Small wheel bicycle
Encyclopedia
Small wheel bicycles are adult bicycles which have wheels
of 20 inch nominal diameter or less, which is smaller than the 26" or 700c sizes common on most full-sized adult bikes. While many folding bicycle
s are small wheel bicycles, not all small wheel bicycles can fold. Some small wheel bicycles neither fold nor separate, such as the Moulton
, which comes in both fixed frame and separable frame versions. While BMX
bikes also have 20" wheels, they are not normally categorised as 'small wheel bikes'.
For general information on small wheel folding bikes, please refer to the Folding bicycle
and Portable bicycle
articles.
For specific manufacturers, follow the categories links.
, better known by his pen name "Velocio". His approach was to use a balloon-width tire
of about 2.25" (57mm) on a 20" (500mm) rim, giving a wheel of approximately 24" (600mm) in diameter.
The man credited with being the father of modern small-wheel bicycles is Alex Moulton
who pioneered the field with his F-framed Moulton Bicycle
in 1962. His original small-wheeled design notably featured full suspension. Raleigh introduced the RSW-16 as a direct competitor, but it lacked the suspension of the Moulton, and compensated for this by using very wide 2-inch "balloon" tires. The RSW-16 "Compact" was a folding version. In 1968 Raleigh introduced the Raleigh Twenty
which later went on to become one of Raleigh's biggest sellers. A large number of European manufacturers made U-frame small-wheeled and folding bicycles in the 1970s.
s. Smaller wheels more faithfully follow the terrain, giving a harsher ride on bumpy roads that are effectively smoothed by larger ones. It may be desirable for bicycles with smaller wheels to also be fitted with some form of suspension to improve riding characteristics. Bicycles with small wheels normally have their gearing
adjusted to provide the same effective wheel radius
as large ones, so pedalling cadence
is not different. Smaller wheels tend to weigh less than larger ones, thus bringing the performance benefits of light wheels
Small wheels, all else being equal, have slightly higher rolling resistance
. On the other hand, they may have lower aerodynamic drag due to their smaller area which is proportional to their radius.
Bicycle wheel
A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire wheel, designed for bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
of 20 inch nominal diameter or less, which is smaller than the 26" or 700c sizes common on most full-sized adult bikes. While many folding bicycle
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
s are small wheel bicycles, not all small wheel bicycles can fold. Some small wheel bicycles neither fold nor separate, such as the Moulton
Moulton Bicycle
Moulton is an English bicycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1962 by Dr Alex Moulton, who designed the "Hydrolastic" and rubber cone suspension systems for the BMC Mini motorcar, and the later "Hydragas" system used by its successor companies....
, which comes in both fixed frame and separable frame versions. While BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
bikes also have 20" wheels, they are not normally categorised as 'small wheel bikes'.
For general information on small wheel folding bikes, please refer to the Folding bicycle
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
and Portable bicycle
Portable bicycle
A portable bicycle is a bicycle that has been designed to be small and light enough for easy carrying. It is usually dismantled to make a convenient bundle and the frame often has a folding action to facilitate this. The design of a portable bicycle involves a trade-off between easy of carrying...
articles.
For specific manufacturers, follow the categories links.
History
An early proponent of small-wheeled adult bicycles was Paul De ViviePaul de Vivie
Paul de Vivie, who wrote as Velocio , was publisher of Le Cycliste, an early champion of derailleur gears, and father of French bicycle touring and randonneuring.-Background:...
, better known by his pen name "Velocio". His approach was to use a balloon-width tire
Bicycle tire
A bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, quadracycle, bicycle trailer, or trailer bike. They may also be used on wheelchairs and handcycles, especially for racing...
of about 2.25" (57mm) on a 20" (500mm) rim, giving a wheel of approximately 24" (600mm) in diameter.
