A Handmade MTB That Could Change How We Think About Wheel Sizes

BTCHN' Bikes has launched the Alpina, a handmade steel hardtail built around 32-inch wheels, challenging the mountain biking community's historical skepticism toward new wheel sizes. The bike features TIG-welded Reynolds steel construction, domestic manufacturing in partnership with Falconer Bikes, and a carefully curated component selection including White Industries, Astral, and Madrone parts. Starting at $6,800, the complete build weighs 29.17 pounds in base configuration. The design philosophy prioritizes composure and composed riding as a path to speed, with 32-inch wheels intentionally engineered rather than simply scaled from 29-inch designs. Available in three sizes, the Alpina represents a serious production commitment to the emerging 32-inch wheel platform.

"The core idea here isn't gimmickry. It's composure. Specifically, the idea that a calmer, more composed ride creates speed, and that a platform intentionally designed around 32-inch wheels can deliver that in a way a scaled-up 29er simply can't."

"The Alpina is handmade and batch-built in partnership with Falconer Bikes out of California, offered in three stock sizes (MD, LG, XL), and TIG-welded from Reynolds steel tubing. Frame construction is domestic, and the build kit leans hard into that ethos with components from White Industries, Astral, and Madrone."

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