In July, BMC was spotted testing a 32in prototype at the Andorran round of the XC World Cup. Later, the UCI, cycling\u2019s governing body, approved<\/a> the wheel size for use in XCO World Cups. And then, in March 2026, Felix Stehli won<\/a> stage 3 of the Cape Epic using 32in wheels.\u00a0<\/p>\n Baum was testing his own prototype through much of last year. He said he was sceptical of the wheel size at first and thought that at least his prototype could hang on the wall to show that, \u201cHey, I\u2019m willing to try things, not everything works,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n But for the Australian, who\u2019s been designing and building bikes for more than 30 years, the advantages of the new size were clear and led to the release of the Baum DBM 32<\/a> in February.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnecdotally, I feel like I’m riding faster. I feel like I’m riding safer. I’ve set some PRs on different types of terrain,\u201d he said, adding that these include trails and tarmac roads that are super-steep.<\/p>\n Schwalbe\u2019s lab Baum was up front that his testing and experience of 32in wheels has not been scientific. But one company that has taken a more rigorous approach to the new size is Schwalbe.\u00a0<\/p>\n In January, at the Velofollies trade show, in Belgium, Schwalbe revealed it would be releasing 32in tyres and that it was \u201cfully convinced<\/a>\u201d by the new size, based on field research and testing in its lab.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur tests show that 32in tyres offer significant advantages,\u201d Felix Sch\u00e4fermeiet, Schwalbe\u2019s head of product management, told me via email. \u201cTest riders reported significantly more confidence based on very stable handling and an increased sense of safety. They experienced more grip, higher cornering speeds, and improved comfort \u2013 all that ended up in more fun and speed. In addition, our laboratory measurements confirm measurable advantages in rolling resistance on uneven terrain.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the wheel size has made the biggest impact in professional mountain biking, the tyre Schwalbe revealed at Velofollies was a gravel tyre<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt Schwalbe we are convinced that 32-inch tires offer real and tangible advantages across market segments \u2013 not only in purely performance-focused applications,\u201d Sch\u00e4fermeiet said. \u201cThe benefits of the bigger wheel-diameter are even more noticeable on a bike without suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Sch\u00e4fermeiet, there could even be advantages of the new size for road riding. But UCI restrictions on wheel diameters for race bikes currently rule out the use of the size for competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBased on our testing and riding experience there might be benefits for particular races like Paris\u2013Roubaix. A bigger wheel diameter could lead to more speed and safety on rough terrain. Nevertheless, there are open questions on other performance aspects such as aerodynamics,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n So when will 32in bikes hit the mainstream? Stephan Seitz has worked at Merida for five years. The mountain bike product manager told me the 32in wheel size has been the \u201cmost exciting new topic\u201d in that time and that it has breathed new life into Merida\u2019s work on cross-country mountain bikes<\/a>. But Seitz stresses that Merida has not pushed for the new standard, rather it simply started by testing the size after hearing rumours.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt Merida, we always prioritise the exchangeability of components. So that’s why in the beginning we didn’t really push for a new standard. But then people told us that it definitely will come [to the market],\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Merida then created some hardtail mountain bikes<\/a> with 32in wheels and began to ride them. Similar to Darren Baum\u2019s scepticism, Seitz said, \u201cTo be honest, everybody hoped that it wasn\u2019t as good as other people say, but then we did some back-to-back riding, and it’s really, really good compared to 29in bikes.\u201d<\/p>\n Merida tested the bikes on a very wet day, riding them on a trail with lots of tree roots. \u201cThe whole ride was much safer and everybody felt super comfortable from the first step. I mean, there haven’t been any feelings of uncertainty,\u201d Seitz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n At this point, Merida realised that it had to do something with the new size. It is now developing 32in cross-country mountain and gravel bikes<\/a>, and Seitz stated it will become the new standard for performance riding in these disciplines in \u201cbasically one year\u201d from now, when there are enough available parts on the market.