Earlier this week, we reported on the new 750d wheel size being teased by Moots and WTB, and now we can take a closer look.
The collective sigh reverberated around the internet when this news first broke. Do we really need another gravel wheel size standard?
Well, probably not, and certainly not right now – but, let's be clear, Moots and WTB are very much presenting this as a possible option for the future, rather than a bona fide product development with a production timeline.
"For now, this bike is just a passion project," a Moots representative told BikeRadar from the MADE handmade bicycle show.
"Moots knew MADE was on the horizon, and WTB was developing a 750d wheel and tyre. When WTB asked if Moots was interested in designing a bike around this experimental wheel size, they jumped at the opportunity to collaborate.
"Right now, it's too early to tell if 750d will take off, but it was worth trying something new."
Whether a one-off passion project or an early look at the future, the prospect of a larger-diameter wheel for gravel riding is food for thought for gravel tech experimentalists
The claimed benefits? "Smoother rolling over rough terrain," according to Moots. Larger wheels can also allow taller riders to achieve a more proportional geometry.
Moots took the new Routt CRD gravel bike, launched in early August, and built a prototype frame, the CRDD, to accommodate the prototype WTB KOM Light i25 rims, in a 750d size, and accompanying 750 x 40mm WTB Nano Raptor tyres.
A 750d rim has a larger diameter than a 700c wheel, increasing the bead-to-bead diameter measurement from 622mm to 660mm.
Wrap this in a typical gravel tyre and it'll apparently give an overall diameter similar to a typical 29in/700c wheel with an appropriately-wide mountain bike tyre.
The bike is on display this week in Portland, Oregon at the inaugural MADE show.
Let's take a closer look.
