French titanium specialist Chiru is presenting the Veldt, a gravel bike with 32-inch wheels, at Cycling World Düsseldorf. The unusual wheel size is designed to increase speed on fast tracks and at the same time improve roll-over ability on rough surfaces. Thanks to the titanium frame and high-end tuning parts, the Chiru gravel bike is lightweight despite its giant wheels. The manufacturer claims a total weight of just nine kilos for its show bike.
Chiru Veldt in detail
- Area of application: Gravel
- Wheel size: 32"
- Frame material: Titanium
- Fork material: Titanium
- Weight of complete bike: from 9 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Frame weight: from 1.75 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Frame price: from 3085 euros
- Price frame + fork: from 3910 euros
- Special features: 3D printed parts, early adopter of 32" in the gravel segment
Titanium gravel bike for 32-inch standard
The Chiru Veldt is breaking new ground as a 32-inch gravel bike. There is not yet much experience with the new standard. The Veldt was developed in collaboration with Bike Ahead. The Würzburg-based carbon manufacturer provided one of the first production-ready 32-inch wheelsets. The head tube of the Chiru Veldt contains a rigid titanium fork, which was specially designed for the 32-inch standard. Despite the larger wheel diameter, it enables a low front end and is designed to filter vibrations. The fork has a tyre clearance of 2.4 inches, while the frame can accommodate tyres up to 2.3 inches. At Cyclingworld, the Veldt was exhibited with a previously unreleased Maxxis tyre in the dimensions 32 x 2.1".
The frame of the 32-inch gravel bike is also made of grade 9 titanium tubes with triple butting. The bottom bracket cluster was manufactured from grade 5 titanium using a 3D printing process and utilises the T47 x 92 standard. The ovalised chainstays are designed to improve power transmission and at the same time offer vertical compliance. According to Chiru, the frame itself weighs 1.75 kilos. The cable routing runs completely through the head tube.
Modern standards
The Chiru Veldt 32-inch Gravekbike has mounts for three water bottles and a top tube bag. The gears are mounted using a standard UDH derailleur hanger. Pierre-A. Le Magnan, founder and CEO of Chiru, is convinced by the large wheels and describes the 32-inch dimension as the new industry standard for gravel bikes. The thoroughbred biker talks about titanium bikes like good French food and doesn't hold back when it comes to raving. The Veldt will initially be available in sizes M/L and L/XL. The frameset with frame, titanium fork and headset costs 3910 euros. Pre-orders are now being accepted and delivery is scheduled for the end of the second quarter of 2026.
32" gravel bike with tuning body
For the presentation of the first Chiru Veldt 32-inch gravel bike with a titanium frame, the French label makes no compromises and only specifies lightweight, high-quality parts. The handlebar/stem unit, saddle and seatpost are lightweight parts from Bike Ahead. The 32-inch wheels also come from Bike Ahead. These are the MTB models Biturbo X 32 Safewing. Colourful anodised parts from Garbaruk in Poland are used for the drive.
Conclusion
I can hardly get enough of the Chiru Veldt. A good sign, because until now it was questionable how well 32-inch wheels could be visually integrated into a gravel bike. This beauty made of titanium is by no means a product for everyone, but it is still more than just a study. Gravel bikers can already order a light, stylish bike for the new standard. However, a big wallet is a prerequisite. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
Jan Timmermann
Editor
