32-Inch Bikes Make Their World Stage Debut at the Absa Cape Epic

With all of the hype surrounding 32-inch wheels and tires, we’re anticipating to see loads of big-wheeled bikes being raced in cross-country competitions all over the world this yr. The primary style of what may probably be the upcoming 32-inch XC revolution got here only a few days in the past on the Absa Cape Epic. Swiss racer Felix Stehli of Group Honeycomb 226ers is racing his Stoll Bikes P32, making him the primary to race 32-inch wheels on the Absa Cape Epic. That is arguably the highest-profile race the place we’ve seen anybody driving the large hoops thus far.

Luckily, the Absa Cape Epic is large on media of all types, and so they’ve been pumping out the content material, together with a motorcycle verify with Felix and Thomas Stoll, the proprietor of Stoll Bikes. Along with the Stoll P32 being a light-weight carbon full-suspension bike with 100/100mm of journey and 32-inch wheels, one factor that actually caught our eye on this video is the Flight Attendant-equipped Intend fork and shock. That is the primary time we’ve seen RockShox’s proprietary Flight Attendant system in use on one other model’s suspension. We have now questions!!!

Along with this bike verify, the Absa Cape Epic media crew has been very energetic on the social channels. Simply the opposite day, they posted a observe cam video of Felix driving his P32 down a quick and flowy part of the course. Seems to be like he’s shifting fairly rapidly.

Present Standings

As of right this moment, Group Honeycomb 226ers is sitting in fifteenth place out of 42 groups within the Elite Males’s class. Given the depth of the sphere, I’d say that they’re doing fairly darn nicely. Whether or not or not the 32-inch wheels of Felix Stehli’s Stoll P32 are offering him with a efficiency benefit stays to be seen, however it’s telling that the younger Swiss rider selected to journey it in such a grueling occasion just like the Absa Cape Epic.

What’s the Stoll Bikes P32?

Stoll Bikes is a Swiss model that designs and manufactures a small vary of light-weight carbon fiber bikes in Europe. The model’s lineup consists of gravel, highway, hardtail MTBs, and full-suspension MTBs. Final October, Stoll Bikes introduced Mission 32 (P32) and its dedication to creating a motorcycle for the 32-inch wheel dimension. And only a few weeks in the past, in late February, the model introduced that the P32 was going into collection manufacturing, and with 32-inch forks and wheelsets changing into extra frequent, they’re able to order.

Stoll Bikes appears fairly satisfied that 32-inch wheels are the long run, saying: “The brand new wheel dimension will essentially rework mountain biking and push boundaries. The 32-inch wheels are a lot quicker that no performance-driven athlete shall be in a position to withstand them. Our check rides, from cross-country terrain to alpine excursions, have totally satisfied us.”

Stoll’s Perceived Efficiency Advantages

Rolling resistance on free floor is noticeably decrease.

Improved traction pays off each on the climb and on the descent.

The reserves in tight and technical terrain are breathtaking.

The rider’s integration into the bike elevates efficiency to a completely new stage.

Body Design and Particulars

Stoll Bikes makes a speciality of light-weight carbon fiber frames, together with the brand new P32. The body weight is listed at a claimed 1,880 grams with full bike weights beginning at 10.2 kg (22.5 lbs.). That’s VERY mild, lighter in reality than many 29-inch wheeled XC race bikes. Like so a lot of these XC race bikes, the P32 has a light-weight single-pivot flex-stay suspension design, nevertheless it has comparatively unique-looking angular tube shapes and a cutout within the prime tube across the higher shock mount.

Stoll gives the P32 in two variants. The “Race” model will get 100mm of rear journey and is paired with a 100mm fork. The “Path” model will get 120mm of rear journey that’s matched with a 120mm journey fork. Geometry particulars are very sparse and restricted to succeed in, prime tube, and seat tube measurements. The attain is 468mm on the medium and 500mm on the big body.

The model gives the P32 in 4 full builds in each journey configurations, starting from CHF 9.500 (~$12,000) to CHF 14000 (~$17,800). Stoll additionally gives the P32 as a frameset with a shock for CHF 5000 (~$6,400).

Taking Orders

Stoll Bikes says that Medium and Giant body sizes can be found and will cowl riders between 170 and 195cm. The model states that an extra small body dimension is feasible however seemingly nonetheless just a few months out. Stoll Bikes is at the moment taking orders for the P32 with a deposit securing a manufacturing slot. The present lead time is listed at 3 to 4 months.

stoll-bikes.com

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