Bike sizes and choosing the right bike for you
There are a lot of different bikes out there, and each has its own purpose. Depending on why you are buying your bike and what you are going to use them for, finding the right bike size for yourself can be a tough thing. After all, you are going to be using the money you worked hard for to buy one and thus, it is necessary to make sure that you get the one that will suit your needs. Below is everything you will need to know about the different bike types and their sizes and methods on how you can choose the right bike for you.
How long is a bicycle?
More often than not, you might be thinking about how long the average bicycle actually is and to answer that, it is about sixty-three inches. However, there are different bikes out there, and each has its own size. This means that depending on what you will be using them for, the style of how you ride, your height, your style and how you prefer your bike, knowing the different bike sizes are going to help you pick the right one for you.
Length of different types of bicycle
As previously mentioned, there are different types of bikes that are available in the market, and each has its own size; if you are thinking about buying one, it would be necessary to learn more about each. Deciding the right bike for you is not an easy task, but when you have enough information, you should be able to figure out the right one.
Mountain bikes
Mountain bikes are known to be designed for tough places and off-road biking. It mostly has huge wheels that seem to go on forever. There are two reasons why it is called a mountain bike; because it is mostly bikes you use when you go off-road and to do biking in the mountains and also because it is quite on the high side of bikes. The wheels are significant, and thus, it increases the height of the bike. The regular mountain bike is about 69 inches, so that is something you ought to know.
Road bike
Now, if you are planning to use your bike for touring the cities, commuting daily or maybe racing, then what you need is a road bike. The frame of a road bike is perfect for the average person and for daily use without adding too much stress on the person riding it. This is because the design of the road bike is meant to give you stability and support when riding it. The frame size would typically depend on how long your seat is, but the average length of this type of bike ranges from 68 to 70 inches.
Methods for choosing the right bike size for you
Now that you have figured out the bike sizes of the regular bikes available in the market, such as mountain bikes and road bikes, you would want to figure out different ways in which you can determine the right bike size for you. The best part of being a cyclist is you do not have to get stuck with the average length of a bike since you can easily customize it. It is more important to learn how to figure out the ideal bike size for you so you can make your bike fit you instead of the other way around. To help you out with that, below are some methods that you can use.
Quick method
Probably the most accessible method by which you would be able to figure out the right size for your bike is by using a size chart. The formula for this is actually quite simple, which is dividing your height by the size of the bike. Once you get the answer to that, you can look at the bike chart and consider which one would work best for you. After all, the height of a person and the size of the bike are related to each other and how you would look in it. For example, a person with a 4”11 to 5”3 height would work well with bike frames sized from 13 to 15 inches.
Computing method
Another thing that you can do would be to use Math so that you will be able to find the most compatible size of bicycle for you. What you can do is measure your height and your inside leg height. Once you have all the measurements that you need, all you really need to do is to figure out what your bike type is and then multiply it with your leg height. For road bikes, you use 0.70 for mountain bikes, and for city bikes, you will be using 0.685 for the bike size.
When you are measuring your leg inseam, it is essential to stand up straight while keeping your legs apart. Try not to wear any shoes that can add up to your height and that you measure it straight from your crotch to the ground accurately. Once you have all the measurements that you need, the computation is actually very easy, and you will be getting the correct frame size that is primarily compatible with you.
Charting method
Another method that you can use is by checking out the charts for the bike type that you are planning to get. For example, road bikes usually have their sizes done depending on their seat dimension, which means that you need to figure out where and how far you want your seat to be from your bike handles. Depending on how you ride, you should be able to figure out based on the road bike chart which one would work best for you.
On the other hand, for mountain bikes, there would be different sizing versus road bikes. Mountain bikes have different seat positions than road bikes, as this is the type of bike that does the work for you versus having you hunch over trying to figure out what to do. You need to focus on the road and the obstacles that you might encounter. You can look at the mountain bike size chart and see which one works best for you.
Hybrid bike size
Another thing that you might want to consider is the sizing that you need if you want to get a hybrid bike instead. After all, this is something that is in between bike types. For example, it would have flat handlebars, but it might have large wheels like a mountain bike. This is the type of bike that many people use for daily use since it is very comfortable. Thus, if you are interested in buying one, you will have to look at a completely different chart specially made for hybrid bikes.
Women bike size
While sizing depending on the bike type is a thing, it would also be essential to know that the average sizing would primarily cater to men. This is why there is a different sizing for women used because of their different sizes. For example, there is an entirely different chart for mountain bikes mainly focused on women. If you are a woman and planning to buy a mountain bike, make sure to look for that instead.
Kids bike
Without a doubt, another struggle would be picking a bike for a kid. And while you might be pressured to think that it should fit snuggly on the kid, this is not true. You are allowed to buy a kid a bike larger than their frame since they are still growing, and they are highly likely to outgrow their bike in a few years. You just want to make sure that they will be comfortable enough with the difference you might think about. For example, a kid with a 3’1” height would be good with a wheel size of 12 inches.
Things to remember
You want to ensure that you will be picking the right bike size to have a good time riding it once you buy it. However, while the methods mentioned above might seem complicated, they will be a great help for you to have an idea about the size that you have to be looking for. This will come in handy if you are purchasing your bikes online. Should you be lucky enough to have a physical shop near you, you can always try the bikes out or ask for help from the store personnel.
Now that you know all about bikes, their sizes and how to figure out the right size for you, you are all set to buy your next bike. You will be able to figure out your size as long as you follow one of the methods we mentioned above, so do not worry too much and just have fun. Make sure to look at the price tags, the quality of the bikes and how durable it is so that you can get your money’s worth.