What Size Of Bike Should I Get

People buy bikes for different purposes: For racing, route-biking, mountain-biking, touring or commuting. Whatsoever the reason you have for spending your hard-earned money on purchasing a bicycle, it is very important that you get the perfect bike for yourself. Or else, yous would be throwing away your money.

In this commodity, you will observe the different wheel size charts for the mountain bikes, kid'due south bikes, hybrid bikes, balance bike, road bikes, and the city/commute bikes. It is mostly believed that the most appropriate way to increment cycling pleasure is to know what exactly is good for you. These charts and other vital information presented in this article will assistance you accomplish your goal in choosing the perfect bicycle.

What Size Wheel Should I Get?

The age-old question asked by bike shoppers is ever, "What size bike should I go?"

Finding a bike way that you honey is easy, but finding a bike that fits is a little more difficult. Many people consider bike sizing a complicated hassle, but it doesn't accept to be. When all the components are weighed, you can obtain the cycle sized correctly for your torso and needs.

Let's dive in!

Easy Method: Bicycle Size Chart by Height

This formula is very simple: Your height / Bike Size

Hither is an easy to follow bike size chart by superlative. Many people too phone call the post-obit information a cycle frame size chart. The nautical chart takes into consideration your superlative and the size of the bike'south frame. Clearly, certain heights compliment certain frames. The following tabular array is the criteria followed to make the wheel size determination.

Bike Size Chart/Cycle Frame Size Chart

Height	Bike Size
4'11" to five'3" (150-160 cm)	13 to 15 inches
v'iii" to five'seven" (160-170 cm)	15 to 16 inches
5'7" to 5'eleven" (170-180 cm)	16 to 17 inches
6'0" to half-dozen'2" (180-188 cm)	17 to 19 inches
6'2" to 6'4" (188-193 cm)	19 to 21 inches
6'4" or taller (193+ cm)	21 plus inches

Please call up, if you have the correct frame size for your height then other components on the cycle can be easily adapted to fit your needs. As well with most bikes, the handlebars and saddle post rise and lower.

Math Method: Calculate Your Bike Size:

In this method we will use unproblematic math to discover out the right bicycle size.

Formula: Bike Type ten Leg inseam = Your frame size (in centimeters)

Just follow this simple formula to go the correct cycle size:

Bike Type: Select your bike type from the following:
- Road bikes – x 0.70
- Mount bikes – x 0.685
- Metropolis bike – x 0.685
Measure your leg inseam: Remove your shoes and stand directly with your legs nearly 15-22 cm apart, now measure out the length of your leg from the footing to your crotch as shown in the picture.
Calculate:
- Road bike – 0.seventy x Leg inseam = Your frame size (cm)
- Mountain cycle – 0.685 x Leg inseam = Your frame size (cm)
- Metropolis bike – 0.685 x Leg inseam = Your frame size (cm)

For example, if your leg inseam is 65cm and you are looking for Road bike, the correct size would be 65 x 0.70 = 45.5cm

Nautical chart Method: Cycle Size Charts:-

1. Road Cycle Size Chart

Road bikes are traditionally sized past their seat tube dimension. That is the distance from the pinnacle of the seat tube to the center of the bottom bracket cup. However that is not the but dimension you should pay attention to when size your cycle. The top tube measurement along with the length of the stem and reach of the handlebars are also important in determine the bending of your back as you are riding. For some riders a long reach will have them hunched over into the bike and thus also being more aerodynamic. For coincidental riders a less ambitious bending means more miles in the saddle and less hurting on the back.

The seat tube is measured in centimeters usually starting on the small end around 46cm and ending in the large end somewhere around 64cm. You lot can imagine the longer this distance is the longer all the measurements on the frame are going to exist as well as bike manufacturers take a pretty practiced range of frames corresponding with the different sizes of people out there.

Below is a route bike sizing guide. At present, sizing guides are not the be all terminate all of your bike fit. You might find that a bigger cycle fits you lot better in top tube dimensions or you just the like the aggressive feel of a smaller bicycle.

My track wheel is a 56cm, my touring bike a 54cm and my road cycle a 53cm. Different types of bikes have unlike feels to them based on the unlike measurements of the tubing.

Following is a route bicycle size nautical chart that matches your height to the cycle's size.

