Sour Bicycles introduces the Pasta Party 32″, a chromoly steel hardtail frame designed entirely around the 32-inch wheel stand (ISO 686mm). The frame produced in Saxony is available immediately for €1.299.
The 32″ Pasta Party is not a converted 29er. Sour has drawn the frame from scratch around the larger wheels, which have an outer diameter of around 810 mm, some 10% more than a standard 29er. That extra size provides more rollover and stability, but also places different demands on frame construction.
Fit and geometry: short head tube as a solution
The biggest design problem with 32″ frames is the stack height. The larger wheel radius raises the front end, affecting the riding position. Sour accommodates this with a remarkably short head tube, keeping the hand position efficient for XC and bikepacking.
The rear end also requires adjustments. Whereas 29er hardtails often use chainstays under 435 mm, 32″ typically requires 450 mm or more for sufficient tyre clearance. The frame can accommodate tyres up to 32 x 2.4″.
Material and specs
The frame is constructed of custom-drawn, multiple-butted and partially heat-treated chromoly steel, a construction that Sour also uses in its regular Pasta Party.
- Wheel size: 32-inch (front and rear)
- Max tyre size: 32 x 2.4″
- Material: custom-drawn, multiple-butted chromoly
- Sizes: M, L, XL
- Price: €1.299 (frame only)
- Availability: available immediately
Geometry (c) Sour.bike
Can you already build this normally?
The Pasta Party uses standard mountain bike spacing, keeping common drivetrains and brakes compatible. But 32″-specific parts are still scarce. You need dedicated rims, extra-long spokes and 32″ tyres, such as the Maxxis Aspen and Dissector which are now available in this format. Forks are for now limited to prototypes of the likes of Manitou and Intend.
The launch coincides with the recent UCI approval for larger wheels in competition. This has prompted brands such as BMC, KTM and Starling to develop their own 32″ models. With the Pasta Party, Sour is one of the first to actually deliver a production frame.
More info at sour.bike.
