The PERFECT Recumbent - Wheel Size

I still like the 24x24 but went with the 26x26 due to the many more wheels and tire options in that size. Yes there are some good ones in the 24 but thanks to triathalon bikes and smaller womens road bikes you have a really diverse field to choose from.

Another reason I went with the 26x26 was that now there are many more types of Bents with that configuration. From the RANS Xstream and V3 to the Bacchetta's, Volae's, and of course the all Carbon Carbent's but most of these are really 650x650.

But one tube in my books rules and Bobby I hope you never have a sidewall blowout which can't be patched. I had two in one day, and now I always carry at least one tube with me as well as a patch kit.

Ward

 

Right now, I'm on a 26x26 highracer, but for my "dream bike" I'm leaning toward 700c's on both ends. Why? The widest selection of rims, tires and fenders. Also, 700's probably have less rolling resistance and smoother ride than anything smaller. Probably. And, yes, I know, they probably have more wind resistance than smaller wheels. Big whoop. At the speeds I ride, the difference might actually be measurable - over, say, 3 or 4 hundred miles...

SP
Bend, OR

ps - Yes, bigger wheels will result in a higher seat. But I'm 6'3", with a 37" inseam, 47" Xseam, so I'm not too worried.

 

700's actually make good trail wheels. Why? They get the
rear deraileur out of the dirt.

 

Hey Buddy, why not just go with the 29ers. They roll real easy through anything. I rode a fella's a while back and it was wild. I felt way up in the air, but rolling over rocks/bumps/dips....I just hardly felt em.

 

I don't know Ward. Aren't they the same as a 700, but not metric?
Best not to load them with much weight including rider. The long
spokes will come loose. (experience)

 

Perfect for me is 700c, preferably on both wheels but at least in back. Reasons: standard gearing options w/o weird size rings or internally geared hubs or bottom brackets, and a larger selection of better tires, at better prices.

 

"Other"

Perfection does not exist in this world, in any form,
except for this perfect statement.

...discuss...

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I'm waiting -as patiently as possible- for a pair of 700c wheels
to become affordable to me, for use on my bike.
Why 700c?
For the usual reasons, of course.
Wide choice in tires, gear ratios and parts availability.

Meanwhile, my 26" mountain bike wheels are doing fine, just fine.

-----

A perfect wheel would spin forever (frictionless);
would never go out of round (stay True)
-and never need airing up (never go flat).

 

Depends

On my 451 low racer Z-bone it would be two 20" 451's. But on the high racer Z-bone it would be two 700's. And in all cases it would be the lightest, fastest, most aero wheels I could afford and the lightest best rolling tires I could buy. And yes my main interest is speed.

 

Dual 29'rs with a short-wheel-base and some sweet forks!!

Yeah, they're 700-something-or-others, but some of us usually fore-go Metric as much as possible.

 

For me, the best is 20x26 but that's due in part to being short. Maybe if I was on a dual 26 low racer where I could actually get both feet down flat...

 

As in all things...it depends

It must depend on the design.

Having a 700c drive wheel means there are no issues with undergearing and therefore no need for power sucking hubs or Schlumpf drives. Pure derailleur is still the most efficient drive.

Personally on a trike I like 700 or 559 rear 406 front.

The P-38 uses 700 rear and 406 front and it is claimed by the designer that the slightly lower weight on the front wheel compensates for the potential added rolling resistance. By using a 406 front wheel the seat height can be lower.

I'm the recent owner of a twin 700c high racer and I love the wheel and tyre choice and efficiency of standard wheels.

In terms of speed on a smooth road I haven't found smaller wheels to be slower but on rough roads a small wheel suffers and needs a wider compliant tyre like a Scorcher to roll well.

A good compromise for a mid or low racer of FWD low racer is 700c rear, 559 front.

 

Yep. I have a 406 x 26 and it works fine, I have a 406 x 700c and that works fine too. Looking at the Performer highracer (700c x 700c) and I'll bet that'll work fine as well.

 

i like the 406/406 on my fwd, but on my new project bike it will be 700c/451.
since i'm using a DH bike disc only rear susp (bolted directly to the frame) i'm also going to build a 24" rear wheel for it.
so for me theres really no perfect setup.

 

Ha, my first bent had a 700c in the rear and a 451 up front...comfortable ride...speed...luxury...aaah, I sure miss that bent.

 

my 700/700 high racer project has been shelved, it was brought to my attn that i need to heat treat the frame. i have in the last week built a cro-mo 24/20 rwd lowracer (used a hacked up Lightning frame.