Finding The Bike That Fits You

 

 

Buying a bike can seem a daunting task, but with a little help it's easy to purchase the right bike for you. First, you must decide the type of riding you'll do. Once you've decided on a mountain, road, touring, BMX, comfort or touring bike, you'll need to determine the size. Different bikes are measured with different methods, but below you'll find a simple, easy-to-use formula to help you determine the right size for you on any bike. However, I recommend that you visit a local bike shop for professional help.

 

BMX
First off, we will tackle the fit question for BMX. You may be thinking, `Hey, BMX bikes only come in one size, right?' and you 're right. Most BMX bikes do come in a one-size-fits-all style. However, there are differing wheel sizes that correspond to different sizes of BMX Bikes. Kids bikes are generally available in 11-, 16- and 20-inch versions. BMX racing, flatland and jumping bikes are all 20-inch styles. For older riders, there are 24-inch cruisers that let you ride and race with more confidence because of the more stable, larger wheels.

Adult Bike Sizing
All full-size bikes are measured by the length of the seat tube--the tube that runs from the cranks to the seat. In general, you can figure out your optimal frame size with a quick inseam measurement and a little bit of arithmetic. Start off by checking your pants, or better yet, following our guidelines to get an accurate measurement of your inseam.

Inseam Measurement
To achieve a precise inseam measurement, track down a hardback book that is about the width of the pointed end of a bicycle seat. Get a buddy or loved one to help you with the tricky second step. Specifically, take off your shoes and stand with your back against a wall that you can mark with a pencil. While standing with your back against the wall, place the book between your legs firmly up against your crotch. Have your buddy mark the wall at the top of the book. Do this a couple of times to be certain you have a good measurement. Now measure from the mark on the wall to the floor and note it somewhere. With this measurement in hand you can check below on the type of bike you want for sizing instructions.

Mountain
Take your inseam in inches and multiply by .59 to get your recommended center-to-top frame size. For example, if your inseam is 32.3 inches, then you would multiply 32.3 by .59, which gives the result, 19.057. This rounds out to 19 inches. Keep in mind that most mountain-bike frames are measured from the center of the cranks to the top of the top tube. A few frames are measured center-to-center, so subtract _-inch from the bike size to correct for the difference in measurement.

Hybrid/Comfort
Take your inseam in inches and multiply it by .65 to get your recommended center-to-top frame size. For example, if your inseam is 32.3 inches, then you would multiply 32.3 by .65, which gives the result, 20.995. This rounds out to 21 inches. Keep in mind that most Hybrid bike frames are measured from the center of the cranks to the top of the top tube. A certain few are measured center-to-center, so subtract _-inch from the bike size to correct for the difference in measurement.

Road and Triathlon Racing
Road racing bike frames are usually measured in centimeters, so you must first convert your inseam to centimeters. Take your inseam in inches and multiply it by 2.54 to convert it to centimeters. For example, if your inseam is 32.3 inches, then you would multiply 32.3 by 2.54, which gives the result, 82.042 centimeters. Take that result and multiply it by .65, which gives the result of 53.33 centimeters. This rounds out to 53 centimeters, center-to-center. Some road frames are measured center-to-top, so if you are sizing one of those add 1.5 centimeters the bike size to correct for the difference in measurement.

Touring
As Touring bikes are generally modified versions of road bikes, you can use the road formula and then add 1-2 centimeters to the bike size for your touring frame size. If you want to use a mountain bike for touring follow the mountain-bike sizing formula above.

Cyclocross
Top Cyclocross racers tend to run 'cross bikes just a little smaller than their regular road frames, so follow the road formula and then take off 1-2 centimeters for an optimal 'cross size.

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Getting A Better Fit
Your new or existing bike probably arrived with a pre-selected seat and handlebar stem (the part that clamps around your handlebars and joins your bars to the bicycle frame) in an average length, like 11 centimeters. Some riders may want to fine-tune their position on the bike by purchasing a different seat, or changing the length of their stem. Seats fit like shoes, so it may be a good idea to try a variety of products before you find the one that works best for you. Stem length is a matter of personal preference. If you have a long torso or arms, you may want to extend your reach to the handlebars (a cramped position will usually produce symptoms of soreness in the shoulders). Conversely, if you have a short upper body or arms, you may want to bring the stem closer to the saddle (an overly-long stem will put extra strain on your arms and lower back from excessive reaching). Remember to check for compatibility with your handlebars and frame before purchasing a new stem.