A properly bicycle fitting is more important than many realize. With some helpful bicycle sizing tips, it is easier than ever to find your perfect fit.

Bicycle Sizing Tips

It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional cyclist. Bicycle sizing should be at the top of your list. The size of your bike is critical, because a properly fitting bike is easier to control and reduces your chance for injury. A mountain bike needs to fit differently than a road bike, because they cover different terrain and perform different functions.

The size of a frame has little to do with looks and everything to do with weight distribution. Ideally, approximately 60% of the weight of both rider and bicycle needs to be on the rear wheel of the bike. Subsequently, the remaining 40% needs to rest on the front wheel. This allows for the maximum comfort of the rider and optimal handling of the bike.

Some people, due to their weight and height, will have a very difficult time getting the perfect fit from a bike. This can be especially true for women, because they tend to have longer legs. For an off-road bike, you should have at least three inches of open space between yourself and the top of the frame, while you are standing flat on your feet. When compared with a road bike, which only requires one inch of clearance, the differences in frame size are easily apparent.

If you don’t have a lot of time, you can approximate your needed frame-size with a simple calculation. Measure your inseam and subtract 13. The new number will be the maximum size of the frame you should need. All the calculations in the world, however, won’t substitute actually trying the bike on for size in a store. If possible, take the bike out for a cycling test ride.