PimpMan

In the past when i ride 26" wheel MTB i get owned numerous times going from from stop light by people riding tiny BMX with 20" wheels.

Actually tried BMX and it accelerates mad fast because of smaller wheels i want to build one to use sometimes for grocery shopping and short distance commutes, don't want to do any stunts.

I am 34 years old 5' 9", 190LB.

Option 1. Get a BMX and install super long seat post and stem + beach cruiser seat.
Problem is social factor I will probably feel bit lame riding that thing around.

Option 2. Get 20" folding bike and do the same upgrades (i don't need ability to fold just different look from BMX)
I see adults riding this small bikes and despite having small wheels they don't look like children bikes at all.

Option 3. Out of my budget, but i name it in case someone wants there's bikes called "Mini Velo"

P.S. I don't want 24" because it virtually gives no advantage over 26".

kidshibuya

Option 3 for sure. Don't get a folding bike unless you need it to actually fold, been there and done that.

There are many good minivelo options, what kind of budget do you have?

dabac

Pinigis 

Wheel size and gearing impact acceleration. Smaller wheels (assuming the same gear-inches) will always accelerate faster than a larger-wheeled bike. That said, either a mini-velo or folding bike would meet your needs, it just depends upon budget and any other requirements you may have.

12boy

I bought a Gary Fisher aluminum BMX for 25 and replaced the crank and bottom bracket with a an insert that allowed me to use a a square tapered cartridge bottom bracket. I also found a 27.2 seatpost would fit snugly over the original seatpost so with a little JB weld and an aluminum collar I made a seat post that would give me the same saddle to pedal length I would use on my other bikes. I was stuck with the BMX handlebars which I needed for handlebar height. It worked ok but I found I preferred my Brompton, my Xootr Swift and Mercier Nano to the Gary Fisher. It only had a rear brake which wasn't anywhere nearly as effective as the front brake on the other bikes. It was very light, though, due to the aluminum frame although the massive front fork was relatively very heavy.

1nterceptor

If your MTB has low pressure tires w/ aggressive lugs for mud/dirt; option 4:

Swap tires for higher pressure/narrower/slick tires that are more "road" focused.
Probably the cheapest experiment; too.

linberl

If you are in the U.S. you can pick up a used Bike Friday 20". If you don't need easily folding, then look for an OSATA model (frame actually adjusts in size).
My son used my BF for a while and he loved it - rode it on moderate trails, off curbs, and even in a stunt park. He still talks about how much easier it is to
accelerate at signals than with his 700c bike. He currently as a beater mountain bike in his apartment basement (nice bike inside his apartment) and I might
see if I can find him a nice used BF to replace that beater.

bargainguy

Smaller wheels spin up faster. Triathlon bikes still use 650c wheels instead of 700c for this reason, if I'm not mistaken.

There is no free lunch here, though. While smaller wheels spin up faster and have less aerodynamic drag, they also have more rolling resistance, so once you get up to speed, it's a wash.

If you like the burst of speed you get from small wheels, but don't want a folder, go for the mini velo.

fietsbob

My winter rain bike is a Bike Friday pocket Llama, with an internal gear hub.

my seat mast height puts the saddle at my best pedaling height
people buy these for international touring... 406 20" wheels..

LBS carries BMX bikes not something to ride far , as the saddle is way down ..

Bicycle race Motos are sprints .. They have been medal races in the last 2 Olympics..

nobody sits down until they finish the race..

X games jumps and tricks, you don't want a saddle in the way, there either..




...

fietsbob

Winning stop light sprints, in town, maybe you want one of these:






Bike Friday pocket rocket.

tdonline

I'm at Option #2 . I bought a used Dahon D7 for $125 (or 150?) and use it as my errand/town minivelo. Can't fold it as I have a full size milk crate on the back rack. I do fold down the handlebar when I park it against the wall in the apartment building foyer. Just to be make it a little smaller, if it was my own space, I wouldn't bother. If the right minivelo comes along at the right price, I would buy it--for the stability of a non-folding bike. Otherwise, the Dahon D7 works out pretty well. I rarely commute during rush hour (when only folded bikes are allowed) so it's also pretty handy to roll onto the train. I used to take my road bike but the smaller Dahon is so much better for public transportation, even unfolded.

Long story short, if you can find a deal on a folder--it serves adequately as mini-velo.

kidshibuya

Better off with a minivelo. Dont get bespoke parts if you don't need them.

Tourist in MSN

Some people are going to be faster accelerating than other people. I have a wide range of bikes from folding up to heavy duty expedition. And my acceleration from a stop is not much different from one to the other. For what you cite, grocery store runs and short distance commutes, I use my errand bike that is an early 90s mountain bike that I got at a garage sale and fixed up.

If your goal is to accelerate faster and ride faster, you might find that a different bike does not help very much.

mlau

Dude, practice on a Schwinn colleagate....then get a Xootr Swift.

Those old Schwinn's could be 40-50 lb loaded.
going to a Swift afterwards is like cheating.