I just saw that Leadville organizers banned drop bars for the race, and the bike setups are getting wild. Apparently, Zach Calton is riding an unreleased prototype Ventum with 32-inch wheels.
As someone who prefers overbuilt gear that can actually survive a rock strike, this looks like a bit of a gimmick to me. I've always valued strength over these kinds of experiments. I'm curious if those massive wheels actually help with the climbing or if they're just more prone to folding under pressure. Then you have riders like Paige Onweller on a Trek Procaliber weighing just under 20 pounds without a dropper.
Do you think these 32-inch wheels are a genuine advantage for this course, or just more lightweight nonsense?
Sounds like more lightweight nonsense to me. When you start pushing the limits of wheel size with prototypes, you usually end up sacrificing the structural integrity that actually keeps a ride safe. I have always felt that chasing grams is a false economy, especially when it comes to wheels. If those things can't handle a decent impact without folding, they are a liability, not an advantage.
