Road Bike Height Size Chart

Road Bike Size Guide To Help Find A Frame That Fits

How to get the correct frame size when buying your bike

How a bike fits is one of the key things to get right when choosing a new bike. Youll be much more comfortable and lessen the risk of injury if youve got your road bike size right and have your bike set up to fit your own requirements.

Even the best road bikes will feel dreadful if you’re either too stretched out, or too cramped up to ride.

Weve loads of experience of bike fitting here at Cycling Weekly, and have collected all our hints, tips and how to guide in one helpful bike fitting advice hub. We highly recommend taking time to read and watch through each element, but if you’re pressed for time, or just want an overview of what you need to know, heres a summary of our best advice on how to choose a bike that fits you.

Try Before You Purchase

It is much overused and obvious suggestion out there. However, it is true: Seeing the bike for yourself in person, trying that out, & having a feel for its usually the perfect way to come to know whether it is suitable for you or not.

Most bike shops and bicycle brands give demo events or days for allowing clients to test road bikes. This also assists to ask a few important questions and directly speak to expert staff members. Also, as an additional bonus, the customer avoids some potential damage like from shipping. You will not need to assemble it yourself.

How Proper Must A Road Bike Fit Look Like

As you have selected a right frame bike size however, that does not mean your road bike fits properly. There is a lot more you should can do in order to tune the machine to your body. Why this?

• To go further and faster
• To avoid any type of injury
• For greater pleasure and comfort

The following are the top five techniques to keep your road bicycle setup easy.

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What Size Bike Do I Need

Regardless of the type of bike you want, care has to be taken to ensure that you get the correct size and fit for your body. This is important, not just from for the comfort factor, but also from a safety perspective. Having a grasp of how to fit yourself to a bike is especially important when ordering online. To start with, check out our bike sizing charts on this page for a more in-depth look at tables of frame sizes and appropriate rider heights.

Bike Frame Size For Height

Measuringbike framesize by height could never be easier.

Simply stand up straight against a wall, shoes off, legs together, shoulders back whilst somebody marks with a pencil the top of your head.

Your height is used to match bike frame size along with inseam size. Inseam size is often regarded as a more accurate approach, however, it doesnt hurt to measure both increasing the accuracy of your bike fit. Inseam size will be discussed below.

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Why Size Isnt The Only Thing That Matters

Yes, size is the first thing to think about when picking out a kids bike but it certainly isnt the only thing that you should be thinking about. Once you know what size bike your child needs, you should begin thinking about things like weight , geometry, brakes, tires, whether or not to use training wheels, etc, etc, etc.

For more information on other things you should be considering, read our Guide To The Best Kids Bikes & How To Choose!

How Do You Ensure You Dont Get The Frame Size Wrong

Though the sizing chart is essential, it doesnt always guarantee that the bike frame will fit. So, what else can you do?

In addition to looking at the advanced bike sing chart, consider these essentials:

a) Stand-Over Height

The stand-over height refers to the vertical distance between the bikes top tube and the ground. Generally, this height influences your overall cycling comfort.

So, you have to confirm that you can stand over the bike with both feet touching the ground. In that case, there should be at least a 2-inch allowance between the top tube and the crotch.

b) Saddle Height

The bike saddle is another component that has a massive bearing on your overall cycling comfort. If the bike saddle is high, youll have a hard time steering the bike.

Luckily, you can adjust the saddle position. So, pick a bike whose saddle height you can change.

c) The Reach

The Reach also determines your comfort. Note, however, that the Reach is only essential for road bikes.

Its not only vital for riding comfort but also cycling efficiency.

You can know if the Reach is correct by looking at the axle position when you take a seat. If the axle is in front of the handlebar, the Reach is short, and if its behind, the Reach is long.

The good thing about the Reach is that its adjustable. Youve to be careful, nonetheless, not to mess up with the bike handling.

d) Leg Extension

Overall, you should have a 15-20 degree knee bend to offer you the correct leg extension.

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What Size Person Fits A 54cm Bike

When buying a road bike, it is important to consider the size of the bike and the riders height. For instance, a 56cm bike will fit someone who is five feet nine inches tall or taller. Conversely, a 54cm bike will fit someone who is five foot eight inches or shorter.

If youre new to road cycling, it may be helpful to look up the size chart. Most manufacturers have a size chart for the various heights. However, these charts arent always accurate enough. You should also take into account the geometry and inseam measurement of the bike before buying it.

