Alt Bike Culture - Severely mismatched wheel sizes

Let's say I took a mountain bike with 24 inch wheels, then stuck a 700c fork on the front, or vice versa. Really big in front and small in back or the other way around. Anyone ever try it? Will it work? What are the effects on handling?

Sorry, I'm new, would this be better suited for another forum?

You could end up like this!

There was a post on a similar idea a while back. It's been done to make some small-frame bikes easier to ride, if I remember right. It's been done on time-trial bikes to give a more aero position. Low-gravity/ cycletruck bikes are made with a smaller front wheel so the load can be carried lower. And then there's this:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/StPattricksDayParade/Bike6.jpg

Or maybe it was an ultra-rare Schwinn Shrinky-Dink frame, bake at 300F for a few minutes.

Sorry, I'm new, would this be better suited for another forum?

Naw, you hit the the bullseye, and thanks for joining us here :)

Ive fitted a 26" front end to a MK2 Raleigh Chopper.
was really wheely prone then
and the side stand didnt reach the ground any more.

I had another bike that had 26" wheels on it.
But I fitted a 20" rear and a 12" front.
I lengthened a pair of BMX forks. and fitted a chopper style seat.
It was less of a handfull. But the forks flexed too much

Thanks for joining us...It takes awhile sometimes for someone to jump in and answer... continue to enjoy

Early Cannondale MTB's ran a 24" out back with a 26" up front. People say they climbed like a goat. Looked cool too IMO.

There's a 69er. 29" in front and 26" in the back. It looks cool. Climbs like a goat!

Early Cannondale MTB's ran a 24" out back with a 26" up front. People say they climbed like a goat. Looked cool too IMO.

I believe the early 2000-2002 Specialized "BigHit" downhill bike also had that configuration... :thumb:

I think the idea was to allow longer rear wheel travel without the rear wheel hitting the back of the seat post, stronger rear wheel, lighter tire, and less rolling mass, etc. All makes sense and it looked good too, but somehow it didn't take off. The model has been discontinued.

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Really big in front and small in back or the other way around. Anyone ever try it? Will it work? What are the effects on handling?

It's been done...

http://www.cocatalyst.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/ordinary_bicycle_2.jpg

terry cycles for women have a variety of mixed wheel sized bikes, with no ill effects.

many trick bikes for track or time trial exist.

and some of the earliest popular bone shakers were extremely mixed sizes, as above.

only question is whether the frame is designed to hold that size wheel. a MTB frame with a 700c fork may mean the front wheel hits the down tube.

a teeny tiny wheel in the back may mean the BB is too low, and the pedals won't turn at all, or they hit the ground in corners.

etc.

I used to rock a 20" metal mag wheel off an ancient columbia BMX on the front of my 26" Murray Cruiser (that '80's blue one that they sold at sears and such)

It ruled.

I left it in the woods to go make out with some redhead and it got stolen.

It probably wound up under the wheels of a freight train on the B&O line near there. Sad.

It rode fine-- enough for me to regularly ride it from town to town across state lines.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11629987@N02/1153487429/

Heres a photo of some dude with a big front wheel and a twenty inch rear wheel.

He is riding on railroad ballast, between the Lehigh Valley Main Line and the Port Reading Secondary, in New Jersey.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11629987@N02/1153487429/

Read up on 29" mountain bikes. I stumbled on them whilst checking some Trek prices. They make the 69er. 26" rear and 29" front, they say it is fast, handles well, and climbs great. With a 24" inch bike you could just use a 26" fork. It would be very similar but smaller package. Although their frame geometry probably prevents the rig from slanting back.