How To Determine Bike Frame Size

With the worsening traffic condition and ever-increasing oil prices, it would not be long when cycles would dominate the road and emerge as a popular means of transport. While environment sensitive people are already using bicycles, as their chief means of transportation, chances are others would soon follow the trend. With bicycles getting popular day by day, the manufacturers, today, are coming up with new trendy designs that are comfortable and portable. For a bike to be comfortable, its frame plays an important role. The bike frame should be of the exact width and length to make the ride a comfortable one for the rider. A frame too big or too small will disturb the balance, making the ride difficult and comfortless. There are various ways in which you can measure and estimate the size of your bicycle’s frame. Read the lines below to know more about measuring the frame size of a bicycle.

Measuring The Frame Size Of A Bicycle

One of the simplest ways to determine and measure the frame of the bike that you are planning to buy is by standing with your legs on either sides of the top tube. There should be a gap of 1-2 inch between the bottom of your crotch and the top tube. This would give you a rough estimate of the proper size of the frame.
It is better for you to know your size, before measuring the size of the cycle frame. It is your inseam that determines your size. Measure your inseam only when you are barefoot to get accurate measurement. Stand against the wall. Now, place a book between your legs and press it up to the pelvic bone. Mark the top of the book on the wall in centimeters to get your measurement.
Try and estimate the bike’s size once you have your inseam measurement in hand. The centimeter height of your inseam is multiplied by 0.65 to get the estimate of the road bike. For e.g. if your inseam is 90 cm multiply it by 0.65 and it will give 58.5 cm. This means that the centre to the top height of the bike is 58.5 cm. However, it is better to leave a gap of at least 2.5 cm between your crotch and the bike’s top as you stand.
For mountain bikes, the measurement is done in inches. The same procedure is followed to estimate the frame size, by subtracting 10 cm from the product after multiplying it by 0.65. The result so obtained should be converted to inches to get the estimate of a mountain bike frame for you. The top tube length of a bike is considered while doing the estimate.
According to professional cyclists, there are only 3 contact points of the human body that need to be considered, while determining the frame size of your cycle. These are pedals, saddles and handle bars. It is the distance between your groin and the pedals that determines the frame size of your bicycle.
The height of the saddle can also help you in determining the frame size of your bike,in case you can position your knee joint a little less than 90 degrees to the pedal, while seated on the saddle. This angle varies from person to person. The correct size of the handle bars depends on a good sizing stem, the length of which can be adjusted, but you should be prepared for a bend in your elbows.

Tips & Warnings

Use the measurement you derive just as a guideline and not as an absolute measurement. It is better to always test ride a bike and then purchase it.
Do not choose a frame size that is too small or too big for your body. Search a dealer with whom you can exchange the bike, if you don’t find it to be comfortable.

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