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26 inch bikes have 26 inch tires. The bike size is the frame size, measured from the center of the crankset to the top of the seat tube where the seatpost goes into it. I ride anywhere from a 52CM to a 56CM, or 20" to a 23" bike. That all makes a difference as to how the bike fits, if your knees are gonna be knocking your chin when you pedal and stuff.
Brakes: I suspect the wheels are cheap, but try this.
Lightly sandpaper the pads, clean the rims. Rubbing alcohol will get them squeaky clean, then you have to toe them in slightly. This means that they should contact the rim towards the front of the bike first. Put a rubberband or a cable tie or a folded matchbook cover under the backside of the brake pad when you tighten them so they kinda go like this /||\. The slants being the brakes, the straight lines are the wheel, the top is the front of the bike. It doesn't have to be much, but it should make them stop making noise, or at least it usually works for me. Also, make sure they are not touching the tire or you will give your self a flat tire sooner than you want to deal with it.
Oh boy Twitch, I have a lot to teach you before we go bike shopping.
Getting something that is not just a royal pain in the ass to ride and use makes the difference between liking to do it and parking it back in the basement.
Speaking of pain in the ass. Seats are not just all about padding, you need the right shape for yourself, you need to sit on your ass bones, not the soft bits. Also, the trick is to get up off that seat pretty regularly.
Brakes: I suspect the wheels are cheap, but try this.
Lightly sandpaper the pads, clean the rims. Rubbing alcohol will get them squeaky clean, then you have to toe them in slightly. This means that they should contact the rim towards the front of the bike first. Put a rubberband or a cable tie or a folded matchbook cover under the backside of the brake pad when you tighten them so they kinda go like this /||\. The slants being the brakes, the straight lines are the wheel, the top is the front of the bike. It doesn't have to be much, but it should make them stop making noise, or at least it usually works for me. Also, make sure they are not touching the tire or you will give your self a flat tire sooner than you want to deal with it.
Oh boy Twitch, I have a lot to teach you before we go bike shopping.
Getting something that is not just a royal pain in the ass to ride and use makes the difference between liking to do it and parking it back in the basement.
Speaking of pain in the ass. Seats are not just all about padding, you need the right shape for yourself, you need to sit on your ass bones, not the soft bits. Also, the trick is to get up off that seat pretty regularly.