Whenever reports about 32-inch wheels appear, the comments sections fill up with angry remarks and fierce opposition. It seems that many cyclists are struggling to warm to the new wheel size for cross-country and gravel bikes. In the slipstream of these new giant wheels, the next size is already creeping up: 30.5 inches. Yes, this intermediate size is set to arrive too. We’re pretty sure of that. Somewhat surprisingly, whilst 32-inch wheels are really taking off in gravel and cross-country cycling, 30.5-inch wheels are now making an appearance in enduro racing.
An eye-catcher in Finale Ligure
At the Enduro World Championship in Finale Ligure, the moment had finally arrived. Of all companies, industry giant Cube unveiled the new 30.5-inch wheel size. It was slightly hidden away, but still made quite an impression on the media. Zakarias Johansen’s Cube Fritzz enduro race bike rolled across the iconic trails of Liguria as a ‘giant mullet’. 29-inch at the rear, 30.5-inch at the front. Tyres: Magic Mary by Schwalbe. Wheels: Newmen. In other words: this wasn’t a one-off built by a small workshop just for show. No. With Cube, Schwalbe and Newmen, three major players are now on board with the 30.5-inch concept.
“We’re always on the lookout for the fastest possible kit for our riders, of course,” says Claus Wachsmann, team manager of the Cube Action Team. However, 32-inch wheels aren’t on the cards in the gravity sector just yet. Too tall, too unstable, and there aren’t any suitable products. “It won’t work for the time being,” Wachsmann is certain. The team only received the first prototypes – tyres and wheels – shortly before the World Championships. The team boss himself sums up the initial verdict after five days of enduro racing in Finale Ligure: “I’m absolutely thrilled”. It’s the same ‘aha’ moment as when they switched from 27.5-inch to 29-inch wheels. Over the winter, the entire Cube Action Team will be kitted out with large 30.5-inch front wheels.
We discovered the potential of (even) larger wheels during our first, In-depth review of the 32-inch model on a mountain bike has already been demonstrated in a striking manner and corroborated by measurement data in the laboratory.
A sense of déjà vu
The intermediate size of 30.5 inches inevitably brings to mind 27.5 inches. Now one of the two standard wheel sizes for mountain bikes, 27.5 inches was also, when it was first introduced, a compromise between the old 26-inch standard and the new, larger 29-inch size. For a while, 27.5-inch seemed set to establish itself as the new ideal size for touring and trail bikes, but the vast majority of today’s mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes now run on 29-inch wheels or in a ‘mullet’ setup with a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel. The smaller 27.5-inch wheels are usually reserved for smaller frame sizes. But by no means everyone
Opinion of the BIKE editorial team
We understand that cyclists are initially sceptical about a new wheel size. But the advantages of large wheels are obvious. Our initial tests with 32-inch wheels yielded surprisingly positive results. Nor could we complain about a lack of manoeuvrability. For taller riders in particular, 30.5-inch wheels – or a ‘Super Mullet’ configuration – could well make sense in the trail and enduro segments too. We’re convinced that the new size will go into production – and we’re keen to see in which areas this size will ultimately catch on. – Florentin Vesenbeckh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, BIKE Magazine
What do you think of 32 and 30.5 inches? We look forward to a lively discussion and hearing your views in the comments section!
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
