Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

26 inch bike vs 20 inch

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

26 inch bike vs 20 inch

Old 09-15-21, 04:19 PM
  #1  
JDme
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
26 inch bike vs 20 inch

I would like to get a 26 inch tire bike but I probably need a 20 inch bike due to limited space. Can a 20 inch folding bike be ridden comfortably for 6 miles without any problems? Update: I am looking for one with 6 speeds.

Last edited by JDme; 09-15-21 at 04:40 PM.
JDme is offline  
Old 09-15-21, 06:00 PM
  #2  
Inusuit
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: SE Wyoming
Posts: 607

Bikes: 1995 Specialized Rockhopper,1989 Specialized Rock Combo, 2013 Specialized Tarmac Elite

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Liked 588 Times in 278 Posts
Do you have bike riding experience? Not many new bikes come with 26 inch tires. Is your need for a 20 inch bike due to limited storage space? If you can ride 6 miles now, a 20 inch bike shouldn't create any new problems. Your fitness level will determine how comfortable you are with a 6 mile ride.
Inusuit is offline  
Likes For Inusuit:
Old 09-15-21, 06:37 PM
  #3  
Nyah
QR-disc must die!!!
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia.
Posts: 703

Bikes: '99 Trek 520, '20 Kona Sutra (FOR SALE 48cm), '21 Simon-Bikes mini-velo and a chromoly-framed folding bicycle with drop-bars and V-brakes, that rolls even while folded.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 199 Times in 147 Posts
The right 20" bicycle can be ridden any distance. I've converted my Dahon Speed to drop-bars and do 50-mile rides with it. The 50mm tires are key to smoothing out the ride on 20" diameter wheels.
Nyah is offline  
Likes For Nyah:
Old 09-15-21, 06:53 PM
  #4  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,526

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by Nyah
The right 20" bicycle can be ridden any distance. I've converted my Dahon Speed to drop-bars and do 50-mile rides with it. The 50mm tires are key to smoothing out the ride on 20" diameter wheels.
that sounds fun! got a pic?
rumrunn6 is online now  
Old 09-16-21, 01:28 AM
  #5  
Tony Marley
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Houston area
Posts: 549

Bikes: Catrike 700; Bike Friday Llama single; Bike Friday Tandem Tuesday; Easy Racers Ti-Rush recumbent; Catrike Expedition; Rans Seavo tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 43 Times in 29 Posts
Yes, a good 20-inch tire bike can go six miles. I have ridden my several Bike Friday 20-inchers 30+ miles on numerous occasions.
Tony Marley is offline  
Likes For Tony Marley:
Old 09-16-21, 01:36 AM
  #6  
Lazyass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,337
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times in 395 Posts
I rode a 20 inch bike once and it was fun as hell. You can sling those things all over the place.
Lazyass is offline  
Likes For Lazyass:
Old 09-16-21, 09:49 AM
  #7  
BobbyG
Senior Member
 
BobbyG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,960

Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V

Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1359 Post(s)
Liked 1,658 Times in 822 Posts
JDme Earlier this year I bought a used 2007 Dahon Boardwalk 7-speed folding bike and have been having a blast. I converted it to bull-horn bars. I regularly ride it 10-12 miles and have done 35 miles. Here's a list of the mods I did: https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...lk-mods-done-n, ow.html

I also have a 26-inch drop-bar mountain bike and two 700c road bikes. The 20-inch is comfortable and fun in some ways the bigger wheel bikes aren't. It's nimble even though it it heavier than my one roadbike, and weighs the same as my commuter, but he center of gravity seems to be lower. In a straight line it feels about the same as the other bikes since they now all share the same riding position, and with the upgraded gearing my average speed on it is similar to my much heavier MTB commuter Utility bike, which is about 7/8ths the average speed of my road bikes. (13.5mph roadbike avg versus 11.5 mph for the MTB and 20-inch folder.

The 26 and 700c bikes are less "twitchy" than the 20-inch and my 700c Charge Plug commuter, with its longer wheelbase and relaxed geometry tracks the straightest and smoothest.

