24"/26" interchangability

[Mr_Kingkillaha]

has anyone ever tried putting 24" wheels in a 26" frame? my reason for wondering is manueverability. i dont feel nible enough on a 26.
so if anyone has tried it-
does the bike ride goofy?
is it more manueverable?
how does it affect handling?

i dont care if it looks stupid FYI.

assuming i would have the same width hubs and discs of course.

 

[Zilla]

Mr_Kingkillaha <[email protected]>
wrote:
> has anyone ever tried putting 24" wheels in a 26" frame? my reason for
> wondering is manueverability. i dont feel nible enough on a 26.
> so if anyone has tried it-
> does the bike ride goofy?
> is it more manueverable?
> how does it affect handling?
>
> i dont care if it looks stupid FYI.
>
> assuming i would have the same width hubs and discs of course.
>
>
> --
> Mr_Kingkillaha

You'll be giving up the extra 2" on BB/front ring height.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC
(Remove XSPAM)

 

[Pete]

"Zilla" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news3f3d.176534$%[email protected]...
> Mr_Kingkillaha <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > has anyone ever tried putting 24" wheels in a 26" frame? my reason for
> > wondering is manueverability. i dont feel nible enough on a 26.
> > so if anyone has tried it-
> > does the bike ride goofy?
> > is it more manueverable?
> > how does it affect handling?
> >
> > i dont care if it looks stupid FYI.
> >
> > assuming i would have the same width hubs and discs of course.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Mr_Kingkillaha
>
> You'll be giving up the extra 2" on BB/front ring height.

Actually, 1"

Pete

 

[SuperSlinky]

Mr_Kingkillaha said...

> has anyone ever tried putting 24" wheels in a 26" frame? my reason for
> wondering is manueverability. i dont feel nible enough on a 26.
> so if anyone has tried it-
> does the bike ride goofy?
> is it more manueverable?
> how does it affect handling?
>
> i dont care if it looks stupid FYI.
>
> assuming i would have the same width hubs and discs of course.
>
>
> --
> Mr_Kingkillaha

Well, you won't be using rim brakes, so I assume it will be a custom
wheelset. Rim, tire and tube choices will be more limited. The ride will
be harsher as it will be less able to roll over small obstacles. Bottom
bracket will drop as noted by others. May be a little lighter and a
little stronger. The primary consideration for maneuverability is
wheelbase. That won't change by going to smaller wheels. Tire contact
patch will be shorter but wider for the same tire pressure, so that may
help with maneuverability.

Short of getting a new, smaller frame, other things you might try would
be narrower bars and/or a shorter stem. Fit is the primary concern here,
but if you have riser bars with sweep, then a flat bar and a shorter
stem with more rise may get you in more or less the same position with
quicker handling. A shorter fork or a suspension fork with less travel
would also help make handling quicker by changing the effective top tube
angle. If your fork has 125mm travel, then maybe 80mm travel is what you
really want. If you can change the travel with your fork that would be a
great place to start.

 

[SuperSlinky]

Mr_Kingkillaha said...

> has anyone ever tried putting 24" wheels in a 26" frame? my reason for
> wondering is manueverability. i dont feel nible enough on a 26.
> so if anyone has tried it-
> does the bike ride goofy?
> is it more manueverable?
> how does it affect handling?
>
> i dont care if it looks stupid FYI.
>
> assuming i would have the same width hubs and discs of course.
>
>
> --
> Mr_Kingkillaha

Well, you won't be using rim brakes, so I assume it will be a custom
wheelset. Rim, tire and tube choices will be more limited. The ride will
be harsher as it will be less able to roll over small obstacles. Bottom
bracket will drop as noted by others. May be a little lighter and a
little stronger. The primary consideration for maneuverability is
wheelbase. That won't change by going to smaller wheels. Tire contact
patch will be shorter but wider for the same tire pressure, so that may
help with maneuverability.