If youre unsure of your bike size, you can consult the website of the brand that youre interested in. The website will have a size chart for each model. These charts will detail the measurements of each model, and will include recommended height ranges for each rider.

Road Bike Size Chart & Fit Guide

Use this road bike size chart and fit guide to determine the perfect size bike for you. Road biking is all about efficiency and performance, so its crucial to fine-tune your bike fit. Weve included additional details about riding style and frame geometry, so you can pedal comfortably all day long.

Our breakdown of the most important measurements on a road bike makes road bike geometry easy to understand. Keep scrolling to learn how to measure yourself and compare your numbers with the road bike size chart below.

Road Bike Size ChartChoosing Road Bike SizesRoad Bike MeasurementsRoad Bike GeometryRoad Bike FittingRoad Bike Size FAQs

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What Measurements Do I Need

Learning how to measure a bike is just half the job done. If you look at a bike sizing chart, you will see body measurements linked to bike frame sizes. You will need three different measurements of your body to find the perfect bike size for your body structure. They include:

• Height: This one is pretty obvious. Most manufacturers have bike size charts that show the appropriate bike sizes for specific heights. But this alone cannot guarantee a perfect fit, so the next two measurements are recommended.
• Inseam Length: Stand with your feet planted around 6 inches apart, like you would do when you straddle a bike. Measure the length from your crotch to the bottom of your feet. And do remember to factor in the length increase from shoes when you take this measurement. You are not going to ride your bike around barefoot, are you?! Now to get a rough estimate of the ideal seat tube length for road bikes, multiply your inseam length by 0.67 for road bikes, and 0.185 for mountain bikes. For obvious reasons of safety and health, you need a healthy level of clearance between your crotch and the top tube. For road bikes, the minimum recommended clearance is 2 inches , while for mountain bikes get some extra room by having at least 4-5 inches of clearance. This way, you can avoid serious injury to your crotch area when you have to brake hard and jump off the saddle!

Womens Road Bike Size Chart

Weve got a detailed womens road bike size chart below which is based on the bike frames size and riders height. The size of the bike is determined by these two factors.

The wider range of women road bikes sizes depends on the body type. For instance, a person with short legs requires an increased standover height frame.

For a smooth ride, you need to consult a skilled bike expert for advice before making a purchase. A bike fitter will understand your personal requirements and use the findings to find a perfect size bike.

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What Size Bike Should I Get

The age-old question asked by bike shoppers is always, What size bike should I get?

Finding a bike style that you love is easy, but finding a bike that fits is a little more difficult. Many people consider bike sizing a complicated hassle, but it doesnt have to be. When all the components are weighed, you can obtain the bike sized correctly for your body and needs.

Lets dive in!

Which Is The Right Bike Frame Size For You

Still unsure of the bike frame size that is suitable for you? Check out our sizing chart below as a general guide.

Check out The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Bike Frame Size that suit for you. Also, let us know in the comment section below if you think there are other ways to find the right bike frame size!

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What To Do If You Got Your Bike Fit Wrong

As a rule, if you sit between two sizes on a road or hybrid bike, go smaller. For a mountain bike, go larger. That will make any future part changes easier.

Your bike comes made from many parts, and all of these parts can be changed to make a bike fit you better. One of the key ways to know if you have a problem is to listen to your body.

There is an old cycling rule that knee pain at the back of your leg means your saddle is too high. If you are having pain in the front of your knee, then your saddle is too low. You will find that road cyclists generally have their seat too high. As with all rules, remember that these are just guides and not gospel.

When you are setting your saddle height always remember that you can change seat posts. Some seat posts supplied may be too small, and some may be too long.

If your seat post is too short, it is a trip to a bike shop to sort the issue. If your seat post is too long, all you need to do is hack off a bit. Wear a mask if youre cutting carbon fiber.

If you feel the reach is too much or too cramped to your handlebars, then you can move your saddle forward or backward. Look at your saddle rails, as they will have maximum lines for movement. Going beyond these lines will likely cause your saddle to snap.

References

Bike Size Based On Your Height

This is the easiest method by which you can select the bike size. Its the fastest method to find a bike size. All it takes is to compare your height with the general bike sizing chart below.

