GET A PERFECT FIT
We ask the questions that beginners are dealing with and get answers from the experts...
PATRICK WALLACE, BUYER FOR EVANS CYCLES
“There is no definitive right or wrong size. It all comes down to personal preference and what feels comfortable. To find the bike that fits best, you’ll need to measure your height and inside leg. For your height, stand against a wall and mark the wall with a pencil so it’s level with the top of your head. Then measure from the ground up to the mark. For your inside leg measurement, stand against a wall and hold a book between your legs into your groin, making sure it’s flat against the wall. Measure the height from the book to the floor (it might be easier to get a friend to help!. If your height is on the cusp of the size range, your reach is often the deciding factor in which size to go for. To find out if you have short or long reach, you’ll need to measure your ape index – your arm span minus your height. If you have a positive ape index, go for the larger size, or go smaller if your ape index is negative. Bikes are measured by their seat-tube length. This measurement is normally from the centre of the bottom bracket or the centre of the bolt that attaches the crank arms. This differs by brand: some measure to the top of where the top tube meets the seat tube, or even the centre of the top tube. Mountain bikes are measured in inches or descriptive sizes (small, medium, etc), road bikes are in centimetres or descriptive sizes, and hybrids can be any one of the three. Bikes also get longer as they go up in size, but different brands can be inherently longer or shorter than others.”
JAMES TRIGG, BIKE BUYER HALFORDS.CO.UK “In an ideal world, you’d go along to a bike shop and sit on one to find your size. At the moment, there are some amazing online tools and size guides to give you a good indication as to which size bike you should be on. Measurement is based on the rider’s height – which is indicative of both leg length and reach – though we recommend you get the saddle height checked by an expert as soon as possible because it’s essential to efficiency on the bike. You’ll notice a huge difference with just an inch or so adjustment. As a guide, we’d recommend that your heel should reach the pedal with a straight leg, ensuring that when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal you’ll get a slight bend in your leg. It pays to return to the store about six weeks after purchase for a check (dependent on usage). By then, the cables, headset etc would have bedded in and you’ll be able to flag up any discomfort that might be affecting your ride. The biggest mistake that buyers make is to blow their entire budget on the bike and not have enough for the supporting gear, such as a helmet, lights and a lock – plus the clothing and luggage racks which are crucial for commuting by bike.”
THERE ARE SOME AMAZING ONLINE TOOLS AND SIZE GUIDES TO GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF SIZE NEEDED