Originally Posted by
njkayaker
Run the same course back-to-back some number of times and see if there's a trend showing one is faster?
I don't think anybody doubted that 32 inch wheels would work (not much differently than 29 inch wheels). Anyway,, they really have to be more than just "viable".
Certainly, you can agree that 14 inch wheels are more than 50% smaller and 32 inches is 10% larger than 29 inch wheels and that one would likely see a much larger difference with the 14 inch wheels. Certainly, there is no reason to expect that the benefit from going to 14 to 29 and 29 to 32 to have the same rate of improvement. Certainly, you can agree that there is going to be a fall-off of returns for ever-larger wheels.
??? If there isn't any way to "prove or disprove" it, how can you be "certain"?
Running the same course would be tough because it would not be the same in a mud race. The riders might have an off day, how many 350 mile mud races could you duplicate the exact conditions? Collecting sufficient data would be a challenge.
Viability is just a starting point
Of course I agree with your points about the differences between 14, 29, and 32 sizes. I was just trying to illustrate a point that not every wheel size is equal. Just suggesting that there could be a difference by exaggerating the difference. I don't claim to have the answer about 32 or even 36 inch wheels.
And to your last point, the poster had said the racers who won or placed high in a long mud race would have gone the same speed with smaller wheels. This was what I was saying couldn't be proven either way. You couldn't duplicate the exact conditions of a 350 mile mud race. When I said "certainly" I was suggesting the poster consider all wheel sizes. Certainly you agree there can be differences between very small and very big wheels? How much between 29 and 32? Maybe not very much.