Unfortunately, this method does not take into account the type of bike. This means it is not as accurate as the methods below. So, there is a risk that the bicycle wont fit you perfectly.

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Setting The Right Bike Saddle Height

The right way to set the correct saddle height:

Now, in ideal, your leg should be able to spin the pedals so that there isnt too much of an angle , or if the heel doesnt touch the pedal on its lowest position

• When your hips are rocking when pedaling the saddle is too high.
• When your legs dont stretch at least 70% of the capacity the saddle is too low.

Road Bike Sizing Guide For Men Women & Kids

You need to select an appropriate size of a road bike frame for a new bike that does make all the difference. It is so as when the bike fit is ideal, then you would feel more comfortable while riding. The handling of your road bike would be simpler, and you would enjoy the riding experience more.

In this road bike size guide, we would tell you how simple its to look for the right bike size by simply using the following bike size charts for the particular road bike that you are quite interested in.

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How To Size A Cruise Or Cross Bike

These are all different names for basically the same type of bike. Imagine a bike ideal for commuting with an upright position, wider tires, disc brakes and flat handlebars. Most will be sized using the small, medium, and large convention but you may find some outliers. These bikes are often cheap and oddly enough able to fit people more comfortably outside the normal ranges. I work with them and I routinely ride larges and extra larges with no real problems.

I am 58 and these bikes should be much too big for me but with the proper saddle height they become just fine. I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing though. Cruisers are more of a one size fits all you can just get a different seat post and be fine because the bike is not engineered for performance. These bikes are only meant to be ridden a few miles at a time so dont spend too much time shopping around and not on your bike enjoying the ride.

How Do You Know When You Purchased The Wrong Size Bike

There are five unique ways you can detect that the bicycle you have got isnt the best one for you. On most occasions, people just purchased the bikes recommended to them by bike shop owners or experts. Sometimes, the shop owners are only interested in selling the bikes they have in stock and do not necessarily care about whether they are the best ones for the buyers or not. In such a situation, these four signs will let you know that you have got a wrong-sized bike:

• Back pain: If you ceaselessly suffer from back pain, there is every possibility that your new bike isnt the perfect one for you. Something may be wrong with its frame size, saddle, and other parts that do not match your preferred bike.
• Too-high saddle: When your new bikes saddle is too high for riding comfort, you probably have spent your hard-earned money on a wrong bike size.
• Too-low saddle: A bike with too-low saddle will be difficult to ride, and you may have to struggle every time you are the bike.
• Changes in the bikes stem: If you notice that your new bike has some changes in its stem, it means that the current frame isnt the original one, and you may have to undertake further stem changes to make the bike useful for you. In this case, you are already creating a situation whereby the bike will be subjected to continuous mechanical fixings, a condition that could make it break down very soon.

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Is The Correct Bike Fit Really That Important

Your bike should fit the way that you feel comfortable riding. Yes, you can watch the pros ride and want to emulate their style, but you might not be up to that form. If you sit too far forward across the handlebars, then your knees could start hurting. Achilles pain is another common complaint. Numbness and hot spots might also plague your body. Also, if your placement is too far back, then your muscles wont transfer power accordingly. All factors must be taken into consideration when picking the correct bike fit. Read this to learn more about how to bike fit your bicycle.

Road Bike Size Chart For Kids

You can look at following road bike sizing chart for kids to see how kids road bikes are defined and measured. You will get a clear idea about what you are actually looking for while shopping for some specific road bike. A crucial thing to keep in mind is that you can measure childrens road bikes by using the tire diameter . Its just opposite to adult road bikes, whose measurement refers to the bikes frame size.

One real challenge in picking a childs road bike is to exactly knowing that the child would outgrow this not long after you buy a bike. Hence, you are facing a serious dilemma. Also, do you purchase a good road bike that would likely be a bit smaller? And, do you buy some big-box clunker that is a temporary and cheap solution? In this case, you are anticipating that a road bike does not fall apart at all or otherwise is such a bad choice which it does turn your child off to riding altogether.

This is a basic question without a simple answer, but probably a couple of other choices that you might explore to assist yourself out. First of all, do youve other children, younger or older, that you might give this road bike to them? If this is the case, then it does make the question even simpler about whether or not to consume money on some decent road bicycle.

How about your extended family members, cousins & the like? Also, are there any families in your neighborhood with children that you might set up a kind of road bicycle exchange with?

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