The man credited with being the father of modern small-wheel bicycles is Alex Moulton
Alex Moulton
Dr. Alexander Eric Moulton CBE is an English engineer and inventor, specialising in suspension design.Moulton is the great-grandson of the rubber pioneer Stephen Moulton, the founder of the family business George Spencer Moulton & Co...
who pioneered the field with his F-framed Moulton Bicycle
Moulton Bicycle
Moulton is an English bicycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1962 by Dr Alex Moulton, who designed the "Hydrolastic" and rubber cone suspension systems for the BMC Mini motorcar, and the later "Hydragas" system used by its successor companies....
in 1962. His original small-wheeled design notably featured full suspension. Raleigh introduced the RSW-16 as a direct competitor, but it lacked the suspension of the Moulton, and compensated for this by using very wide 2-inch "balloon" tires. The RSW-16 "Compact" was a folding version. In 1968 Raleigh introduced the Raleigh Twenty
Raleigh Twenty
The Raleigh "Twenty" is a small-wheeled bicycle which was introduced to the market in 1968 as a competitor to the original Moulton bicycle. Raleigh already had a more direct competitor in the RSW-16 bicycle. Initially it was not aggressively marketed, but it was a much better bicycle than the RSW-16...
which later went on to become one of Raleigh's biggest sellers. A large number of European manufacturers made U-frame small-wheeled and folding bicycles in the 1970s.
Advantages and disadvantages
Smaller wheels are more maneuverable. For this reason, and in some cases for comic effect, they are used in some clown bicycleClown bicycle
A clown bicycle or clown bike is a bicycle designed for comedic visual effect or stunt riding, typically by Circus clowns. It is sometimes called a circus bike.- Types of clown bike :*BMX bicycle...
s. Smaller wheels more faithfully follow the terrain, giving a harsher ride on bumpy roads that are effectively smoothed by larger ones. It may be desirable for bicycles with smaller wheels to also be fitted with some form of suspension to improve riding characteristics. Bicycles with small wheels normally have their gearing
Bicycle gearing
A bicycle gear or gear ratio refers to the rate at which the rider's legs turn compared to the rate at which the wheels turn. Bicycle gearing refers to how the gear ratio is set or changed. On some bicycles, there is only one gear so the ratio is fixed. Most modern bicycles have multiple gears,...
adjusted to provide the same effective wheel radius
Gear inches
Gear inches is a system that assigns numerical measurements to bicycle gear ratios, to indicate how low or high a gear is.Gear inches has no current physical significance; it corresponds to the diameter in inches of the main wheel of an old-fashioned penny-farthing bicycle with equivalent gearing...
as large ones, so pedalling cadence
Cadence (cycling)
In cycling, cadence is the number of revolutions of the crank per minute; roughly speaking, this is the rate at which a cyclist is pedalling/turning the pedals...
is not different. Smaller wheels tend to weigh less than larger ones, thus bringing the performance benefits of light wheels
Small wheels, all else being equal, have slightly higher rolling resistance
Rolling resistance
Rolling resistance, sometimes called rolling friction or rolling drag, is the resistance that occurs when a round object such as a ball or tire rolls on a flat surface, in steady velocity straight line motion. It is caused mainly by the deformation of the object, the deformation of the surface, or...
. On the other hand, they may have lower aerodynamic drag due to their smaller area which is proportional to their radius.
See also
- Folding bicycleFolding bicycleA folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
- Portable bicyclePortable bicycleA portable bicycle is a bicycle that has been designed to be small and light enough for easy carrying. It is usually dismantled to make a convenient bundle and the frame often has a folding action to facilitate this. The design of a portable bicycle involves a trade-off between easy of carrying...
- Brompton BicycleBrompton BicycleBrompton Bicycle is a manufacturer of folding bicycles based in Brentford, London.The Brompton folding bicycle and accessories are the company's core product, noted for its self-supporting compact size when stored. All available models of the folding bicycle are based on the same hinged bicycle...
- List of bicycle manufacturing companies
- Moulton BicycleMoulton BicycleMoulton is an English bicycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1962 by Dr Alex Moulton, who designed the "Hydrolastic" and rubber cone suspension systems for the BMC Mini motorcar, and the later "Hydragas" system used by its successor companies....