Frameworks Dabbles with 32” Wheels for Downhill

Frameworks has made a striking entrance into the 2026 downhill (DH) race season, marked by significant victories and bold experimentation. At the World Cup opener, Asa Vermette secured his first Elite-level win, which also represented Frameworks’ inaugural victory at this level. Prior to this, founder and team manager Neko Mullaly had already claimed a notable win at the Sea Otter DH event, riding a bike equipped with an unconventional 32-inch front wheel paired with a 29-inch rear wheel. The Sea Otter race served as a testing ground for Frameworks’ innovative approach to wheel sizing in downhill racing. Mullaly’s bike featured a Fox Podium fork modified to 140mm travel to accommodate the larger front wheel, a setup that proved successful on the course. While Sea Otter is known for its experimental spirit, Frameworks appears committed to further exploring the potential of 32-inch wheels in DH, moving beyond one-off trials toward more serious development. A recently released video from Frameworks showcases Mullaly testing a prototype “mega-mullet” bike at Mountain Creek, New Jersey. This new design, created in partnership with Faction Bike Studio, incorporates a bonded front triangle to fit the larger front wheel, which is now a 32-inch model paired with a smaller 27.5-inch rear wheel. The choice of a Fox 40 fork, modified by cutting and extending the lowers, is a notable departure from other dual-crown bikes running 32-inch wheels, highlighting Frameworks’ bespoke engineering efforts. Mullaly acknowledges that the current setup still faces challenges, particularly in terms of component durability and cockpit ergonomics, with the larger front wheel raising the handlebar height significantly. The rear wheel size was reduced to 27.5 inches to achieve necessary clearance, as a 29-inch rear wheel was not feasible in this prototype. Importantly, neither the front wheel nor the tyre currently meets downhill racing standards, indicating that further development is essential before the concept can be fully competitive. Despite these hurdles, Frameworks is optimistic about the future of 32-inch wheels in downhill racing. Mullaly suggests that the initial tests justify the pursuit of suitable DH-grade components to enable direct comparisons with traditional 29-inch setups. This could signal a shift in downhill bike design, with Frameworks potentially leading the charge in integrating larger front wheels to enhance performance on demanding courses.