I just can’t understand how up and back sweep are different with flat bars. Add some rise and yeah of course. But on flat bars…it’s all the same sweep, just rolled up or down. Maybe you want more or less but there is only one bend. Draw me a picture
Joe
Right, with zero rise, there is only total angle, but if I want both back sweep and up sweep, that bend needs to be large enough to provide both.
No 32” used by the Thomus Maxon team at this weekend’s XC World Cup in la Thuile. Very technical and rocky course with a lot of climbing too.
Is it a dilemma that whilst 32” are better at rolling over the tech stuff at the same time they are heavier and not as easy to move around?
What are the odds we will see 32” at Leadville at the pointy end?
Ventum is planning to have a few of their pros on a 32, so I’d say pretty likely.
I came close to get an Epic 9, but decided to hold off and see what the year brings. For the type of MTB I do - long days, marathon etc, I can see 32” could have some advantages. But it all depends if they can get sizing right - being 174cm tall.
Pretty good discussion on geometry and status of 32" in the bike industry. If you believe the discussion, it sounds like mainstream 32" bikes might be rolling out in the next ~6 months. The WTB guy basically said some brands already have 32" bikes developed and some are waiting on the sidelines to see what the market does. I’d still be surprised to see anything from the big brands this year, but it sounds like some brands are “all in” on 32’s if you believe his comments.
32” rigid might work for riders your height, but isn’t the issue going to be on a frame with front suspension (or suspension corrected geometry) that the front end just becomes way too tall to be practical?
One take away from that was the bike designed for a 6 foot rider still had a problem with toe overlap despite going shorter cranks
Trek reported has a hard tail and a full suspension close to launch. Superfly and Procaliber
this is the part i can get behind. Im a 6’ woman. I have a hard time getting women’s things in my size. My brother who rides mtb is 6’6" and has a hard time finding bikes and ones that do fit him look kinda clown car ish. I can see a 32 wheel looking absolutely normal on the larger sizes. I dont see it being practical for say a 5’5" woman.
That pic could be ai the stem/bar looks super weird.
Joe
Trek would do well to get something innovative to the market early, seems like they have been mailing it in on 29" MTB’s for some time and their gravel bikes have been well behind the curve also IMO.
Scott also seems like a prime candidate to release something on the gravel side sooner rather than later. Those Unbound bikes didn’t look like typical test mules.
The other thing the WTB guy implied was that some brands are delaying launch in consideration of current inventory to be sold and keeping dealers happy. I guess you can play that game until the first big brand releases a 32" model, at that point I think there will be a lot of 29/700c bikes being discounted and not moving.