JDme

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.

Inusuit

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.

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.

rumrunn6

that sounds fun! got a pic?

Tony Marley

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.

Lazyass

I rode a 20 inch bike once and it was fun as hell. You can sling those things all over the place.

BobbyG

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.

jgwilliams

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.

tcs

You'll do fine.

pmhlb

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!

JDme

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.