Frame Size	Elevation
XXS (44)	4'viii" to v'1" (142-155 cm)
XS (48)	5'one" to 5'4" (155-163 cm)
S (51)	v'4" to 5'vii" (163-170 cm)
1000 (54)	five'7" to 5'ten" (170-178 cm)
L (56)	5'ten" to 6'0" (178-182 cm)
40 (58)	6'0" to 6'3" (182-190 cm)
XXL (60)	6'3" to 6'5" (190-196 cm)
XXXL (62)	6'5" to vi'9" (196-206 cm)

Some manufacturers have started using pocket-sized, medium, and big for route bikes as well as changing the road bike geometry by putting in a more than sloping top tube like a mountain bike. Sizing conventions like this tin can adapt a wider range of riders; all they need is a longer seat postal service. The Cannondale Synapse and GT Class are good examples of this. If y'all ride an extra small you lot might have to sacrifice the 700c wheels for 650b'due south.

Additional Resources:

The 7 most important road bike sizing tips
Why you need to worry most road bike sizing and plumbing fixtures
How to size your cyclocross bike (Cyclocross will follow the aforementioned conventions as road bikes.)
Some other road bike size guide(from Evans Cycling)

2. Mountain Bicycle Size Chart

Mountain bike sizing conventions are different than route bikes depending on the age of the bike. Pre 2000's bikes used the aforementioned A-frame geometry of road bikes, but used a smaller diameter bicycle and pulled the lesser brackets farther from the basis. They made use of longer cranks to become leverage for those steep climbs and flat handlebars for more side to side command. Old bikes would come up in sizes like 16.v inches, 17.5 inches, 19 inches and 21 inches. It wasn't until the 2000's when major manufacturers switched it up to a pocket-size, medium, and large convention, did mount biking and mod applied science really accept off.

Of course you desire to detect what is comfortable just call back of smalls as for people who are iv'11" to five'4", mediums are for those 5'5" to 5'ix", and larges for those 5'10" to vi'3". At that place are extra large and extra small frames for those of you on either side but y'all may accept to sacrifice tire size for a comfortable fit. What I mean is someone who is actually small may not exist able to comfortably ride a 29er.

Mountain bike seating positions are usually less ambitious than route bikes and plus the bike does nigh of the work so there is no need to be hunched over churning super hard. Your head needs to exist upwards looking for obstacles and dangers. Find a cycle you feel comfortable on and brand certain you are satisfied before you pay… and of course apply the post-obit bike size table!

Mountain Bike Size Nautical chart

Height	Frame Size
4'x" to v'two"	thirteen" to xiv"
v'2" to 5'6"	xv" to 16"
5'6" to 5'10"	17" to xviii"
v'10" to half dozen'1"	19" to xx"
6'1" to six'4"	21" to 22"
half dozen'4" to vi'6"	23" to 24"

Related: Mountain Bike Size Chart, Guide, Frame And Geometry

Important Things to Know When Sizing a Mountain Bicycle

Sizing mount bikes is a little unlike than other bikes. With MTB, you truly need a ride that fits your body because you might be traversing some perilous trail conditions. Y'all simply ride a mountain bike differently than you do other bikes.

When yous are pedaling, and your human foot reaches the bottom of the stroke and then yous volition simply come across a slight bend in your leg. Ideally, your leg should exist 80 to 90 percent extended so you can pedal with all the power of your leg muscles to climb hills and ride a cantankerous crude apartment terrain.

Mountain bikes are bachelor in standard sizes, simply the bike's geometry is a bit different and the way you ride matters. As well, y'all must retrieve about the acme tube length, your stand over clearance, seat height, and the attain because you lot are not going to be riding a mountain bike like you practise a route bike.

Looking Closer at Bike Sizes

Let'south take a closer look at the mountain bike sizing considerations before we explore the size nautical chart:

Tiptop Tube (effective summit tube ETT) is the horizontal altitude that is betwixt the seat tube and the caput tube. You will wait at this tube when measuring the mountain bike.
Attain is the area betwixt the bottom subclass that runs to the centre head tube. Most riders use the reach to measure the mountain bikes' length. Remember, if you are descending on steep single-track then you want to feel the bicycle's length as you ride.
Stand up over is height is completely dissimilar from a mountain bike than other bikes. With others, a two-inch clearance will suffice just with a mountain cycle, you desire at least 3 to five inches between your crotch and the height tube. When measuring the peak, you volition desire to wear whatever shoes you regularly wheel in to get a truthful indicator of the cycle's size.

