32 inch wheels thread

[Hillhater]

All the pro mountain bikers went to 29 inch wheels because there was no advantage over 26 inch wheels.

?? if there was no advantage, why did they change ?
But i am not a “ pro mountain biker” anyway, just a (less than) average joe who prefers riding trails to walking. So , as i said, i have not seen any tangible advantage of the 27.5”, or the 29” wheel size over my 26” ( and yes i do own all 3 , together with a 700 hybrid road bike).
increased weight is the biggest downside of the 29”, together with the increased length (med frame) making it too wide for a tail hitch bike rack !
The bike industry, like the auto makers and clothing retailers, are constantly looking for ways to swap your $$$s for the latest gimmick, / new seasons model, / latest fashion….its easy to fall in line with the “trends” .

 

[phobos]

All the pro mountain bikers went to 29 inch wheels because there was no advantage over 26 inch wheels.

They went to 29 inch because their sponsors said so. They most of the time have no clue about technicalities, they just ride.

Why motocross stopped at 21 front and 18-19 rear?

The bike industry, like the auto makers and clothing retailers, are constantly looking for ways to swap your $$$s for the latest gimmick, / new seasons model, / latest fashion….its easy to fall in line with the “trends”

I fully agree. But there is a good side of it, items that are currently out of fashion are dirt cheap on the second hand market.
Most of 26 inch frames take in 27.5 inch wheels no problem, so if you really want to you can do it, the difference in diameter is 1 inch.

 

[2old]

My wife had her beloved 2005 Santa Cruz Superlite MTB stolen, and purchased a 29" Felt from a friend. Even though at 5'5" (and a grandmother) she seems short (to me) for a 29er, she started riding better than EVER and cleaned ascents that she hadn't before.

 

[neptronix]

I just adopted 29" wheels for the first time 2 years ago.
I was very surprised at the rolling resistance reduction. Free 1-2 mph on pedal power for me. And noticeably better comfort. The downside would be that the rotating weight makes it feel like you're pedaling through a small amount of mud at all times.

The only realistic way to combat this is to get carbon fiber rims. You'll notice that almost every 32' setup has carbon fiber rims.
My recumbent with 20" wheels feels more like the legs are directly connected to the wheels.

 

[neptronix]

Just saw this today. Here's a full suspension 32" prototype. Pretty wild looking.

It's a good demonstration on how challenging the bike design aspect is. I think that they could reduce suspension height and get away with it. It would help make the bike look less crazy.

Edit: apparently we can't view this directly on the site, you'll have to click the link
Still frame from the video:

 

[neptronix]

Counterpoint: 32" bikes are a scam to "force" you to buy new bikes

It's quite possible that 32" bring some negatives to MTBs along with the positives. What's strange is that nobody has considered them for road bikes. That's where the benefits shine the most, and less wide tires means a bit less geometry problems to figure out when designing the frame.

 

[Hillhater]

What's strange is that nobody has considered them for road bikes. That's where the benefits shine the most,

Probably because the road bike movement is focused on the Club and competition events ,..TdF, Giro, etc,.….
…and those have design regulations that restrict certain features.
Remember how long it took them to allow disc brakes ?

 

[AdR]

One of those be great on the front of my 20 inch rear 1.5Kw leaf noped lol

 

[n00b]

Finally there's a prototype Maxis 32" x 2.4" MTB tire out there, as well as some suspension forks on the way for 32" wheels.
These guys built a mountain bike with the prototype tires to test it offroad and noticed that it had both better grip and faster rolling speed versus a 29" wheel.
The only noted downside is slightly less maneuverability.

This wheel size is interesting to me for ebikes because it increases comfort on a hardtail while also reducing rolling friction.
It can also mean for higher speeds with addon mid drives.

It seems like the bike industry is also starting to take it serously, so this would be a good place to catalog/discuss 32" wheel info.

Bigger wheels is better. I want 36". The problem is wheelbase.

 

[n00b]

In THEORY more traction, smoother ride,
in REALITY more weight, more cost, not interchangable with existing frames .
A Bike sales dream !
I have not seen any tangible benefit in the 27.5, or the 29er, over the original 26” wheel set.
( other than it is getting harder to source a selection of 26” parts)

Oh dude, 700c is much better than 26"
You want a 26" bike? I'm over that.
Every bump and road/sidewalk imperfection is less with 29" vs. 26".
I'd take a hardtail 29" over full suspension 26"

 

[Hillhater]

Every bump and road/sidewalk imperfection is less with 29" vs. 26". I'd take a hardtail 29" over full suspension 26"

If you ride over a 3” rock, the wheels will have to move up 3” ,… no matter if they are 26”, 29” or 48” !
But i try to avoid 3” rocks , and pot holes, ……so i will save the $5+ k another new bike would cost, and stay with my lighter,, FS 26”. ….and leave the hardtail 29” for you.

 

[hillslayer@]

If you ride over a 3” rock, the wheels will have to move up 3” ,… no matter if they are 26”, 29” or 48” !
But i try to avoid 3” rocks , and pot holes, ……so i will save the $5+ k another new bike would cost, and stay with my lighter,, FS 26”. ….and leave the hardtail 29” f huor you.

Your understanding of physics is that of a 5 year old.

