Advice on tire size folder
07-16-15, 03:32 PM
#1
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Advice on tire size folder
Hello, going from a standard hybrid to a folder for storage space, downsizing to a condo from a house. We ride mainly on hard pack gravel trails. Suggestions please! Thanks! Andy
07-16-15, 04:03 PM
#2
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In my opinion, 20" wheels ride much the same as larger wheels. But, with smaller wheels you have the advantage or quicker acceleration and more responsive steering (some consider this twitchiness).
07-16-15, 04:05 PM
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If so, my opinion is that small wheeled bicycles are most useful when there is transit of some type involved, whether than means packing into an airline suitcase, taking on Amtrak, putting into a car trunk rather than using a bike carrier rack, or using mixed mode transit such as commuter rail or buses. For those purposes, I would use a 16" or 20" bicycle.
If my goal is none of the above, and is just to reduce the footprint of space taken up in storage in my house, I would go with a full sized folder, like the Montague, Dahon or Tern 26" and 700c bikes, to preserve the most similarity to the bicycles you are used to.
That's just my two cents, others I'm sure have other viewpoints.
07-16-15, 07:57 PM
#4
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Thank you for the answers. We are suburban dwellers, so pack for transportation isn't the issue. Storage in our apartment and ride handling on - other than pavement - are the top criteria I am focusing on now. In South Florida we have packed shell rock paths in the park we ride in mostly. I have been scanning the thread 'Folders in the wild' Andy
07-16-15, 08:13 PM
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go in the middle and check out the 24 inch bikes .... yes they fold bigger than a 20 incher but are surprisingly small after all
07-16-15, 08:13 PM
#6
Tourer
This spring I rode the 184-mile C&O Canal towpath on my Bike Friday New World Tourist which has 20" wheels. It was adequate for most of the trail. However, where the trail had deteriorated and was rough, I was envious of my friend and his 26" wheels. If you do not need small 20" wheels, I would get a 26"-wheeled folder for riding on hard pack gravel trails.
07-17-15, 08:45 AM
#7
Banned
2 of each .. higher pressure thinner tire , larger rim .. 20"_ 451 & 406, 16"_ 349 & 305 ; smaller rim, fatter tire (a bit more rugged)
07-17-15, 11:55 AM
#9
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Thread Starter
Budget is a good question. Imagine I would like to stay under $1000 each since we are just trying these out for the 1st time
