The tech crew at Escape Collective have been paying close attention to the progression toward 32in wheels in gravel and mountain bike, and while the conversation has come up a few times, it felt time to dedicate some real time to the topic.

This week, Escape tech staffers Dave Rome, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Alex Hunt chat about 32ers in the news, whether the UCI’s potential involvement will slow things, and if a new wheel size is of positive net gain for the wider industry.

In addition to big wheels, the geeks also talk about some other new products. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench, the weekly segment where our members’ technical questions get answered.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:15 - 32ers in the news
• 00:03:00 - Thömus gets the first World Cup podium
• 00:07:00 - Canyon’s Lux Era concept
• 00:10:20 - A few big wheels at Spoken
• 00:12:30 - The UCI’s involvement
• 00:23:00 - Brands preparing for the next big thing
• 00:28:30 - Complications in 32er suspension
• 00:36:00 - It’s a high-risk time for more stock
• 00:39:30 - Cheaper bikes will be worse
• 00:42:00 - Why didn’t it start with gravel bikes?
• 00:49:00 - Wolf Tooth’s lower cost range of products
• 00:51:50 - Black Inc’s new Hyper wheels. So many carbon spokes
• 00:59:00 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (members only)
• 01:01:00 - Should you service new suspension and talking bushing clearances
• 01:14:24 - Fighting stuck tubeless tyres. How to deal with them on the trail?
• 01:26:00 - A recall-related question