Short of getting a new, smaller frame, other things you might try would
be narrower bars and/or a shorter stem. Fit is the primary concern here,
but if you have riser bars with sweep, then a flat bar and a shorter
stem with more rise may get you in more or less the same position with
quicker handling. A shorter fork or a suspension fork with less travel
would also help make handling quicker by changing the effective top tube
angle. If your fork has 125mm travel, then maybe 80mm travel is what you
really want. If you can change the travel with your fork that would be a
great place to start.

 

[SuperSlinky]

Mr_Kingkillaha said...

> has anyone ever tried putting 24" wheels in a 26" frame? my reason for
> wondering is manueverability. i dont feel nible enough on a 26.
> so if anyone has tried it-
> does the bike ride goofy?
> is it more manueverable?
> how does it affect handling?
>
> i dont care if it looks stupid FYI.
>
> assuming i would have the same width hubs and discs of course.
>
>
> --
> Mr_Kingkillaha

Well, you won't be using rim brakes, so I assume it will be a custom
wheelset. Rim, tire and tube choices will be more limited. The ride will
be harsher as it will be less able to roll over small obstacles. Bottom
bracket will drop as noted by others. May be a little lighter and a
little stronger. The primary consideration for maneuverability is
wheelbase. That won't change by going to smaller wheels. Tire contact
patch will be shorter but wider for the same tire pressure, so that may
help with maneuverability.

Short of getting a new, smaller frame, other things you might try would
be narrower bars and/or a shorter stem. Fit is the primary concern here,
but if you have riser bars with sweep, then a flat bar and a shorter
stem with more rise may get you in more or less the same position with
quicker handling. A shorter fork or a suspension fork with less travel
would also help make handling quicker by changing the effective top tube
angle. If your fork has 125mm travel, then maybe 80mm travel is what you
really want. If you can change the travel with your fork that would be a
great place to start.

 

[BB]

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:03:59 GMT, SuperSlinky wrote:

> May be a little lighter and a little stronger.

Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes, and 24" wheels will most likely be
cheaply built. I don't know if he could rebuild one with a disc hub for a
26" wheel, but he'll have to since the brakes won't line up anymore.

I say go for it; he'll at least have a funny story about a really dumb
idea he had one time.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

 

[Mr_Kingkillaha]

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:03:59 GMT, SuperSlinky wrote:

> May be a little lighter and a little stronger.

Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes, and 24" wheels will most likely be
cheaply built. I don't know if he could rebuild one with a disc hub for a
26" wheel, but he'll have to since the brakes won't line up anymore.

I say go for it; he'll at least have a funny story about a really dumb
idea he had one time.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

obviosly im not going to use a kids wheel. i would have the same hub, built into a 24" rim. there are some strong 24" rims in the bmx market. the disc would still be on the same hub, so fit is not a problem.

this was just a hypothetical question, i haven't actually bought my 26 yet. the frame im looking at (Giant STP1) does have a pretty short wheelbase, so maybe it wont be a problem.
but if you consider that right now i am riding a bmx frame w/ 20" wheels, 12 speed, this dumb idea could only be better than the one im using. the 20" is awesome on the downhill, but any kind of climb is extremely difficult.

thank you everyone for your feed back, i think i will ride my new bike how it is for a few months before i waste money on new wheels.

 

[Phil, Squid-in-Training]

> Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes,

Hardly. Many DH bikes have 24" rear wheels, and many riders I know here in
town do dirt jumps and dual-slalom on 24" front and rear.

I don't know if he could rebuild one with a
> disc hub for a 26" wheel

Why not? I was contemplating building a 20" disc-compatible wheel with 8"
rotors just for laughs... Some people ride 700c disc-brake wheels in their
mountain or cross bikes. All hubs are independent of their rims, except for
some proprietary boutique wheels.

, but he'll have to since the brakes won't
> line up anymore.

Or as some other riders I know, don't use brakes.

> I say go for it; he'll at least have a funny story about a really dumb
> idea he had one time.

How is it dumb?