The reason for the added standover inches needed with a mountain bike is and so you can leap complimentary of the wheel. You lot don't know when a tough trail ride tin go incorrect and you tin can start to tumble. You desire to jump free of the bike which ways having adequate inches between you, the cycle's bar, and the saddle.

The Superlative Bar of the Mountain Bike and Size

One factor that might modify the inches required is if the gradient of the top bar is extreme which would provide you with the needed room to safely ride the cycle. Therefore, the standover height is not a true indicator that the mountain bike fits your body. You lot must take all the other considerations into account when shopping for the correct mountain bike size.

Yet, when you descend on a trail, your seat should be in a lowered position that is almost 3 inches unlike than in the rise position. It is not uncommon for most mount bike enthusiasts to ride with a dropper seat-post which allows you to enhance or lower the saddle with a push of a push so you can quickly adapt your ride to the terrain without ever having to dismount.

Understanding Sizing Women's Mountain Bikes

Women are typically narrower in the shoulder than men and many too have longer legs than their trunk. You can buy women-specific mount bikes that take narrow handlebars and compact/shorter frames. However, many women do not require a female person mountain bike and instead opt to ride men's' MTBs

Learning Sizing Kids Mountain Bikes

Mountain biking is fun for the unabridged family, y'all and former alike. Many parents want to purchase a bike that is larger, so their kid has time to abound into information technology. Nonetheless, when riding backroad unmarried-track it is important to have a cycle that fits your child. Your footling 1 should be comfortable riding the wheel. Stand over peak for a child's mountain wheel should average two to four inches clearance.

When your child sits on the bike, they should have their legs slightly bent when they reach the lesser of the pedal stroke. Also, when sitting on the bike they appear in an upright position while holding the handlebars.

Boosted Resource:

How to discover your all-time mountain bicycle frame size(Must-read!)
Another guide to mount bike sizing(remember to bank check the comments – Jeff is a helpful guy!)
Our bike size calculator

3. Women's Mountain Bike Size Chart

As mentioned, some women prefer a mountain wheel designed specifically for their feminine size. Overall, the frame is normally merely narrower on a female MTB? However, other women might prefer the standard MTB sizes (often referred to every bit men's wheel sizes).

Women's Mount Wheel Size Chart

Height	Frame
four'10" to five'2"	13" to 14"
5'2" to 5'6"	fifteen" to 16"
five'7" to v'9"	17" to xviii"
5'ten" to half-dozen'1"	10" +

4. Hybrid Bike Size Chart

Hybrid bikes are pop for commuting and leisure riding. Many have MTB styling, but the tires are always very narrow and smooth. Unlike a road bike, a hybrid has flat handlebars. Beneath is a nautical chart that will assistance you lot observe the right size hybrid bike to run into your needs. Besides, when you stand over the hybrid wheel, you should have a minimum i-inch clearance between your crotch and the top of the wheel.

Hybrid Bike Size Chart

Height	Frame
4'10" to 5'ii"	13" to 14"
v'2" to five'half dozen"	xv" to 16"
5'vi" to 5'10"	17" to eighteen"
6'one" to half-dozen'4"	19" to 20"
half-dozen'4" to half-dozen'half dozen"	23" to 24"

Additional Resources:

Hybrid bike sizing guide

5. Bike Size Nautical chart for Kids

Kid's bikes are a little harder to size and at times, a little easier. Starting time, some disclaimers; does the fit have to be perfect?

No.

Y'all are going to spend so much money trading up bikes yr later year to try and keep your child on the perfect size bike. Cycling can be an extremely expensive sport and kids change their minds all the time about what they want to do. I recollect you should back up them in their endeavors but no need to break the banking concern. A mutual strategy is just to get things a little bigger and let them grow into it. I see no reason why that strategy shouldn't work here.

Kid'south bikes are then small-scale, that the measurement you oftentimes end up looking at is wheel size. They have bikes with 12in, 14in, 16in, 18in, 20in and 24in wheels. If any of these frames seem likewise small then they might exist able to fit a small adult 26in wheel size bike. I am not sure that someone under 4'11" could comfortably ride a 700c cycle whatsoever the frame size may exist. Keep these things in mind when you are looking and make sure to endeavour out a few options.

