right. i wasn't trying to say that small wheels are a deal-breaker or anything, i was just trying to inform anyone thinking of commuting with a small wheel folder that fenders are even more purposeful than they are on full-size bikes because the higher RPMs of small wheels fling crap EVERYWHERE. the solution is obvious and easy: add fenders.

the reason this was on my mind is because i recently removed the fenders from my Dahon because i put some 20x1.25 tires on it, and they looked kinda dumb with the super-wide fenders that were designed to accommodate the big apples that used to be on the bike. well, after one ride in the rain, i learned that small wheel folders without fenders are MESSY, much messier than a normal full-size bike without fenders. i'm currently in the market for some 20" wheel skinny tire fenders.