Following Neil’s final Sea Otter roundup is a video that more specifically addresses the topic of 32-inch bikes. With so much fresh tech centered on the industry’s new favorite wheel size, Neil asked several movers and shakers for their thoughts on where 32” fits into the current market. Watch the full video below for all the answers…
After wrapping up seven videos from the 2026 Sea Otter Classic, I still had some questions left to answer. In Are 32″ Wheels the Future, We Asked the Bike Industry, I explore the realities of this new wheel size and what it means for companies big and small. Check out the full video below for all the answers:
Though there’s no shortage of opinion on 32-inch wheels and how they might affect bike development, my questions to Joe Meiser of Salsa Cycles, Daniel Yang of Neuhaus, Tyler Reiswig of BTCHN’, and others about the nature of these new products provided some great insights about where they fit into the current market and how they’ll change the space moving forward.
Although some are convinced that the larger wheel size will change the space forever and catch on as well as 29″ wheels, others are a little more skeptical about their suitability for smaller riders. Some see 32″ as a supplemental wheel size that fills in the gaps for taller riders looking for frames and components that are more proportional to their dimensions, and others are sure that at least average-sized riders can see real performance benefits and that would work well for more than just XC racers and in limited use cases.
Either way, 32″ is coming. With the release of the first production 32er from a large company in the Salsa Fargo 32, and other smaller builders creating their own releases, the wheel size is quickly developing from concept to concrete product. The question is whether it’s here to stay or just a fad. Be sure to let us know what you think in the Conversation below.
For more from the 2026 edition of the Sea Otter Classic, explore the #SeaOtterClassic tag.
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