 

[Hillhater]

Your understanding of physics is that of a 5 year old.

Are you telling me one size wheel will move up less than 3 “ ??
..maybe its your understanding of common sense that is in doubt !

 

[ZeroEm]

If the wheel is big enough it does not move up at all. This wheel does not move up.

 

[Papa]

Never ceases to amuse me when, supposedly, grown adults start needlessly haggling over wheel size... yet again. Fact is, there are too many missing pieces to data to arrive at anything approaching 'boastful' accuracy. And not surprising, it isn't at all only about what wheel size is superior to another, it's about how much intolerable vertical acceleration reaches the rider's hands & butt (well.. to me anyway). That being the case, it's a simple matter to forego the extensive math, and simply install a vertical acceleration app on your smartass phone, and secure it to your seat post, and again to your stem. Now quit bickering please and go outside and play.

Edit: After reading the responses to my statement above, I was genuinely confused. Proof reading my original, I now see why - I haphazardly left out one word. My error - my apologies

 

[Logic11]

...What's strange is that nobody has considered them for road bikes. That's where the benefits shine the most, and less wide tires means a bit less geometry problems to figure out when designing the frame.

Now that thing would go over potholes! (I see a different picture to most 1st worlders when you say 'road')
The low rolling resistance and grip too. And being 6 foot 5.

Where would one put the battery? High up?

 

[Logic11]

Never ceases to amuse me when, supposedly, grown adults start needlessly haggling over wheel size... yet again. Fact is, there are too many missing pieces to data to arrive at anything approaching 'boastful' accuracy. And not surprising, it isn't at all about what wheel size is superior to another, it's about how much intolerable vertical acceleration reaches the rider's hands & butt (well.. to me anyway). That being the case, it's a simple matter to forego the extensive math, and simply install a vertical acceleration app on your smartass phone, and secure it to your seat post, and again to your stem. Now quit bickering please and go outside and play.

Would a playground ferris wheel size wheel notice a brick in the road..? (vs a skateboard say...)
Picture a pothole vs those 2...
See the picture as to why big wheels have a similar effect to suspension now?

Anyone who can 'see the picture' can see that vertical acceleration decreases with wheel size. Simple geometry.

 

[ZeroEm]

I like big wheels but facts keeps them small.

 

[neptronix]

This is why i'm into 32" / 750d. I found that a hardtail 29" with a big enough tire has pretty good inherent suspension.
I ride >90% on the street, and smoothness on crappy pavement is very important.

 

[AdR]

Big wheels are great for minimizing rolling resistance and imperfect surface issues making them great for non driven wheels, but they are horrible for efficiency and wheel contact torque for driven wheels.

 

[Hillhater]

See the picture as to why big wheels have a similar effect to suspension now?

”similar effect”,..but not the same !
A hard tail 29” will still have to move vertically 3” to run over that brick, but a 26” FS could effectively eliminate most , if not all the vertical movement.

Anyone who can 'see the picture' can see that vertical acceleration decreases with wheel size. Simple geometry.

yes, technically correct, but we are not tallking about a ferris wheel vs a skate board wheel, …..its 26” vs 29”, and the law of diminishing returns applies as the size difference reduces…..especially if the 26” is on a FS frame.
Hence my comment…...”, i have not seen any tangible advantage of the 27.5”, or the 29” wheel size over my 26””
…..and note i said “tangible”

 

[hillslayer@]

Soon as the first pro downhill racer wins a worldcup on 32 tires 29 stuff will be on sale.

 

[neptronix]

Big wheels are great for minimizing rolling resistance and imperfect surface issues making them great for non driven wheels, but they are horrible for efficiency and wheel contact torque for driven wheels.

Why are they horrible for efficiency? lower rolling resistance = higher efficiency..
Why are they horrible for wheel contact torque? if you use the same size tire and have larger diameter, you get better traction, everyone who has used them notes this. So this makes them better at that.

 

[ZeroEm]

The problem with Wheel Size is one size does not fit all. We all know the best wheel for torque and efficiency is a 20-24" wheel as long as the road is smooth. In reality bigger wheels are better to smooth the road and less loss of energy. To bad the motor simulator does not add pot holes to see what a motor wheel combo will do!

Cat trikes racing trike has 16" front wheels or am I wrong?

The latest cat racing trike has moved up to a 700 rear wheel and 20" in the front. So they are going bigger also. What does that say. Trend or do bigger wheels add an advantage.

 

[Logic11]

”similar effect”,..but not the same !
A hard tail 29” will still have to move vertically 3” to run over that brick, but a 26” FS could effectively eliminate most , if not all the vertical movement.

yes, technically correct, but we are not tallking about a ferris wheel vs a skate board wheel, …..its 26” vs 29”, and the law of diminishing returns applies as the size difference reduces…..especially if the 26” is on a FS frame.
Hence my comment…...”, i have not seen any tangible advantage of the 27.5”, or the 29” wheel size over my 26””
…..and note i said “tangible”

Yes, but "...vertical acceleration..."
The huge wheel is just to get the point across (and seems to have worked): Same rule applies on smaller differences, just to a much smaller, less obvious degree.

As for a "tangible" difference:
Each to their own I suppose.