Another Quest speed ?

[defjack]

So how is the 20 in speed compared to other 20 in bikes? I got passed today by a Bike Friday on the bike path and he was moving out. Some of the high end folders are pretty fast.Dont know if I should order a 20 or 26.

 

[Mark B]

defjack wrote: So how is the 20 in speed compared to other 20 in bikes? I got passed today by a Bike Friday on the bike path and he was moving out. Some of the high end folders are pretty fast.Dont know if I should order a 20 or 26.

I'd go 26" for several reasons: Ride quality, gearing and tire selection come immediately to mind.

Jack, there are guys that would be fast on a child's tricycle. That doesn't mean you or I would be! :lol: :lol:

Now.... If you are planning on packing and travelling with he bike.... I could see going 20" and you make the best of it.

FWIW, I know a guy that can beat the snot out of me on a Bike Friday, too, but no worse than he does on his Merlin.

Mark

 

[currystomper]

I wouldn't be scared of the 20 inch wheel - with suspension and the right tires they can be as fast as the bigger wheels.

..I ride my 20 inch folder with standard racing bikes and I can keep up with the slower one - that's probably 'cause I'm a slow rider - I think I lose about 2 mph on my folder compared with a race bike with much narrower tires. However, with small tires I can tuck closer to the guy in front and get into the wind shadow better. The ride of my folder is better than the racing bike due to the suspension - this a big plus with the state of the Scottish roads after the hard winter we have had..

...but get the bike you want, I like the look of the bike with the bigger wheels......

 

[Mark B]

currystomper wrote: I wouldn't be scared of the 20 inch wheel - with suspension and the right tires they can be as fast as the bigger wheels.

..I ride my 20 inch folder with standard racing bikes and I can keep up with the slower one - that's probably 'cause I'm a slow rider - I think I lose about 2 mph on my folder compared with a race bike with much narrower tires. However, with small tires I can tuck closer to the guy in front and get into the wind shadow better. The ride of my folder is better than the racing bike due to the suspension - this a big plus with the state of the Scottish roads after the hard winter we have had..

...but get the bike you want, I like the look of the bike with the bigger wheels......

What gearing do you have on your folder? It looks to me like the components are the same, regardless of wheel size. So, a 26" wheel should give you somewhere around 9.5 gear inches on the high end, where a 20" will only give you 7.9. It all depends on what you want to do with it. I could and would live with the 451's if I were looking for a touring or commuting bike that I could pack. If you're looking for top end speed, it's a no-brainer, to me.

The other issue is tire selection. Quality 451's can be had, but there are fewer choices (this coming from a guy that likes 650c ) 559 tires are quite common in various makes and models.

Regarding ride quaity. The suspension is going to be the same for either wheel size. All things being equal, the 26" wheels are going to ride better, suspended or unsupended. In fairness, the 20's will wind up faster, but they will also top out faster, as well.

All this does not add up to making the 451 a bad wheel choice. Again, it all depends on what you want out of the bike. If I really and truly needed to pack this bike, I would go 451's, I think. However, if I wanted a bike for everyday riding where speed and comfort was my concern and folding was just a neat thing to impress my friends with on occasion, I would go for the 26's. That's just me and my humble opinion!

Mark

 

[John Tolhurst]

I think tire selection has been a problem on 451 sized rims, but now, with the surge in the mini-velo in Japan, we can say there is a actually a great selection of 451 tires. http://www.google.com/products?q=451+tires+bicycle&show=dd&sa=N&start=10

 

[Mark B]

John Tolhurst wrote: I think tire selection has been a problem on 451 sized rims, but now, with the surge in the mini-velo in Japan, we can say there is a actually a great selection of 451 tires. http://www.google.com/products?q=451+tires+bicycle&show=dd&sa=N&start=10

There seem to be a few more choices, yes. I was not aware of this mini velo thing, but I googled it and... :shock: That is kind of weird!

Mark

 

[John Tolhurst]

So that is why I decided a folding recumbent could have the slightly larger 451 wheel over the 406 - give about 2" more tire diameter.

 

[currystomper]

Mark B wrote:
What gearing do you have on your folder? It looks to me like the components are the same, regardless of wheel size. So, a 26" wheel should give you somewhere around 9.5 gear inches on the high end, where a 20" will only give you 7.9. It all depends on what you want to do with it. I could and would live with the 451's if I were looking for a touring or commuting bike that I could pack. If you're looking for top end speed, it's a no-brainer, to me.

You do need a bigger drive ring with smaller wheels - I don't think that the big ring on the Quest would be generally usable if it is sized for the 451. On my folding bike I think the gearing is around 53/9 and I spin out at about 22 - 23 mph

Mark B wrote:
Regarding ride quaity. The suspension is going to be the same for either wheel size. All things being equal, the 26" wheels are going to ride better, suspended or unsupended. In fairness, the 20's will wind up faster, but they will also top out faster, as well.

29 inch wheels can be lightly than the standard wheels - so unspring mass is less - isn't this better

Mark B wrote:
All this does not add up to making the 451 a bad wheel choice. Again, it all depends on what you want out of the bike. If I really and truly needed to pack this bike, I would go 451's, I think. However, if I wanted a bike for everyday riding where speed and comfort was my concern and folding was just a neat thing to impress my friends with on occasion, I would go for the 26's. That's just me and my humble opinion!

I agree with the first statement - get the bike that you want - but don't be put off the small wheeled bike you will surprise a lot of people but how fast it is.