32 Inch Gravel Bikes
32″ wheels may be worthwhile for a tall individual, think someone 6’6″, Shaq, and so on. A custom builder can build a bike that looks right proportionally and fit wise, but for most of us, we don’t need the bigger wheel size. In this video, my reasons why I reckon 32″ wheels are a bad idea for the masses, your opinion may differ, share your comments below.
32 Inch Gravel Bikes Opinion Video
Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription
In this video, JOM of Gravel Cyclist shares his thoughts and opinions on the 32 inch wheel size.
Why 32 Inch Gravel Bikes Could be a Bad Idea
- Standover Height: Unless you’re tall, that top tube is going to be positioned uncomfortably close to your groin.
- Heavy tires / tyres. On the market we have 700c x 55mm gravel tyres weighing 690 grams, what are 32″ tyres going to weigh? Weight at the worst possible point too, outer circumference of the wheel.
- Slower Acceleration. More mass to get moving.
- Heavier wheels, almost the same point as the tires / tyres, more rim material, more weight.
- Heavier frames, longer wheelbase. 32″ wheels could make for an amazing ride across corrugations / washboard with a limousine long wheelbase, and dependent on geometry, will the bike feel slow and lumbering?
- Gearing, I noticed gearing issues pushing 700c x 55 Schwable G-One RS One Pro tires / tyres due their increased overall circumference. My low gear of a single chainring (1x 40T) paired to a low gear of 46T on the cassette, didn’t seem that low when I was creeping up 15+% grades in my Aussie homeland late in 2025. It didn’t help that the 165mm cranks I was riding didn’t mesh well with my climbing style. For a 2x setup, I expect you would need to swap chainrings from a 46/30T pairing, down to a 42/28T pairing to have gears that mesh well with a 32 inch wheel.
- You may need to consider riding shorter cranks with the 32 inch wheel size.
- Aerodynamics. While most of us don’t give a flying farrrk about aero on a gravel bike, you may be sitting higher, cutting a broader profile into the wind. Adding to that, a strong cross wind would certain love profile of a 32 inch wheel.
- Transport issues. I fly my bike a decent amount utilizing the EVOC Road Bike Bag Pro. That bike case cannot physically accommodate the 32 inch wheel size. Adding to that, my 700c gravel bikes typically weight about 48lbs. Thus, with a larger case, larger tyres, larger wheels, the overall package will now weigh more than 50lbs, which is the physical weight limited for my preferred airline, American Airlines. I would be charged excessive baggage fees for the privilege of carrying my bike aboard, versus typically being free. Toting a 32 inch gravel bike about the place inside my Chrysler Pacific Hybrid Minivan poses new challenges.
- If you ride singletrack on your gravel bike, any tight spots, well, that’s made very difficult by the larger wheels and tyres / tires.
- Bike Industry in reactionary mode to 32 inch wheels and FOMO (fear of missing out)?
Reminder
ALWAYS BE A STEWARD FOR GRAVEL CYCLING: Respect the roads, respect the locals, respect the land, respect your fellow cyclists.
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Links of Interest:
- 32in Gravel Bikes are Here: BTCHN Bikes 32in Gravel Bike
- MADE Show Builder Bikes A to D 2025
- MADE Show Builder Bikes E to L 2025
- MADE Show Builder Bikes M to R 2025
- MADE Show Builder Bikes S to W: THE END 2025, THE FINALE
- Schwalbe G-One RS PRO 700x55mm No BS Tire Review
- Ari Shafer 3.0 Long-Term Review
- I Tried Shorter Cranks on a Gravel Bike (so you don’t have to)
- North Florida Freeride Gravel Series
- How to Create Amazing & Fun Gravel Routes!
- Gravel Cyclist’s Route Library
- Gravel Bike Tire / Tyre Pressure Recommendations
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