Cross-country mountain biking is buzzing with chatter around the arrival of 32in wheels and we’ve heard plenty of rumours about brands considering this largest wheel size for gravel. Now, Australian titanium and steel expert Baum has unveiled the new DBM 32.
The benefits of 32in wheels are said to be improved stability, grip and roll over rougher surfaces. What Baum sees, however, is a solution to the problem of building custom bikes for very tall riders.
“A 32-inch wheel makes a lot of sense for tall and very tall riders,” says Darren Baum, “but a 32er is not going to work for everyone because of the extra standover and reach. A bigger wheel size allows us to build a bigger frame with better proportions, which is something that has really been missing from the market.”
Six months of testing
Baum has been test riding the bike for more than six months and is now confident enough to offer the larger wheel size to its customers.
Until now, it has been reluctant to offer the option because there was limited availability of 32in-specific parts: rims, forks, spokes and especially tyres.
However, with the commitment of major players such as Schwalbe, we’re seeing this burgeoning standard expanding enough for Baum to put the DBM 32 into production.
Baum explains that his decision to add the DBM 32 to the brand’s roster isn’t based on the ‘trend’ – it’s down to his experience of riding his own 32in prototype.
He also invited other riders to try the bike and provide feedback.
“Perhaps the most surprising thing has been how quickly everybody has been able to adapt to the bigger wheels,” Baum says. “They roll really well, offer lots of grip, and they are very stable, which is exactly what we were all saying when we started using 29-inch wheels.
“32-inch wheels aren’t going to replace 29-inch wheels, but they will allow me to make a better bike for tall riders.”
First DBM 32 details
The first production bike, the DBM (Drop Bar Mountain) 32, was built for one of Darren’s customers – a seasoned cyclist who is 6ft 7in (200cm) tall, with a saddle height of 91cm, and has always struggled to get a proportionally correct bike.
The frame is made from seamless 3AL/2.5v titanium tubing, matched to a head tube made from a billet of 6AL/4V titanium. All of the components come via ENVE, including its 32in-compatible rigid carbon mountain fork.
The frame’s 2.6in clearances have been retained from the (standard) DBM gravel design. That gives enough clearance for the 32in Maxxis Aspen tyres. To get this level of clearance, the seat tube is custom-curved, combined with a 3D-printed chainstay yoke, and by using a wide 89.5mm T47 bottom bracket shell.
The bike is finished with a SRAM XX SL groupset, matched with RED AXS levers, RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post, and ENVE bar and stem. The 32in wheels are custom-built for Baum and everything is finished in a Matt Camo custom paintjob.
Pricing is in line with the current DBM gravel bike, with frame-kit prices starting at around AU$13,450 (circa £6,850 / $9,500) and complete bikes from AU$16,192 (circa £8,300 / $11,400).
