With the Fargo 32, Salsa is making a small piece of cycling history. While 32-inch bikes have so far been seen primarily as prototypes, small-batch models, or one-offs, this is the first time a gravel bike with this wheel size is available regularly at retailers.

It’s no surprise that the Fargo, of all bikes, is leading the way: For years, this model has straddled the line between gravel bike, hardtail, and touring bike, catering to riders who cover long distances on unpaved trails. Even during the 29er trend, the Fargo led the way in this new dimension. The large 32-inch wheel size thus fits the bike’s character: the focus is on efficiency, a smooth ride, and good rolling performance—rather than agility or racing.

The idea behind 32-inch wheels is well known. Larger wheels strike obstacles at a flatter angle and thus roll more easily over rocks, roots, or washed-out gravel sections. This can improve comfort and riding stability, especially on long tours. Whether these advantages justify the switch to a new wheel size, however, will only become clear in real-world use.

At least as intriguing is the question of whether other manufacturers will follow suit. While there have been a number of 32-inch projects recently—such as racing prototypes or custom bikes—a commercially available production model for the gravel market has been missing until now. The Fargo 32 could therefore become the first indicator of whether this wheel size can establish itself beyond specific niche applications. 

Since rear suspension cannot be integrated into a gravel bike, the frame design for the large wheels is significantly simpler. This means that even small frame sizes should be possible—which is exactly what Salsa is already doing with the Fargo 32. And this significantly expands the customer base.

salsacycles.com