Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

The True 36

The True 36

The Great Wheel Size Debate continues to revolve. Once we finalize whether the ideal diameter is 26″, 29er, 650b or, more recently, 36er, will we find ourselves back at the same place we started out from? It’s funny how life moves in cycles. This is The True 36, a small studio in Slovakia with an ultra-clean offering for the latest off road market.

Why 36″ wheels? They further expound the 29er: More momentum over more obstacles. More stability due to a lower center of gravity. Bigger contact patch. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to every ‘standard’ now offered to today’s mountain biker. All arguments aside, 36ers look like fun. Fat bikers pipe down… On what other bike can you ride up a set of stairs?

Robert Dilik is the designer of The True 36. The frames are fabricated by hand in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. From these images, you’ll notice the differences in geometry needed by the bigger wheels, like an exaggerated slope on the chain stays and curved seat and down tubes. It’s definitely a bike for the less-vertically challenged, you really need to be around 6ft tall to govern these bikes.

Looks like there’s room for all wheel sizes, then. Special thanks to Robert Dilik for the photography. See more on The True 36 website and Facebook page.

The True 36
The True 36
The True 36
The True 36
The True 36
The True 36
The True 36
The True 36
The True 36