Small wheel bicycle

Small wheel bicycle is a category of adult bicycles which have wheels of 20 inch (51cm) nominal diameter or less, which is smaller than the 26" size common on full-size adult bikes. While many folding bicycles are small wheel bicycles, not all small wheel bicycles are folding bikes. 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'.

Smaller wheels exhibit a weaker gyroscopic effect, hence are less stable and more maneuverable. They also more faithfully follow the terrain, giving a harsher ride on bumpy roads that are effectively smoothed by larger ones. 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.

For general information on small wheel folding bikes, please refer to the Folding bicycle article. For specific manufacturers, follow the "categories" links.

Links

* BMX
* Folding bicycle
* List of bicycle manufacturing companies
* Moulton Bicycle