I’m loving this thread and have started to collect parts for a 32er build.
Question: What are people using for spokes on wheel builds?
Blunt 35 Rim 32" - Velocity USA rims show an erd of 661mm. This gives a spoke length of 320mm or so for 32 hole 3 cross; Longer than the 310 max of spoke blanks.
Is there something I’m missing?
Nextie rims, DT Swiss 240 hubs, SAPIM Race 304-308mm, 2 cross pattern.
I would want to build 32h 3X. Sounds like to do that, I’d need unicycle spokes and a Hozan spoke treading tool or else to find someone with a spoke machine. I don’t think any of the spokes available are butted though…
Spokes | 14g Spoke (19"- 29" Wheels) -Black | Unicycle.com Inc
how long would you need? pretty sure sapim race and DT comps are available up to 320mm? fwiw, ive got a good few months on a 32h 2x front wheel (nextie rim with sapim race which I went with over my usual d-light to boost stiffness and reduce the effect of the change in bracing angle) and it been 100%. I usually build 3x brake 2x non on the front but with lighter spokes…
Neko’s 32/27.5 mullet DH bike. I dont know how he’s getting clearance on the lowers of that fork…but interesting he has stuck with it despite the tyre casing/manufacturer (Conti as sponser, that is a dissector with an exo+ casing) after sea otter….he and reece Wilson are great at pushing the envelope…
That’s a very long travel fork. I’m sure he made some spacers to lock out the 30mm or whatever of travel is necessary to make it work.
I have a Wren inverted fork that supports 32” (I’m not interested in 32” personally), and that is how they do it. You block 30mm of travel with a spacer in the right space that doesn’t shorten the axle to crown, so that a 150mm fork becomes 120mm.
@Alex do you like the Wren? I am thinking of getting one for my 32” build.
@sikocycles I haven’t ridden it yet, it’s for an upcoming project and will probably be tried in a few weeks. I bought it used and did take it apart to check on condition and change the travel.
It seems interesting. My fork is the 110mm version and I’d say it is a little heavy (similar to a Fox 34, a SID 35mm is much lighter). Build seems decent and it might need less maintenance than most MTB forks, but I doubt that it will be as supple. It counts on grease (slick honey) for stanchion sliders rather than also having an oil bath like Fox or RS forks.
I don’t like the through axle, which requires 2x 8mm Allen keys to open. Who wants to carry one of those let alone two? That might have changed on newer forks.
I just noticed the dropouts of Neko’s 32” bike. Did he extend the fork lowers with epoxy and dropouts off of another lower, then tape it all up? Interesting technique if you have a donor fork (and I’d be he has tons of those).
Newer photos show it with a Fox Podium inverted fork.
FYI Stromer have a voluntary recall on some of those Wren inverted forks. No idea if there’s differences…
Thanks! I did some quick research and this looks like a Stromer specific issue due to a hole in in the steerer for internal cable routing.
This thread has the most info: https://speedpedelecreview.com/forum/en/viewtopic.php?t=6506
I spotted that too- given his links to loctite it might well be cut and paste! https://youtu.be/PSN60yKfYjU?is=YH4fNT21c9JZ9XVM
Has a bit about it…
Scott showed off some prototype 32” gravel bikes that will be debuting at Unbound this weekend.
The photographs provided a chance to see roughly what geo they landed on for Cam Jones’ bike.
If my measurements are close, the fork in particular looks really nice. As short as possible with 65mm offset. I’d love to see something like this available in the market.
Awesome sleuthing! I feel the same, The only thing holding this 6’ 3” builder back at this point is I don’t really want to put all the work in on frame that ultimately has compromised fork geo.
Anyone got any leads on developments on the fork side? Seems like once that particular problem is solved the floodgates may open for framebuilding. I have to assume people are in active development but thus far haven’t seen anything solidifying.
It’s a bit risky for anyone to produce a fork for sale at this point. There’s no consensus on what’s the right offset and how much tire clearance is needed.
I would love to see 65mm offset and a fork that clears a 2.25” tire while keeping fork length to the absolute minimum.
That’s really cool.
I was doing the same to try to figure out the fork specs. I also landed on 65mm, so that makes me feel more confident that our estimations are quite close.
I’m about to build a 32" frame based on a fork with a bit longer than the Scott. AC 457mm. We commissioned the fork from another builder based on some numbers we want to try out, and since we’ll be testing 2.4" tyres and still want a bit of clearance under the crown, that the AC we settled on for a first go.
May I ask how you landed on the 786mm wheel diameter?
Have you seen specs somewhere for that Schwalbe tyre?
The 786 comes from the simple math 50 + 50 + 686. That usually gets close to the wheel diameter.
But rim width, knob height, and tire variability always mean that there’s never truly one reliable number.
This fork may fit a 32”.
That’s what I thought.
Just wanted to check whether you had possibly come across more info.
We’ll just have to wait until someone can get their hands (and calipers) on a set!
BTW, looks like I’ll have a couple of sets of 32 x 2.4" Vittoria Mezcal in hand soon.
I’d be surprised if there were any rigid 490-500 A-C crown forks that don’t work. Maybe the Salsa CF one with the tall crown won’t work.
I don’t think Esker is selling their fork without buying a frame anymore. Seido and Surly have similar forks.
It only needs 32mm extra height over a 29” wheel.