Beneath, you volition find a basic bike size chart for kids:

Tiptop	Age	Bike Wheel Size
3'1" to 3'3" (xc-100 cm)	3 to four	12"
3'3" to 3'seven" (100-110 cm)	4 to 5	14"
3'seven" to 4'0" (110-120 cm)	5 to viii	16" to 18"
4'0" to 4'5" (120-135 cm)	seven to 9	20"
4'v" to 4'nine" (135-145 cm)	viii to 11	24"

As y'all can see from the above chart, children'south bikes are measured by wheel size. Call back, sizing is important with a child'south bike because if information technology is likewise big or small and so the child will have a hard time balancing correctly.

Additional Resources:

Guide to kids bike sizes + bike size chart for kids(Everything you need to know.. literally!)
The worlds biggest reseller of kids bikes
How to find the correct wheel size for your kids

3 Easy Steps to Calculate Your Bicycle Size

Sizing a wheel isn't difficult.

You'll need a tape mensurate to complete the task. Without a incertitude, you will also need a estimator. Three easy steps to summate your bike size: Stand with your shoes off so your legs are spaced 15 to 20 centimeters apart and now measure from your crotch to the ground. Choose the wheel type Summate your bike'due south size based on the following:

Urban center bicycle: Leg inseam x 0.685 = bike frame size
Mount bike: Leg inseam x 0.66 = bike frame size
Road bike: Leg inseam x 0.seventy = bike frame size

If you don't enjoy math, and then you can always use a free online bike figurer to determine your bike's size. You simply input your measurements and the bike blazon y'all desire to buy calculates the perfect size to fit your needs.

Important factors to know:

What size of bike you get depends on a lot of things. Y'all'll want to accept these crucial factors into consideration to ensure you buy the correct size bike for your needs.

Height and Inseam

Your physical height and the length of your inseam matters when picking out a wheel. Interestingly, everyone has unique body styles. A man who stands 6'two" might have a very long trunk and but accept an inseam of 32" but another homo who is the same height might have a very short torso with long legs which makes him sport an inseam of 36". The same is truthful for the physical build of a woman or child.

Frame Importance

If the bicycle's frame size is not right, then you might have a hard time pedaling the wheel and feeling uncomfortable. When a wheel is also small, your legs and body go cramped and yous cannot fully extend your leg to maximize cycling power. However, if the frame is too large then you but won't reach the leg rotation required to successfully pedal at higher speeds. The best fashion to bank check the frame size of the bike is to simply stand over the frame. Brand sure both of your feet are on the basis. Ideally, you should accept an inch between your crotch and the bike's frame if it is a hybrid, racing, or touring bicycle.

Mountain Bike Frame

If the wheel is a mountain bike, then the altitude should be virtually 2" between your crotch and frame. Remember, when you lot are measuring the bike's frame for a child, then have your footling one sit on the wheel's seat and identify but the assurance of their feet down on the ground while withal existence able to reach the handlebars in comfort. A child should have only 25 to 50mm betwixt their crotch and the frame's top bar when standing over the cycle in the above-mentioned position.

Position of the Seat

All riders are different. Many like the seat tilted a tad bit forward and others like a more astern position. However, the nearly popular remains level. When measuring a bicycle'south fit, accept the seat positioned the mode you prefer so that your feet residuum on the pedal and when you lot extend your legs, your anxiety almost completely touch the ground. Your hips should never sway from side to side to enable your anxiety to reach the pedals or ground.

How to set-upward the seat tiptop and saddle position on your MTB
How to get your road bicycle position right + seat position
How to adjust your bicycle seat(with pictures)

Handlebars and Their Position

A bike that fits right has handlebars in the right position. When positioned incorrectly, y'all can endure from back pain, wrist soreness, and shoulder discomfort from the strain. With racers or touring bikes, you volition detect that the handlebars are the width of your shoulders. Road bikes take their handlebars positioned approximately an inch below the top of the saddle. A mountain bike has even lower handlebars to create a greater center of gravity. Hybrids accept a high seat, so your body is positioned in a very upright style. All these positions are not written in stone. Nearly bikes allow you to adjust the handlebars. When sizing a wheel, you must recall nearly the handlebars and how it fits your body and riding style.