I find that the steering column on my 2007 Dahon Folder needs tightening from time to time, including the "cleat" thing at the folding hinge. (but not too tight or it won't latch). Also because it was designed for minimal torque from the original straight bars and not the increased rotational torque forces of the bull bars, I also find I have to tighten the bar clamp quite a bit.

Although I have smooth road tires on the Folder, they are not as supple as the tires on my three other bikes, and the higher rolling resistance is noticible from time to time.

One other thing I think about is how to lock up the folder. Since the seat post has a quick release, I run the cable through the seat rails, as well as the frame and wheels (which have non-quick relase nuts and nut covers). This means I need to drop the seat in order for the cable to reach through all three. However, when folded I merely do the seat rails and frame since it would take a great effort to undo the wheels.

But you know there are 26" folding bikes out there, like Montague, Columbia and other brands. They certainly don't fold as small as a 20-inch or smaller diameter folding bike, but they probably feel more familiar while riding.

I was a serious bike commuter for 28 years, with a 9 mile commuter each way. If I were to resume that commute and had to use a 20-inch folder due to space limitations, based on my experience the last few months with my older Dahon, I think I would be happy with just an upgrade to the tires, and front chain ring. I would like to get just a little higher gearing for faster cruising, but I'm happy enough with what I have now. The stock gearing was not low enough for the hills of Colorado Springs, and the original high gear was not high enough for cruising at the speeds I want, but then, that was the case with my other bikes as well.

Oh, and speaking of gearing...I never thought I'd be happy here in the hills with just 7 speeds, but with the wide-spaced ratios I now have, it seems to work for me...for now.

Like any other bike, a cheap folding bike will be heavy, with finicky gears and brakes and could be less fun to ride than a lighter bike with better components.

One last note...because of the folding mechanisms in the frame and steering column, and the extra length of the steering column and seat post I doubt my 20-inch folder would hold up to some of the unexpected curb strikes and pot holes I have experienced over the decades. I may be wrong, but I haven't encountered any yet, so I don't know.

But the bottom line is this: My 20-inch folder (with modifications) is as capable a commuter as my three other bikes and just as fun to ride, although it may not be a sturdy in extreme cases.

Hope all this helps your decision either way.
BobbyG is offline  
Likes For BobbyG:
Old 09-17-21, 02:01 AM
  #8  
jgwilliams
Senior Member
 
jgwilliams's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 866

Bikes: Dolan Tuono 105 Di2, custom built 653 and 531 bikes with frames by Barry Witcomb, Sonder Dial XT mountain bike and a Brompton folding bike.

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 139 Times in 99 Posts
People have done the London to Brighton (~ 50 miles) on Bromptons, which have 16" wheels. Not sure I would want to do that, but I can certainly do 6 miles on my Brompton quite easily. And mine has only three gears, only two of which are really useful.

Actually, if you're really short on space, Bromptons are truly amazing. Not cheap, but there's nothing to touch them for the way they fold up.

Last edited by jgwilliams; 09-17-21 at 02:03 AM. Reason: Brompton plug
jgwilliams is offline  
Likes For jgwilliams:
Old 09-18-21, 01:16 PM
  #9  
tcs
Palmer
 
tcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576

Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12

Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times in 1,041 Posts
Originally Posted by JDme
Can a 20 inch folding bike be ridden comfortably for 6 miles without any problems?
You'll do fine.


tcs is offline  
Likes For tcs:
Old 09-23-21, 08:05 PM
  #10  
pmhlb
Newbie
 
pmhlb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 52

Bikes: Carmel low-entry by Specialized/Globe

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you for this in-depth summary. I am new to the idea of folding bikes, and think the lower height might be just right for me, as I am only 5 ft 2 in -- with short legs.

At one point, I think I saw a folder called a 'Pogi' in a YouTube video. The folding system was slick, in that the middle bar is what was adjusted -- rather than the frame. No amount of Google searches will provide further info on this. Do you know what I mean?

Thanks!
pmhlb is offline  
Old 09-25-21, 12:37 PM
  #11  
JDme
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What is the number of teeth on the Dahon front chainring you own now? I do not have many hills where I am. Mainly I need to ride on flat terrain.
JDme is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.