Originally posted on my Big Dummy Blog – September 2008
Photo: Clever Cycles
Todd Fahrner of Clever Cycles in Portland posted the info below on Bike Forums and I thought it was worth capturing here for those of you with cargo bike builds on the go. I haven’t tried using small wheels with large tires, but it’s a concept which makes a lot of sense and Todd has loads of experience with cargo bikes. I’d be keen on hearing some feedback from anyone who tries it.
“For Xtracycles including Big Dummy, I greatly prefer 24″ wheels with 2.35″ Big Apples to 26″ wheels with either high or low volume tires. High volume tires provide the only suspension to be had for the dead weight of your cargo, and improve braking and comfort. 24” lets you have it while still keeping the bottom bracket in the range of road bikes, so you can get a foot down to stabilize at stops, and mount/dismount easily without leaning the bike. This matters with a heavily loaded bike, particularly if your load is precious and mounted high, like a kid. You need disc or drum brakes to swap wheel sizes like this.
A similar trick is to start with a so-called “two-niner” frame (designed for 700c rims with poofy tires) and fit 26″ wheels; e.g., http://clevercycles.com/?p=136 .
This advice doesn’t apply if you intend actually to jump logs and so on with your cargo bike, or if you insist on pedaling through high speed sharp turns, such that you risk striking a pedal. Both Xtracycle and Surly do tend to promote the concept of these bikes being MTBs, and optimize ground clearance accordingly. I’m more urban/pavement oriented, excluding curb-hopping.”
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