Wheel Size Measurements

Bike size is measured by the diameter of the wheel when the tire is mounted. You'll notice the size written on the sidewall in most cases. The size of the wheel is dependent on the primary employ of the bike. You'll find that most mountain bikes take a 26" or 29" bike. A larger sized person who enjoys mountain biking frequently opts for a 29" wheel. The tires on mountain bikes are also broad.

Hybrids, road bikes, and touring bikes usually have a 29" bike that is slim (just 18-25mm). The large wheel enables the bike to scroll effortlessly across the pavement. Years ago, route bikes regularly had 27" wheels. BMX bikes typically come up in two sizes: xx" or 24" wheels. The wheel size is a huge deciding factor in the bicycle's size. A kid's bike's wheels differ but are normally 12" wheels for a child age 3 go v, 16" tires for a child age 5 to vii, 20" for a child vii to 10 years onetime, 24" or 26" for those 10 and over.

FAQ: The Most Common Questions

What if You Fall Betwixt Frame Sizes? Let's Say Between Medium and Large Frame?

If yous fall between bike sizes, and so you can choose betwixt a medium or large frame if it is adjustable. Nonetheless, if you have long arms, then you might want to go with a large frame to a more comfortable ride and control the bike.

Is the Correct Bike Fit Really That Of import?

Your bike should fit the mode that you lot feel comfortable riding. Yep, you can sentinel the pros ride and desire to emulate their fashion, just you lot might non exist up to that form. If y'all sit too far frontward across the handlebars, then your knees could offset hurting. Achilles hurting is another common complaint. Numbness and hot spots might besides plague your body. Too, if your placement is as well far back, and then your muscles won't transfer power accordingly. All factors must be taken into consideration when picking the correct bike fit. Read this to learn more near how to cycle fit your bicycle.

What Nigh Women? Do I Need a Women's Bike Size Chart?

Above, yous'll find a helpful sizing nautical chart for women. A woman's bike pattern usually takes into consideration the narrow frame of a woman, but this does not mean that you must ride a woman's bike if your torso is larger or you are more than comfortable with a bigger bike. Also, take a few moments to check out the women'due south bicycle size chart above if you feel that you would exist more comfortable with a bike designed for a woman's body.

How Do You Know When You lot Purchased the Wrong Size Wheel?

At that place are five unique ways yous can discover that the bicycle yous have got isn't the best one for y'all. On most occasions, people only purchased the bikes recommended to them past bike shop owners or experts. Sometimes, the shop owners are simply interested in selling the bikes they take in stock and do non necessarily care nearly whether they are the all-time ones for the buyers or non. In such a state of affairs, these four signs will let you know that you have got a incorrect-sized wheel:

Back pain: If you lot ceaselessly suffer from dorsum pain, there is every possibility that your new bike isn't the perfect one for y'all. Something may be wrong with its frame size, saddle, and other parts that do non match your preferred wheel.
Likewise-high saddle: When your new bicycle's saddle is also high for riding condolement, you probably have spent your hard-earned money on a wrong bike size.
Too-low saddle: A bike with too-low saddle will be difficult to ride, and you may have to struggle every time yous are the bike.
Changes in the bike's stem: If you notice that your new cycle has some changes in its stem, it ways that the current frame isn't the original 1, and you may have to undertake further stem changes to make the cycle useful for you. In this case, you lot are already creating a situation whereby the bicycle volition be subjected to continuous mechanical fixings, a condition that could make it break down very soon.

What to Do to a Bike With a Incorrect Size?

Once you lot discovered that the bike yous have bought wasn't the perfect size for you, you can enquire the store owner to change it to the right one for you. Merely if y'all are unwilling to permit go of that bike, maybe because you like its color or design, here are some actions you tin can take to fix the size issue:

Yous can move your bike'due south saddle to the forepart or rear—this will resolve a headache y'all may have about the pedaling force. To enjoy a bicycle, y'all must place yourself in a situation whereby you lot tin exert enough forcefulness that will make the bike move at the desired speed. Desperately located saddle prevents shine riding and it may completely discourage you from participating in a race or other events that require a huge amount of pedaling force.
You should call up of buying a longer or shorter stem—This arrangement changes your body position and puts you in the correct frame to pedal smoothly and enjoyably.
You should buy a longer seat mail—This is also about being seated in the correct position and so that your legs can move freely and comfortably every bit required. If y'all are a short cyclist and your bike's seat is likewise high for you, you volition surely accept to endure a lot of pain during cycling.

