Sea Otter continues to grow and evolve. Once a pure mountain bike event, the gravel race is now front and centre. In the rows of booths, gravel also had a massive presence. Both in numbers and literally just massive bikes. 32” is here in gravel as much, if not more than in mountain bikes… for now.
That gave the gravel and road booths a curious presence at Sea Otter. )ld school, hand-made bikes and retro paint jobs mixed with futuristic wireless shifting, a fresh crop of less-familiar Asian manufacturers and the so-new-its-still-barely-here 32 wheel size.
Faction Bike Studio continues pushing 32″
Starting with some CanCon, Faction Bike Studio had this 32″ take on a smaller-frame-size gravel bike in TRP’s booth. Faction designs bikes for some of the world’s biggest brands and fastest riders. The Quebec brand is showing its homework a bit more lately after years of secrecy. This 32 is clearly designed for quick prototyping but, at Sea Otter, it was also showcasing TRP x Classifieds new wireless drop-bar group, Vistar.
Geoff Kabush’s custom titanium Naked has curves
Another very-Canadian partnership, Maxxis housed Geoff Kabush’s new 32” gravel bike, made by Quadra Island’s Naked Bicycles (and the official bike of the unofficial Underbiking World Championships, held since 2022). The titanium rig rolls on new 32” Aspen ST tires, one of five tires now offered by Maxxis as the brand continues to push big wheels, with a seat tube curved perfectly to match. Wheels with extra-long Berd spokes to keep the weight competitive are another nice touch.
One Btchn’ Shimano gravel bike
Continuing the theme of custom 32” gravel bikes, Shimano housed a big wheeled gravel beast from custom house Btchn’. With one-piece ti bars and a ti seat post, this is a very bougie take on big wheels. Add GRX Di2 1x and it’s an interesting mix of welding and wireless.
Cannondale CAAD lives
Cannondale’s CAAD isn’t 32, but it is a long-awaited throwback, or revival, of the CAAD name. It sat front and center in the brand’s booth, right beside a wild “Noterra” concept mountain bike throwing back to the same era.
Nothing looks too weird from the front, other than that wildl sloping top tube
Does 32″ wheels work for small riders? I don’t know which way this Salsa moved that debate
It’s an interesting look …
Salsa production 32” for “everyone”
While there were many custom…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…