When it comes to deciding what bike you’re going to invest your hard-earned money in, it is challenging enough just to decide what colour bike you want - never mind all the technical aspects of each bicycle.
From salmon pink to fluorescent yellow, we can cover all bases for you to bling up your frame. But crucially, we can also ensure you choose a reliable bike frame that is going to last a lifetime needs and fits you perfectly.
Why Should You Choose a Bike Frame For Your Size?
You may not have paid much attention to this bike frame geometry down the years - especially when you were a kid. “I just want that one” is a phrase that has probably come out of your mouth when you’ve been looking at the bike aisle.
A spiderman-wrapped bike matched with your superhero helmets may have looked cool and been worth it at the time, yet, it could have been 3 sizes too small for you. As you’ve gotten older, you would’ve realised that when you take yourself off on someone else’s bike, it doesn’t always detect right.
You may feel compact/hunched over… or, you can’t reach the pedals properly because the saddle/ seat tube is too high. Getting comfortable not only makes you less likely to get injured (neck and back injuries typically) - conversely, the length, riding position and correct form when riding will always improve the ride quality and your overall performance.
Let’s say you’re performing at the highest level and the other competition on the track or touring course and other competitors have taken the time to look at the size chart, measure themselves and fit on their bike to absolute perfection.
Whereas, you left a few centimetres (cm) off or extra centimetres on the bike because you thought it would be fine. However, when it comes to top-level athletes and even injuries occurring - it comes down to the fine margins on why it happens.
No matter whether you turn up on a titanium race bike, aluminium road bike or a steel mountain bike, if there is a slightly sloping top tube or an inch less/more between you and the handlebars - it can all impact your performance for the worse. On top of performing substandard, the wrong fit will cause either short or long-term implications on your posture. Ultimately, you want a bike that rides well and is worth the money.
Bike Sizing Guide: How to Find the Right Frame For Your Size
The stages of how to find the right frame for your size are to first: measure your height, seat tube length and standover height. Once you’ve taken these key specifications, you will then choose the right bike that will fit these measurements and your riding style.
Across the bike sizing chart, you will need to be sure of your choice, as this choice (if you choose the right material, i.e. titanium frames) may be a bike that will last a lifetime.
Below, we are going to run you through exactly each stage and how you complete each one so you have a clearer vision of what you need to accomplish in order to invest in the right frame.
Measuring Your Height
As we mentioned above, the first step you will need to take when you want to find the perfect frame size for your bike - is to measure your height. Sizing a bike will ultimately determine how it feels when riding, so to do this you will first need to get your height measurements to a tee.
Whether you want to do this at home or have a professional measurement is completely up to you. Not only will you need your ‘actual height’ measurement, but you will need your inside leg measured too.
For finding the right size, you will need to stand against a wall with a book between your legs (into your groin) making sure you’re flat against the wall, standing up straight at all times. From here, the leg measurement will entail you measuring the height from the book to the floor.
Taking these measurements and then aligning them up to a trusted website, whether it be a mountain bike size chart, electric bike size chart, gravel bike size chart or many others - a size chart with good reviews will give you the answers you need.
Seat Tube Length
If your bikes are measured by others or you want to give this a go yourself, the seat tube length will need to be assessed too. Depending on the type of bike you invest in, this will defer the way you measure the seat tube length.
It will always differ from brand to brand in the way they do this. However, today, we will just walk through the most conventional method that brands use around the world.
Typically, you will find that a company will take their quantification from the centre of the bottom bracket (or centre of the bolt) that will attach the crank arms. Consequently, you will then find a saddle height that is comfortable and optimal for your execution.
Stand-Over Height
What size bike frame do I need? Well, the last step before buying a bike is to measure the stand-over height. Now, as self-proclaimed ‘bike nuts’ - we can become quite aggravated if a company misses out on this key measurement.
Essentially, the stand-over height is how far away the frame is from the floor. Therefore the top tube to the floor is what you want to be taking a look at. 2cm of clearance between yourself and the frame is optimised for comfort and performance.
If the frame is too close or too far away from yourself, the risk of injury, if you were to fall off - would become enhanced. Therefore, the likelihood of a service needing to take place after some damage would amplify tenfold with the wrong sizing guide.
Buying guides needs to be taken seriously, whether it be your wheel size or any of the components listed above. Bike fitting will ultimately help you ride easier, for a more sustainable period of time, so look at getting yours booked today!