Phil

 

[Slash]

On 19 Sep 2004 18:00:56 GMT, BB <[email protected]>
scribbled:

>On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:03:59 GMT, SuperSlinky wrote:
>
>> May be a little lighter and a little stronger.
>
>Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes, and 24" wheels will most likely be
>cheaply built. I don't know if he could rebuild one with a disc hub for a
>26" wheel, but he'll have to since the brakes won't line up anymore.
>
>I say go for it; he'll at least have a funny story about a really dumb
>idea he had one time.

That's not true, there are many trials, freeride and downhill bikes
that are built up with 24" wheels, or one 24" wheel (Specialized is
one such manufacturer who offers a bike with 24" in the rear and 26"
up front as stock). A smaller wheel can in many cases increase the
rigidity at the expense of potential squirrliness.

-Slash
--
"Ebert Victorious"
-The Onion

 

[Phil, Squid-in-Training]

> That's not true, there are many trials, freeride and downhill bikes
> that are built up with 24" wheels, or one 24" wheel (Specialized is
> one such manufacturer who offers a bike with 24" in the rear and 26"
> up front as stock).

Yup - the Specialized BigHit is one. The Specialized P.Street has 24"
wheels front and rear, too.

 

[BB]

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 21:40:41 GMT, Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
>> Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes,
>
> Hardly. Many DH bikes have 24" rear wheels, and many riders I know here in
> town do dirt jumps and dual-slalom on 24" front and rear.

Fine; I've never heard of one.

>> , but he'll have to since the brakes won't
>> line up anymore.
>
> Or as some other riders I know, don't use brakes.

Ah, good plan.

>> I say go for it; he'll at least have a funny story about a really dumb
>> idea he had one time.
>
> How is it dumb?

Well, losing one brake could certainly be one reason, along with the ones
that others have noted. And he doesn't even know that it'll make the bike
more nimble.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

 

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article <[email protected]>,
Mr_Kingkillaha <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:03:59 GMT, SuperSlinky wrote:

[24" wheels?]

> > May be a little lighter and a little stronger.
>
> Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes, and 24" wheels will most likely
> be
> cheaply built. I don't know if he could rebuild one with a disc hub for
> a
> 26" wheel, but he'll have to since the brakes won't line up anymore.
>
> I say go for it; he'll at least have a funny story about a really dumb
> idea he had one time.

There are dirt-jumping mountain bikes that come stock with 24" rear
wheels. Strong, high-quality 24" rims are readily available.

A highly unusual example of a 24" mountain-ish bike:

http://norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/four20.htm

A full-suspension singlespeed 24" dirt jumper. Note the unusual combo of
disc brakes and a gyro. It is fair to assume that the Alex rims on this
bicycle are really tough.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email protected] http://www.wiredcola.com
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

 

[Mr_Kingkillaha]

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 21:40:41 GMT, Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> How is it dumb?

Well, losing one brake could certainly be one reason, along with the ones
that others have noted. And he doesn't even know that it'll make the bike
more nimble.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

how would i be losing one brake? last time i checked changing the size of the rim doesn't magically change the size of the disc. a 6" disc is guaranteed to be 6", no matter what hub you put it on.
the downfalls others have noted, such as ground clearance- I AM CURRENTLY RIDING 20". that would mean 2" up, not 1" down.

not knowing if it is more nimble was the reason for asking advice frome people who possibly do know. isn't that the purpose of this site?
and i do know that my 20" is the most nimble bike ive been on. i was wondering if there is a noticable difference in the less drastic 26-24 swap. now that i know that some companies sell bikes in this config. it is just a matter of seeing how i like the bike as is.

i suppose i forgot to mention that i can build custom wheels. that is no problem. i have a 6 speed hub w/ double wall rhyno lite 20. my LBS will cut custom length spokes for almost the same price.

 

[Carla A-G]

"Slash" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> That's not true, there are many trials, freeride and downhill bikes
> that are built up with 24" wheels, or one 24" wheel (Specialized is
> one such manufacturer who offers a bike with 24" in the rear and 26"
> up front as stock). A smaller wheel can in many cases increase the
> rigidity at the expense of potential squirrliness.

