Gallery | A closer look at the prototype Moots Routt CRDD with 750d wheels and tyres

The big-wheeled bike is on display at the MADE show in Portland, Oregon

By George Scott

Published: Friday, 25 August 2023 at 16:55 PM

Earlier this week, we reported on the new 750d wheel size being teased by Moots and WTB, and now we can take a closer look.

The collective sigh reverberated around the internet when this news first broke. Do we really need another gravel wheel size standard?

Well, probably not, and certainly not right now – but, let’s be clear, Moots and WTB are very much presenting this as a possible option for the future, rather than a bona fide product development with a production timeline.

“For now, this bike is just a passion project,” a Moots representative told BikeRadar from the MADE handmade bicycle show.

“Moots knew MADE was on the horizon, and WTB was developing a 750d wheel and tyre. When WTB asked if Moots was interested in designing a bike around this experimental wheel size, they jumped at the opportunity to collaborate.

“Right now, it’s too early to tell if 750d will take off, but it was worth trying something new.”

Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
This one took us by surprise.
Deven McCoy

Whether a one-off passion project or an early look at the future, the prospect of a larger-diameter wheel for gravel riding is food for thought for gravel tech experimentalists

The claimed benefits? “Smoother rolling over rough terrain,” according to Moots. Larger wheels can also allow taller riders to achieve a more proportional geometry.

Moots took the new Routt CRD gravel bike, launched in early August, and built a prototype frame, the CRDD, to accommodate the prototype WTB KOM Light i25 rims, in a 750d size, and accompanying 750 x 40mm WTB Nano Raptor tyres.

A 750d rim has a larger diameter than a 700c wheel, increasing the bead-to-bead diameter measurement from 622mm to 660mm.

Wrap this in a typical gravel tyre and it’ll apparently give an overall diameter similar to a typical 29in/700c wheel with an appropriately-wide mountain bike tyre.

The bike is on display this week in Portland, Oregon at the inaugural MADE show. Let’s take a closer look.

Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
Moots launched the Routt CRD earlier in August as a race-focussed gravel bike with integrated cable routing and built from the brand’s RSL (Race Super Light) titanium tube set. The CRDD takes that bike and tweaks the frame to accommodate the oversized 750d wheels pictured here.
Deven McCoy
Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
Moots has worked with WTB on this prototype bike, with the latter supplying the 750d KOM Light i25 rims and 750 x 40mm Nano Raptor tyres.
Deven McCoy
Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
Moots says the Routt CRDD has clearance for 750d tyres up to 48mm wide, although, as you can imagine, 750d rubber is a little hard to find right now. Could that change in the future?
Deven McCoy
Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
A 750d rim has a 660mm bead-to-bead diameter and, when paired with a typical gravel tyre, is said to have an overall diameter similar to a 29in MTB wheel with chunky 2.1in rubber.
Deven McCoy
Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
Wheel-size evolutions are nothing new. Mountain bikes rolled on 26in wheels for decades before eventually switching to 29in, with 27.5in/650b and mixed-wheel mullet bikes still sitting in between. Some riders also use smaller 650b on gravel bikes in order to fit a wider tyre but 700c has quickly become the gravel standard.
Deven McCoy
Moots Routt CRDD gravel bike with 750d wheels
Will 750d gather momentum? We wouldn’t bet on it and the folk at Moots are being coy, too. “For now, this bike is just a passion project,” a Moots representative told BikeRadar.
Deven McCoy