It's April 1, 2016 and the German bike brand Focus is shocking the mountain bike scene with the presentation of the "Big Bird", a new type of cross-country bike with 36-inch wheels. And this after the wheel size war has only just come to an end and even the 26-inch advocates have admitted that 29-inch wheels offer many advantages over the smaller wheels.

However, like every joke, the one from Focus also had a spark of truth in it. In the years that followed, studies with oversized wheels kept popping up. It was obvious that larger manufacturers were also working on the next wheel size in the background. But how big, and when?

Earlier than expected

The cat was recently let out of the bag by BMC. The Swiss high-end brand turned up at the World Cup in Andorra with a 32-inch prototype from its development department, the Impec Lab. The helmsman of the eye-catching "Ferris wheel" was top French athlete and BMC team rider Titouan Carod, who diligently collected data during training. However, the 32-inch wheel was not allowed to compete in the race - not yet.

It was rumored that 32-inch wheels would arrive in the Cross-Country World Cup as early as 2026. However, the "already" is now likely to be pushed forward to the current 2025 season. Jan Ulatowski, PR manager at BMC, expects certain brands to roll out the first 32-inch prototypes as early as Les Gets. And BMC? "We are currently collecting as much data as possible, and I have to be honest and say that we are currently facing more questions than we have answers," says Ulatowski. The project is therefore far more challenging than you might think. "Geometry, kinematics, suspension travel, tire width and many other parameters cannot yet be conclusively determined."

Whether BMC will also send its prototype into the race this year is not planned, but is being left open. If it had been up to Titouan Carod, the 32-incher would have already had its race baptism of fire in Andorra, Ulatowski continues. Carod was very enthusiastic about the bike.

Wheel versus body sizes

The last big wheel size change meant that 29-inch was not the wheel size for everyone, i.e. not for every body size. In cross-country racing, however, there is no getting around 29-inch wheels, whereas in the Downhill World Cup, mullet setups are used to a large extent - i.e. bikes with a 27.5-inch rear wheel and a 29-inch front wheel. In enduro racing, mixed wheel sizes tend to be the rule for smaller riders.

But who is eligible for 32-inch wheels? Titouan Carod is not small, but at 178 centimeters he is no giant either. There is no question that the wheel size works for riders like David Valero at almost 1.90 meters. But what about a Nino Schurter (173 centimetres) or a Loana Lecomte (163 centimetres)? What we learned when we switched to 29 inches: At a certain point, the rider's feel is no longer decisive, only the data counts. If a 160 centimeter tall female racer is faster on 32-inch wheels than on a Twentyniner, the decision is an easy one. The first race comparisons between top riders on 29-inch and 32-inch bikes are therefore eagerly awaited.

"The coming years will show whether 32 inches is the right choice on all routes - or whether it is a disadvantage on winding routes, for example, where smaller riders might ride mullet setups with a 29-inch rear wheel. This topic is definitely very exciting and will keep us very busy," concludes Jan Ulatowski.

Cries of doom in 3, 2, 1 ...

The fact that another wheel change will once again bring so-called wheel size haters and at least critics onto the scene is as certain as the Amen in church. This time, however, there are likely to be far fewer prophecies of doom against the "big wheels". Ever since 29-inch wheels became established, most mountain bikers have been aware that such a change is not a bad thing - on the contrary: it opens up new possibilities. It is equally understandable that the bike industry needs new sales arguments - as is the case in practically all markets. Those who bring something new will sell.