The 2026 Sea Otter Traditional has come and gone, but it surely left an enormous impression – particularly with regards to 32″ wheels. The hype behind the new-ish wheel dimension has been constructing exponentially, and whereas it’s nonetheless very a lot within the improvement section, there was a lot to see on the present.
Going into the present, it appeared that a lot of the pleasure had been geared in direction of 32″ wheels for mountain bikes – and there have been loads of 32″ mountain bikes readily available in consequence. However after our discussions round 32″ wheeled gravel bikes, it looks as if much more manufacturers could also be viewing gravel as the perfect use case for the bigger hoops. That is sensible when you consider it, as 32″ wheels declare to supply an extended contact patch with elevated traction in unfastened situations, quicker rolling, and don’t have the identical considerations with regards to constructing round full suspension frames like 32″ MTB.
Salsa Fargo 32 & Fargo Ti 32
Salsa waited till the primary day of the present to interrupt cowl on two new 32″ variations of the Fargo gravel/journey bike. The metal Fargo 32 and the titanium Fargo Ti 32 body units will launch this fall, out there in sizes small via extra-large to accommodate riders from 5’2″ to six’7″. Sure, dimension small. Salsa claims to have found out the geometry to suit very small riders on 32″ wheels with out toe overlap.
Full geo has but to be introduced, however the frames will present 2.4-inch tire clearance and make the most of commonplace enhance spacing with a 73mm backside bracket shell. An aftermarket alternator plate will scale back the chainstay size by 17mm.
Growth of their 32″ platform started in 2024, with Salsa figuring out that launching the Fargo mannequin first made strategic sense for his or her product lineup. Anticipate the official launch to be this fall.
Teravail will introduce two new tire treads alongside the Salsa body launch: the Camrock and Cannonball fashions, each that includes two casing choices. All 32-inch tires will embrace an up to date SuperStructure casing that gives improved strength-to-weight ratios.
In accordance with Teravail’s testing, 32″ tires provide 14 % extra floor contact space in comparison with equal 29″ fashions. The Camrock tread is at the moment out there, whereas the Cannonball will change into out there in June or July.
Extra wheel choices embrace late summer season availability of the Circos extensive wheels with up to date carbon layup particularly designed for 32-inch functions. These wheels function entrance and rear-specific profiles (29mm entrance, 28mm rear) and layup configurations, out there in 28 and 32-hole drilling patterns with DT350 hubs, together with impact-resistant wider rear lip designs.
BTCHN Geared & SS Gravel
BTCHN has gone all in on 32″ wheels with a single-speed bike that was proven at MADE, plus mountain bikes and a brand new geared gravel bike proven at Sea Otter.
Known as the Bandito Ti, the geared gravel bike will truly be metal for the manufacturing run. That manufacturing might be run in batches with M, L, and XL frames. Whereas the SS bike has sliding dropouts, the Bandito includes a UDH hanger and seems to have a bit extra conventional geometry than the MADE present bike.
We didn’t get any particulars on the wheels, solely that they’re prototype 32″ gravel wheels from WTB.
Faction 32″ Gravel Bike Idea
At this level, Faction Bike Studio isn’t any stranger to 32″ wheels and adopted up their 32″ Large Ben Idea at Eurobike with this Atlas Gravel construct.
The idea bike serves as a testing platform to guage how outsized wheels have an effect on real-world efficiency and geometry necessities in drop-bar bicycle functions.
The body accommodates 2.1-inch tires whereas attaining 435mm chainstays, demonstrating that bigger wheels can work with comparatively brief rear-end geometry.
The Atlas includes a bonded carbon tube and aluminum lug development and features a TRP/Categorised Vistar Powershift drivetrain, Easton 32-inch carbon rims (which aren’t Havens because it seems – the incorrect decals have been utilized…), and Schwalbe 32-inch x 50mm tires, that are unmarked, and totally different than the 32″ Schwalbe gravel tires proven on the…
Stinner 32″ Prototype Gravel Bike
Stinner is likely one of the manufacturers, like Salsa, that has determined to start out with gravel bikes for 32″ wheels as a substitute of MTB. In accordance with Aaron Stinner, it simply makes extra sense to start out with gravel since there are such a lot of questions surrounding the requirements and designs of 32″ mountain bikes. As Aaron places it, the business remains to be “feeling via the darkish” to search out out what works.
Consequently, the gravel bike prototype is produced from straight-gauge titanium tubing, which Aaron states is simpler to iterate with. The journey high quality of the tubing is understood with out having to fret about butting profiles, so he can give attention to figuring out if the geometry works.
The primary batch might be a restricted run of 20-25 bikes in M-L or XXL. The bike is proven with a prototype Stinner carbon MTB fork that matches 32″ wheels, however isn’t designed for it, declaring that by narrowing the hole between the tire and the fork crown, it will open up the power to suit extra riders by constructing a decrease entrance finish.
The bike additionally options Stinner carbon prototype 32″ rims wrapped in Schwalbe Rick Race Professional tires. Tire clearance is claimed to be 2.4″, and the body will run Enhance 148mm spacing with an MTB chainline.
Boyd’s Colourful 32″ Rims
Boyd had a handful of anodized 32″ rims on show, together with two CCC fashions meant for gravel with a 26mm inside.
The edges have been additionally getting used within the Vittoria sales space to show the 32 x 2.4″ Peyote tire, together with the brand new mannequin that claims to be 90% renewable & recycled. It seems like our 32″ future goes to require much more rubber, in order that’s most likely a great factor…
