Can 24 inch wheels be put on a bike made for 26 inch wheels?

Question

*Pic Link at bottom of question*

I bought this bike for college, but I overestimated my height (I'm 5"0) and my feet barely touch the ground when just sitting on my bike.

Yes, I did try out this bike before I bought it, but my step dad told me that it was not a big deal-after several hours riding it, i now know better.

Can 24 inch wheels be put on this bike?

I'm mainly worried about those retro-wheel cover things (obviously my bicycle lingo is not up to par). Will they bother 24 inch wheels?

The link of the pic below is not exactly my bike, but almost.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/detail.gsp?image=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/02/89/14/24/0002891424428_500X500.jpg&product_id=2061596&iIndex=1&isVariant=false&corpCard=false&type=0

Answer 1

Yep...you can do it if you want to.  It wouldn't be cheap, though, and you might spend as much as the bike is worth.   I'd ask a shop if you can order 24" wheels with a coaster brake hub like what you have on the bike now.  Chances are slim, so you may just have to buy new rims and spokes and have the shop employees rebuild them with your old hubs.  It's totally possible but may not be worth the cost.   As someone else said, clipping your pedals while cornering might be an issue if you do this, because they'll be dropping an entire inch lower than they are now...and that's a LOT of change.  It's a cruiser, though, so it might not matter for how you ride the bike.  

The most important thing is that you're able to stand comfortably over the frame while off of the saddle.  If you're a beginning rider, then it's natural to think that you should be able to sit on the saddle and touch ground, but that's not how most bikes are set up.  Cruisers are often set lower than other bikes, but really it's all still in the way you come to a stop and dismount.  You should be stepping slightly forward and leaning the bike a little to the side as you come to a stop.  When you're pedalling, you want to get lots of leg extension for comfort and efficiency, and that means that your feet won't touch the ground while seated.  But you DO need to be able to stand safely and comfortably with your feet flat on the ground when you're stopped.  

Since you're pretty short, you may be standing over your bike at a stoplight while your friends are sitting on their saddles with one foot on the ground, but unless you want to spend the money on smaller wheels or buy a smaller bike, that's just how it'll be and it's totally normal.  If they set up their bikes the "proper" way, they'd be doing the same thing.  

Cool bike....I like cruisers.  Hope this helps some!   :o)    

Answer 2

Well, you can try it.  Worse comes to worse, you just have to put the old wheels back on.  It probably can.

Answer 3

Don't do it! I second mtbikr's comment that if you can put your feet on the ground while seated, the saddle is set too low. Your knees should be slightly bent when you're seated and your feet are at the bottom of the pedal stroke. If you want to stand on the ground, get off the saddle.

Throwing money at a department bike for new wheels, tubes, and tires, just seems wrong. If the one you have is really too big, then sell it and get a smaller one.

Answer 4

Yes you can,

the only problem is when your bikes brake try to clamp on the rim they either will hit the rubber or not work at all but if you dont want brakes it would work. Dont recommend it though and you will need a rear rim with gears on it if you do change tires. better bet would be to get a differetn bike

Answer 5

Don't do it, the problem is that if you can put your feet on the ground while sitting on the seat the seat is then too low for proper leg extension when you pedal. Too low a seat causes all sorts of joint problems including knee pain.  

Answer 6

The brake thing isn't a problem if your bike, like the one in the picture, uses a coaster brake (where you press back on the pedal to stop).  The fenders are fine but will be far from the tires.  They can be removed if you don't like how it looks.  The kick stand would be a problem, but kick stands should be removed.  

My biggest concern is the cranks (the things the pedals are attached to).  They are going to be very close to the ground.  When you are turning a corner they could touch the ground.  They might not.

Still, it's better to have the right parts attached to your bicycle.

5' is pretty short for a cruiser like that.  A minivelo would be a better option.  I don't know if you can buy them where I'm from.  The link below has a picture of my wife's bicycle.  It has small wheels and can fit someone between 5 and 6 feet.

One of my friends is under 5', the second link will take you to a pic of her bike.