Help with changing wheel size

[LND16]

So, I bought a bike that I immediately fell in love with, not paying any attention to the specifics. The bicycle is a cruiser and is 28", I'm 5'2. The bicycle is way too tall for me to ride comfortably and for long periods of time. I love ride trails and this bicycle prevents that from being an easy ride.

I do not want to have to resort to buying a new bicycle so I am hoping that someone will have any ideas on how to convert the tire size from 28" to 24 or 26".

My dad was worried that the brakes will not move 4 or 2 inches. Any suggestions would be extremely helpful!

Here is a link to my bicycle and the item specifics towards it.

http://racingbikesreviews.freeblog.biz/alice-olivia-bike-limited-edition-neiman-marcus/

Like I said, any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Lauren

[nfmisso]

Hi Lauren;

You could purchase a proper off road bicycle for a LOT less than it would cost to convert the cruiser you have to make it suitable for trails.

Look on Craigs List for: Specialized Hardrock, Trek 800 series (800, 820, 830, etc), Trek 900 series (920, 930, etc), Motiv Rock Point II, Schwinn Sierra or High Sierra, Nishiki Cascade - and there are others - late 1980's early 1990's mountain bikes with no suspension. These examples have Cr-Mo frames, which are light and very strong. They have ISO 559 (26") wheels. They are great trail bikes. Look for sellers that restore bikes as a hobby, and sell the bikes to cover most of the cost, but not for profit. Any of the above can be had for less than $100- from those types of sellers, in excellent riding condition, even in the SF Bay Area.

I recently picked up a Trek 950 that needs some work for $30- It is stronger and way less than half the weight of a new "Mountain" bike from Wal-mart. A bike shop would have to charge $300- to bring it to top ride able condition; due to labor ours, even though it probably needs less than $40- in parts.

---

Check out these:
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-5665.html
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-4930.html
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-3167.html
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-1207.html

[DaveM]

Lauren - I think the 28" refers to wheel size. It looks like the bike comes only in one frame size, 19".

If the frame is too tall for you, one thing you could try is a different seat. It looks like it comes will a very tall seat with springs. You might be able to shave an inch or two off the total height with a more compact seat. Note that you don't want to go so low that your knees are bent and they go around the bottom of the pedal circle though.

If you feel like the bars are too far away, you can get different bars fairly inexpensively.

But as nfmisso said, you'll spend a lot more trying to change wheels out than just getting a better suited bike. (and your dad is right about the brakes.) sorry

[tomdavis8]

This is really not a help with your change, but if you resort to selling, this would be a perfect bike for my 16 year old. She is 5'11" and if you are willing to ship, I am willing to buy. You could research what a bike that would work for you would cost and see if we could reach a price that would help you accomplish that goal. Let me know. I am operating under the "nothing ventured, nothing gained" theory, so it won't hurt my feelngs if you decide not to sell. Thanks! Nan Davis

(04-24-2014, 01:32 AM)LND16 Wrote:  So, I bought a bike that I immediately fell in love with, not paying any attention to the specifics. The bicycle is a cruiser and is 28", I'm 5'2. The bicycle is way too tall for me to ride comfortably and for long periods of time. I love ride trails and this bicycle prevents that from being an easy ride.

I do not want to have to resort to buying a new bicycle so I am hoping that someone will have any ideas on how to convert the tire size from 28" to 24 or 26".

My dad was worried that the brakes will not move 4 or 2 inches. Any suggestions would be extremely helpful!

Here is a link to my bicycle and the item specifics towards it.

http://racingbikesreviews.freeblog.biz/alice-olivia-bike-limited-edition-neiman-marcus/

Like I said, any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Lauren

[tomdavis8]

Hey,

Just checking to see if you got my earlier message.

Nan Davis

Thanks!

(04-24-2014, 01:32 AM)LND16 Wrote:  So, I bought a bike that I immediately fell in love with, not paying any attention to the specifics. The bicycle is a cruiser and is 28", I'm 5'2. The bicycle is way too tall for me to ride comfortably and for long periods of time. I love ride trails and this bicycle prevents that from being an easy ride.

I do not want to have to resort to buying a new bicycle so I am hoping that someone will have any ideas on how to convert the tire size from 28" to 24 or 26".

My dad was worried that the brakes will not move 4 or 2 inches. Any suggestions would be extremely helpful!

Here is a link to my bicycle and the item specifics towards it.

http://racingbikesreviews.freeblog.biz/alice-olivia-bike-limited-edition-neiman-marcus/

Like I said, any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Lauren