How to Choose the Correct Bike Size?

Do you experience pains during or after cycling? Or do you want to improve your performance on your bike?  Or do you plan to buy a bike online and not sure which size to go for?

In that case some practical tips can be very helpful!

A correct riding position is extremely important to improve your cycling experience. It provides more comfort, improves your bike handling and provides greater endurance.

In addition, it prevents injuries and increases your peak power.

At the end of this video/article you will learn more about a better bike fitting and the benefits of a good riding position.

I will also explain how to adjust your road or mountain bike for better ergonomic positions and help to improve bike fitting performance.

Decide which bike type do you want to buy?

The first step is to choose the type of the bike you need, which depends on the terrain you plan to use the bike on. From this perspective, there is no all-purpose bicycle. Each bike is suited to different kind of terrain and it is important to consider the future use of your bike carefully.

The chosen bike model, price and quality should reflect your riding style, expected mileage and type of terrain on which you plan to ride.

When choosing a bike, take into consideration:

• bike type (mountain bike, cross bike, trekking bike, e-bike, gravel bike ect.) 

• frame material (carbon, alloy, magnesium act) and the quality of components.

• price/quality ratio

Frequent terrain rides

In this case normal MTB bike is the better choice. Mountain bikes have wider tires and make it easier for the wheels to roll over slippery surfaces and keep balance on uneven terrain.

You can divide mountain bikes into two categories – hardtail bikes with fixed frame and bikes with suspension, which have both suspension fork and suspension frame, they help a lot with unstable terrain and handle riding down difficult slopes. Some suspension bike models have the option of locking both the front and the rear suspension, which is an advantage cyclist who want to ride both in rough terrain and less difficult conditions surely appreciate.

Regular or combined recreational and urban/road rides

Go for an urban bike if you plan to ride flat hard surfaces, for recreational flat rides is a trekking bike with mudguards, lights, racks - would be a better choice.

If you plan to combine the advantages of road and mountain bikes, I recommend to go for a gravel bike. The seat is more vertical, the wheels have a bigger diameter and the tire pattern is more universal for more sped on rough surfaces. You can fit all type of renders, racks, bike packing system for your long rides.

Regular long-distance road rides

A road bike is the correct choice in this case. Road bikes are designed to have an aerodynamic frame, minimal resistance and a prefect force transference. The bikes have only necessary components and their gear shifting is focussed on speed. They are the lightest of all bike types.

Ebike 

Electric bicycles (E-Bikes) offer the same great benefits as traditional bikes including cost savings (no licensing or insurance required), improved well-being, and connection with community.

But the beauty of e-bikes lies in the fact that they’re more inclusive, allowing people of all ages and fitness levels to enjoy bicycling. Electric bicycling can definitely count as exercise.

Measure yourself correctly

First what you need to do is to measure yourself. You need 2 important measurements: standover height and your height.

Stand over height

If you're buying a bike online and wondering how do you measure yourself for a bike from afar, simply measure the length of your inside leg (with your shoes on) and subtract two centimeters from that measurement. This will give you the stand-over height of the bicycle that is right for you.

Next, know your height. Your height is one of the easier ways to get an idea of your frame size. 

It’s a decent way to determine whether the frame will be too small or too big. Keep in mind that this is only a general guide.

Rider height is an okay place to start, but it’s not a definitive metric. Things like your inseam length, arm length, and torso length all play a big part in what frame size is ultimately the right for you.

Sizing will still vary between brands. 

Know you know which bike you want to go for and the required measurement, we can go to the next.

Understand How Bike Sizing Works

You can spend tons of money on upgrades in an attempt to make your ride more comfortable. But if you don’t have the right bike size, then those efforts (and that money) basically becomes a waste.

You need to go to the geometry page of the bike you have in mind to buy. the size chart shows the frame sizing based on your height, standover height (rider inseam), these are 2 most important measurements to determine the bike size.

And much like clothing, bicycle size designations are best used for comparing different sizes of the same bicycle and not for comparing one brand’s size to another’s. Because one brand’s “medium” might be another brand’s “small.” So be careful comparing different sizes from different brands.

In order to choose the geometry of the bike, you need to go to the main bike model page and select “geometry &  sizing” title:

https://silverbackbikes.de/products/stride-sport?_pos=2&_psq=stride&_ss=e&_v=1.0#tab4-0 

Keep in mind that this is only a general guide. Sizing will still vary between brands.

Test the Bike Before You Buy (if possible)

It’s the most obvious and overused advice out there, but it’s true: Seeing a bike in person, trying it out, and getting a feel for it is often the best way to know if it’s right for you. Many bicycle brands and bike brands offer demo bikes in the showrooms or you can visit a demo event to allow customers to test ride them.

I recommend to take your time, double check your numbers, ask lots of questions to the bike owners, and seek out second (or third) opinions about your bike size and other factors before you make a big purchase.

Listen to Your Body

Ideally, you’ll know your approximate bike size before you buy. But there’s always a chance you’ll follow a brand’s sizing and a bike’s fit will feel off. This can be also ok.

If you fell back pain, knee pain, neck pain, or you hands becoming numb, this could be a sign of wrong set up.  if you’re experiencing them, you can do certain steps to figure out the issue and improve your setup.

Troubleshooting 

If you are getting it try different bar tape, different shaped handlebars or moving the hoods slightly. On a mountain bike or flat bar roadie try different shaped grips.

Changing the rise angle of your bars, trying to use different more ergonomic grips as well as changing the length of your handelbar can help to reduce pressure on the outside of your wrists and solve the issue.

Most commonly neck pain arises from poor riding posture on the bike, poor technique or a poor handelbar position.

If you have neck paints, you can try to 

1. Change your hand position on the handlebars regularly during a ride

2. Keep your elbows slightly bent

3. Double up on handlebar tape, or change your normal grips to ergonomic grips and wear good quality gloves.

Effective Ways to Reduce Back Pain While Riding would be:

1. Implement Right Riding Posture. 

2. Take Breaks to Stretch While Driving for Long.

3. Change the normal seat post to the ones which have suspension build it. 

4. Correct Seat Height. I find that keeping the nose of the saddle down by 1-2 degrees tends to be the best position to help prevent lower back pain. 

5. Invest in a comfortable seat.

On Concluding Note

Choosing the correct bike size is essential for comfort, performance, and injury prevention. From selecting the right bike type to understanding sizing charts and listening to your body, every step plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect fit.

Taking the time to measure yourself accurately and, if possible, test the bike before buying can make a significant difference in your riding experience. With the right setup, you’ll not only ride more efficiently but also enjoy every journey to the fullest.

That was all for now, hope you enjoyed our practical advices!