My trials bike is 20" front and 19" rear. Its easier to get up and over
obstacles with the smaller frame and wheels. I've also seen comps where guys
were using 26" front and 20" rear, an odd combo, but it made it much easier
to get the front wheel over everything.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

 

[BB]

On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 17:34:14 +1000, Mr_Kingkillaha wrote:

> how would i be losing one brake? last time i checked changing the size
> of the rim doesn't magically change the size of the disc. a 6" disc is
> guaranteed to be 6", no matter what hub you put it on.

Why is it that every time someone replies to me, its as if the previous
conversation never happened? I said you'd have to use discs since rim
brakes won't line up - he said some people just live without one brake. I
replied that the loss of a brake would be rather significant. OK?

> and i do know that my 20" is the most nimble bike ive been on. i was
> wondering if there is a noticable difference in the less drastic 26-24
> swap. now that i know that some companies sell bikes in this config. it
> is just a matter of seeing how i like the bike as is.

....but is your 20" (I assume that's wheel size, not frame) more nimble
because the wheels are smaller or because the FRAME is smaller? There's a
lot more difference between those two bikes than the wheels.

Again, I say go for it. Maybe you'll discover something great..or maybe
you'll find that frame design makes a lot more difference than wheel size,
and waste a lot of time rebuilding wheels. Either way you'll have an
interesting story.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

 

[AndyC]

"BB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 21:40:41 GMT, Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> >> Except that 24" bikes are kid's bikes,
> >
> > Hardly. Many DH bikes have 24" rear wheels, and many riders I know here
in
> > town do dirt jumps and dual-slalom on 24" front and rear.
>
> Fine; I've never heard of one.
>

The Specialised Big-Hit DH bike is designed with a 24" rear wheel in mind.
Loads of the rims on here:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...ims_Rims&category2=wheels+rim+tapes_Rim Tapes

Or shorter: www.chainreactioncycles.com

Have 24" rims. Very common (though not as common as a 26" obviously).

 

[Mr_Kingkillaha]

Why is it that every time someone replies to me, its as if the previous
conversation never happened? I said you'd have to use discs since rim
brakes won't line up - he said some people just live without one brake. I
replied that the loss of a brake would be rather significant. OK?

the reason it seems the previous conversation never happened is confusion. when phil asked "how is it dumb?"
you said "losing one brake..."
the problem is phil is also the one who suggested no brakes. my original post clarified i would have disc brakes. that is the post phil was asking how it was dumb. (although yes i have ridden brakeless before. it is a rush)

....but is your 20" (I assume that's wheel size, not frame) more nimble
because the wheels are smaller or because the FRAME is smaller? There's a
lot more difference between those two bikes than the wheels.

that is the jist of my original question. you are right, the frame will have alot more impact on the matter. i was curious about what effect wheel size plays, and if it had been tried before.

Again, I say go for it. Maybe you'll discover something great..or maybe
you'll find that frame design makes a lot more difference than wheel size,
and waste a lot of time rebuilding wheels. Either way you'll have an
interesting story.

if i suddenly i have more money than i know what to do with, i may still try it. although the logical thing to do is to try to get used to the bike as is first.
sorry if i seemed to be a smart ass, just a little misunderstanding i guess.

if i do try the new wheels, i'll be sure to let everyone know how it works.

 

[Mr_Kingkillaha]

i just became aware that the edit function that i use on my cyclingforums.com site does not edit the posts that you all read. i am very sorry for that. im sure you cant see some of the things i have posted and thats why you ignored them. i guess technology is to blame here.

 

[Stephen Baker]

KInghahaha says:

>i just became aware that the edit function that i use on my
>cyclingforums.com site does not edit the posts that you all read. i am
>very sorry for that.

If you came out of the closetby ceasing to post from cyclingforums.com (where
they have the gall to "moderate" us....) and joined the group properly, you
wouldn't have these problems, now wouldja?. ;-)

Steve