40" wheels (I think) used by off road uni cyclists but with anything, a continued increase in size will see diminishing returns until it gets to the point where the extra weight outweighs any rollover advantages. I'm thinking 32" might be approaching the cut off point. I certainly am not contemplating this madness,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top