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Seitz, this is why 32in gravel bikes have begun to gain momentum. The bikes are less complicated than mountain bikes and therefore require fewer specialist parts, such as suspension forks, to accommodate the wheel size.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Tall orders\u00a0 The cycling industry\u2019s bent to introduce new standards can cause headaches for consumers and bike shops. So, despite the purported advantages of 32in wheels, many might roll their eyes at the introduction of a new wheel size. After all, wheel sizes<\/a> have pretty much stabilised into three: 27.5in and 29in on mountain bikes, and 700c on road bikes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Baum, the new 32in size is best suited to taller riders. \u201cI think the taller you are, the greater benefit you’re going to get from it,\u201d he said, and added that, \u201c29in is probably nearly optimal for some people\u2019s height.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Seitz said that there has to be a size split between frame sizes, with larger frames having the new standard and smaller frames sticking to 29in. But he said he doesn\u2019t think it’s clear yet where that split should be.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI’m quite small, I’m 170cm,\u201d Seitz said, \u201cso I’m between small and medium frames. But I rode the 32in hardtail and actually it didn\u2019t feel strange at all. So we definitely think that it will be possible for a size medium.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n But Seitz added that 32in wheels could pose difficulties for smaller full-suspension mountain bikes in particular because \u201cthe seat tube has to be fairly long so you don’t have interference between the saddle and the rear tyre\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another slice in the pie The question of who 32in wheels are best suited to makes Baum ask another question: why is the cycling industry pursuing the wheel size at all?\u00a0<\/p>\n Baum said his company makes tailored bikes that serve riders who fall outside of the usual offerings from big, mainstream brands.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you come and get a bike from me?\u201d he asked. \u201cBecause you’re too short or you’re too tall, or your legs are too short and your body’s too long, or your legs are too long and your body’s too short.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Catering to riders who are too tall for other bikes, then, meant that adopting the larger wheel size made sense for Baum Cycles, especially as the company was able to simply adapt its production to make the DBM 32. \u201cIt’s very easy in a way. We had already worked out every corner of the bike. All we needed to do was stick some longer tubes in,\u201d Baum said.<\/p>\n But the industry veteran is less sure on the viability of the size for brands that mass produce their bikes \u2013 and are struggling. \u201cI don’t think it’s going to grow the market. I think we’ve already got an oversupply problem. We’re not making the pie bigger, we’re just cutting another slice in,\u201d Baum said.<\/p>\n Even though Merida, one of the world\u2019s biggest producers of bicycles, is committing to the new size, when I put Baum\u2019s criticisms to Seitz, he said it was \u201cfair and correct\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there will be no additional person who will start mountain biking just because of the 32in size,\u201d Seitz said. \u201cIt will just make the performance riders who currently race on 29in buy a new bike earlier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n![\"On](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_5519.jpg\")
On display at Schwalbe\u2019s stand at Velofollies was a gravel bike from Unpaved Cycles with 32in wheels and prototype Schwalbe G-One RX Pro tyres. Stan Portus \/ Our Media<\/p>\n
\n![\"Pack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Merida-Ninety-Six-RC-9000-bea87d4.jpg\")
Merida is yet to release a bike with 32in wheels, but Stephan Seitz says the standard has breathed new life into the company’s work on XC bikes. Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/p>\n![\"Stehli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-11.45.17.png\")
Felix Stehli (right) won stage 3 of the Cape Epic using 32in wheels. Absa Cape Epic<\/p>\n
\n![\"Baum](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/baum-dbm-32-01.jpeg\")
The Baum DBM 32, which launched in February 2026. Baum<\/p>\n
\n![\"32in](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/32in-prototype-BMC-at-Andorra-XC-World-Cup1-1.jpg\")
BMC tested a prototype bike with 32in wheels last year, but the Swiss brand says the project remains a concept. Piper Albrecht<\/p>\n