What Nearly a Bike Size Nautical chart for Touring Bikes?

Okay, let'south talk touring bikes, a close cousin to route bikes and commuters. Many things go into making a bike comfortable for y'all but first, it starts with the geometry of the frame. Touring bikes often have longer stays (longer wheelbase) because the rider needs to able to carry panniers on the rear rack without clipping them with every pedal revolution. Nevertheless, if you have longer legs and smaller feet like I do, the long wheel base isn't necessarily an issue. In fact some people tour on road bikes which have fifty-fifty shorter wheel bases.

Yous will be putting some serious miles on the bike so you need to imagine yourself beingness in the saddle for hours at a time and v days a week or more than. You don't want to be reaching too far or be hunched over, but at the same fourth dimension being directly vertical is going to bring all your weight down into your saddle which is hard over long rides.

I similar to think I ride with my back at about a 75 degree angle to the ground. The keeps some weight in my hands, makes coming out of the saddle for hills easier, and being mostly upright I accept a pretty good agreement of the globe around me. However this is completely variable and the reason why you come across touring handlebars with multiple positions; so the rider can alter mitt positions and stretch the back, or sit upright and relieve some pressure.

It is important to feel comfortable so make sure you have your bike dialed in before you get into a habit of riding it with the wrong saddle peak, handlebar reach, or cleat placement. Your body adjusts and even the wrong fit bikes can feel comfy for some time, only beneath the surface it is doing more than harm to your muscles, basic, and soft tissues.

A quick story to illustrate my point; my friend got a professional wheel plumbing equipment for his first major road bike purchase. I'm talking laser levels, ergonomic stationary bikes, video cameras, $800; the whole shebang. Fast forward most iii years and one thousand's of miles on this bike, he takes information technology in for a routine seasonal maintenance. Subsequently ii-3 short rides, he starts getting major pain in his knee. Sensing something was up, he takes it back into the shop and finds that one of his pedal clip spacers to raise the height of his clip for his shoes was left off when he picked the bicycle up. Something equally small every bit few millimeters of space greatly affected how he felt on the bike and ended up sidelining him for 3-4 weeks of recovery.

How to size a Cruise or Cross bicycle?

These are all unlike names for basically the same type of bicycle. Imagine a bike ideal for commuting with an upright position, wider tires, disc brakes and apartment handlebars. Most will be sized using the small, medium, and large convention only you may find some outliers. These bikes are often cheap and oddly enough able to fit people more comfortably outside the normal ranges. I work with them and I routinely ride larges and extra larges with no existent problems.

I am 5'8" and these bikes should be much besides big for me only with the proper saddle superlative they go just fine. I am not sure if that is a skilful thing or a bad thing though. Cruisers are more of a one size fits all; you can merely get a different seat mail and exist fine because the bike is non engineered for functioning. These bikes are merely meant to be ridden a few miles at a time so don't spend likewise much time shopping around and not on your bicycle enjoying the ride.

Do I Need a Bike Wheel Size Chart?

Well, your bike'south wheel sizes are dictated past the type of bike. You'll find iii fundamental measurements when information technology comes to your bike's wheels.

Bore: All wheel wheels are grouped by their private bore. The measurement is in millimeters. It runs from the rim border across the hub axle to the other rim edge.
Rim Width: Rim width is obtained by measuring the inside of the rim's edges. The measurement volition also exist in millimeters. Also, this is the measurement that lets you know how the width of your bicycle'southward tires.
Tire Width: The measurement is obtained by measuring across the tire when information technology is inflated. This is the measurement that you lot employ to determine the rim width that you can use.

Summary

In this commodity, we have outlined a broad array of sizing charts and pointers on what size bicycle you need. Above all, y'all will be able to employ the bike size nautical chart for your needs and then you tin find the perfect ride. Whether you are trying to size a route bicycle, mountain bicycle, or kid bike, the charts outlined are all benign. Retrieve, having the correct size is imperative so you enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling ride. Whether you are ordering online or buying from a bike shop, this bicycle size guide will undoubtedly testify indispensable.