Should I buy a 24" or 26" bike?

I'm 19 years old, about 5'2. I am planning on buying a cruiser bike. Evey one keeps telling me that I should buy a 26" because "I'll grow into it." However I'm not growing that much more so I don't see any reason to get the 26". I compared both side by side and it seem to me that the 26" is just HUGE and I would feel uncomfortable riding it. Is there any reason why I shouldn't get the 24". I mean I'm a pretty small person so I want a bike that is designed for a petite person. Can anyone give me advice on which to get? Should I just go for the 24" because its what I would feel most comfortable on?

I would recommend getting a 24" for someone of your height. Also because you are 19 and it's unlikely you'll grow a lot taller than that.

The height of the seat and handle is adjustable on all bikes nowadays anyway.

Have you tried riding on both type of bikes? Just to see which one is best? And of course you should go for what you feel most comfortable with :) it's you riding the bike after all.

Hope I helped. :)

those are the wheel sizes, and you are looking at "one-size-fits-all" junk bikes, at wallywood. visit your local bike shop. there you will find that there are different sized frames. most adult bikes in the hybrid, cruiser, mountainbike, categories have 26" wheels. most kids bikes have 24". look at small frames, in the 14/15" range. at 19, you won't be growing anymore. besides, the "you'll grow into it" theory is just plain dangerous when it comes to bikes!

I am 12 and I am 5'8 I use a 24' so I think you should too

buy a 26 inch is for grown ups take it from me

My wife and two daughters are about your size and they can comfortably ride each other's bikes (with a minor seat adjustment). The largest frame has the 24" wheels and the smaller frames have 26" wheels.

My point is, the wheel size isn't the only way or even the best way to measure what bike fits you. Frame size is more important.

The best thing to do -- and I recommend this if you intend to ride more than once a month -- is to get sized for a bike. You'll be measured and the frame, the height of the seat, the length of the handlebar stem, all will be setup so it matches your measurements. Most any bike shop will be setup to measure you for fit.