How to Buy a Bike That’s the Right Size for You

Drive correctly Bike fit can’t just make the difference between comfort and discomfort (which is perhaps the most important factor in how much riding you want). It can also be the difference between whether you get injured or not, as spending a huge amount of time on a bike that’s too big or too small for you can lead to a variety of illnesses.

Whether you ride all the time or are just starting out, there are a few tips you can follow to ensure you buy the right size bike and fit it to your body in a way that will give you endless hours in the saddle without pain. Because a bike that fits you well shouldn’t hurt at all.

If you feel pain, discomfort or numbness anywhere, your bike’s adjustment is off. Of course, the pain and numbness in your butt after a 60, 70, or 100 mile ride is inevitable and has nothing to do with fitness. But cycling, no matter the distance, should not cause pain or discomfort in your joints, neck, back, or anywhere else.

If you intend to spend a lot of time in the saddle and/or spend a lot of money on a new bike, the best option is always to have your bike professionally fitted, a process in which an expert fitter will analyze your body type, your riding style, even your ambitions, and gradually tune your bike to suit you perfectly. My colleague Joe Ray can give you tips for getting a professional fit.

It’s also important to note that the rules for finding the best solution vary depending on the style of bike you want, your transportation needs, and how much you plan to ride. If you want a drop bar bike like a road or gravel bike, mountain bike, or hybrid bike, the handlebar configuration will affect other factors such as frame size and saddle height. Additionally, because men and women tend to be built differently, the design of bicycle frames and their components must be considered. Some brands like Liv or Juliana are designed specifically for women, who tend to have narrower shoulders and a shorter torso in relation to their legs than men.

Size matters

It’s easy to get into the weeds, but there are a few basic things you can do to make sure you’re riding a well-fitted bike. Following these tips should help you make the most important decisions.

Start with the most important! In other words, your frame. There is no bigger part of a bike than its frame. It’s also one of the only parts of a bike that isn’t adjustable. Your frame will always be the same shape and size, and that won’t change. So you want to start with the proper framework before anything else.

Most manufacturers size their frames using the small, medium, and large paradigm (with some brands offering XXS to XXL) or using measurements in centimeters. Generally, off-road bikes come in sizes S, M, L, while road bikes use centimeters.

A good place to start is to find a measuring rod. Since not all bikes are built the same (not everyone’s “big” frame is the same size, for example), it’s especially helpful if you can find a chart for the brand you intend to purchase.

Here’s a good example from mega-brand Specialized. If, at 76 inches, I was interested in an Aethos model, I would probably want to get a 24 inch frame.

If you can’t find a chart for the bike you’re interested in, you can just as easily find the bike itself at a local store and swing your leg over several different sizes. The general rule is that you should be able to stand completely over a bike with both feet flat on the ground with about 1 inch of clearance between your body and the top tube of the bike. Smaller bikes and bikes with compact designs have angled top tubes; with these you want to look for about two inches of space.