2026 Bespoked Osaka: BTCHN 32er Mountain/Gravel Hybrid Bike

At Bespoked Osaka, Tyler from Chico, CA-based Btchn’ Bikes brightened our SILCA booth with a wild machine he candidly called the "ugliest bike I've ever made." Defying simple categorization (Tyler himself even joked, "It's a bicycle. Don't pigeonhole my bike!”) the build is an ambitious experiment designed around the emergent 32-inch wheel size and our Protocol RCG-3 tires. It bridges the gap between a short-travel XC mountain bike and a gravel race rig. For Btchn’, it’s a new take on big-wheel geometry and cockpit design.

To make the 32 x 2.4" Protocol tires play nice with realistic rider proportions, Tyler leveraged his penchant for engineeting custom frame details and unique component pairings. Up front, he reduced the Cannondale Lefty fork travel from 120mm to 98mm to keep the front end low while staying compatible with a wheel size the fork wasn't originally meant for. The rear end features in-house designed 3D-printed chainstay yoke and dropouts with internal routing for a 120mm PNW dropper post and rear brake line. The drivetrain pairs a road-width Q-factor SRAM Red crankset with Boost rear-hub spacing and a SRAM T-Type derailleur, which Tyler claims offers a natural pedaling stance despite the wide wheel clearance.

The real centerpiece of the build, however, is its second-generation prototype two-position handlebar, also made in-house by Btchn’. Standard drop bars often compromise control on technical terrain, so Tyler re-engineered a traditional cockpit to also help offset the additional height of the 32” wheels. 

The primary flat-bar stance mimics a 50mm stem with a 15-degree backsweep, but with significant drop to compensate for the tall 32-inch front wheel and match the stack height of a standard 29er. For cruising or tucking into the wind, the forward "hoods" position replicates a narrow 36cm aero setup with extended reach, giving riders control on technical trail sections alongside an efficient stance for endurance miles.

Due to the unique handlebar design, Tyler integrated shifting and braking into both hand positions so the bike is functional anywhere you hold it. Upside-down Shimano GRX inline brake levers fitted with custom banjo hydraulic lines operate the brakes, while wireless SRAM AXS Blips are mounted at both hand placements. By taking the control of a typical flat mountain bike bar and blending it with the low-drag efficiency of an aero position, this Btchn’ is set up to perform on any surface it crosses.