Summer has come, which means the time for cycling has come, and now the main question is - how to choose the right bike in terms of height and weight, for men and women?
The answer to this question will be carefully considered in this article about choosing your two-wheeled friend. And be sure to consider all the parameters of the bike selection that you should know first of all after reading this article.
The first step is to decide:
- where will you ride?
- what do you need a bike for?
- what parameters are most important to you: speed, comfort, maneuverability or just jumping.
Many cycling tourists, to ride in the city, of course, will make a choice in the direction of mountain bikes, their wide wheels and impressive appearance are simply mesmerizing, but not many choose the technique for its intended purpose; For the city - the urban type, for the mountains - the mountain type, etc.
Probably not everyone realizes that a good and comfortable saddle is important for the city so as not to get tired on the road, as well as the maneuverability of wheels of a special profile for the road surface. This and much more is absent in a mountain type bike, but good cross-country ability gravel road and other mountain trails.
So all the same, how to choose a bike for the height of a man or a woman?
The main parameter for selection is height, it is the height that determines the size of the bike. Below are the proportions of height to frame in inches.
How to choose a mountain bike?
| Human height (see) | Category | Frame size (conventional designation) | Frame height (cm.) | Frame height (inches) |
| 135 – 145 | Mini | XS (XSmall) | 33 | 13 |
| 135 – 155 | Mini | XS (XSmall) | 35,6 | 14 |
| 145 – 160 | Small | S (Small) | 38,1 | 15 |
| 150 – 165 | Small | S (Small) | 40,6 | 16 |
| 156 – 170 | Average | M (Meduim) | 43,2 | 17 |
| 165 – 178 | Average | M (Meduim) | 45,7 | 18 |
| 170 – 180 | Large | L (Large) | 48,3 | 19 |
| 178 – 185 | Large | L (Large) | 50,8 | 20 |
| 180 – 190 | Very big | XL (XLarge) | 53,3 | 21 |
| 185 – 195 | Very big | XL (XLarge) | 55,9 | 22 |
| 190 – 200 | Maxi | XXL (XXLarge) | 58,4 | 23 |
| 190 – 200 | Maxi | XXL (XXLarge) | 61 | 24 |
So, you decided to make a good choice by looking at your height parameters in the table? Now you need to follow the following tips from travel-picture:
- First, stand on a level surface so that the frame of the bike being tested is between your legs and the distance from the crotch to the frame is 3-5 centimeters.
- Second, sit on the saddle and put your foot on the pedal. The leg should not be fully straightened, slightly bent, such an optimal balance is needed so as not to damage the ligaments of the leg when falling.
- And thirdly, grab the steering wheel, your arms should be slightly bent, while the back should not be in tension, upon impact, this will play the role of a small shock absorber and will not injure you.
All bikes from well-known manufacturers are designed for 80-100 kilograms in body weight, so when choosing a mountain bike, you need to take into account your body weight, for this, manufacturers make a special reinforced frame.
Before or after trying on, you need to decide on the important structural elements and the main one is the frame. How to choose a frame? The strength of the frame geometry is of various types, for example, it is always underestimated on a women's bicycle.
The frame material is made from carbon fiber, steel and aluminum. The most expensive frame is made of carbon fiber and is designed for extreme sports; for the average tourist, an aluminum frame is suitable.
It is worth trying on the saddle, the dimensions of the seat are determined by the width of the rear, the female seat (saddle) is usually much wider. You can ride a narrow saddle for a long time, it does not interfere when performing tricks.
Choosing a narrow saddle, on the first ride, you will most likely be uncomfortable and painful, but on the third or fourth cycle, you will already be comfortable, since the saddle will take on the shape of your body.
Now let's take a look at the spokes, wheel rim and hubs. Double-profile rims are much stronger and more reliable, and are very difficult to break when performing tricks.
The spokes play a very important role in the dynamics of acceleration, for example, there are special aerodynamic Japanese spokes that do not catch air and do not give turbulence, thereby you brake less at high speed.
The next detail when choosing a bike is cushioning. The shock absorber on the fork should work smoothly and without jerking, if the shock absorber is very hard for you, you can adjust its settings or completely block it. By blocking the fork, you gain 2-3 kilometers of average speed on asphalt.
Another important parameter is the brakes. Brakes should be paid attention to tourists who decide to engage in professional mountain sports or ride on big slopes, well, or on the highway, the rest can not bother with brakes, since all bikes have brakes.
There are disc brakes and conventional clamping brakes, the latter are placed mainly on the rear wheels. We advise you to choose a bike with disc brakes on the front and rear wheels, since there are different situations in life, not all the time you will ride on smooth asphalt in the city.
How to choose the right road bike?
The road options are designed for long distance travel and are comfortable to ride, so you need to choose a frame more accurately than on a mountain bike.
If you decide to choose the road type, then below is the table:
| Height (cm.) | Category | Frame height (cm.) | Tube length (upper / seatpost) (cm.) |
| 158 – 164 | XS | 49 – 51 | 52 / 42 |
| 163 – 172 | S | 51 – 54 | 53,5 / 44 |
| 170 – 178 | M | 55 – 57 | 55,5 / 50 |
| 178 – 183 | M / L | 57 – 59 | 57 / 53,5 |
| 183 – 190 | L | 58 – 60 | 58,5 / 55,5 |
| 190 – 198 | XL | 61 – 63 | 61 / 58,5 |
How to choose children's bicycles?
When choosing a children's bike, you need to take into account the adjustment parameters of the saddle, handlebar and frame. Since the child grows very quickly, these parameters will not interfere with the choice. You should also pay attention to the size and width of the wheels, for a child this is a very important parameter when maneuvering and gaining speed.
| Height (cm.) | Age (years) | Wheel diameter (inches) |
| 75 – 95 | 1 – 3 | Up to 12 |
| 95 – 101 | 3 – 4 | 12 |
| 101 – 115 | 4 – 6 | 16 |
| 115 – 128 | 6 – 9 | 20 |
| 126 – 155 | 9 – 13 | 24 |
Choosing the right BMX bike
There are no main selection criteria for this type, all athletes who are engaged in extreme stunts on these bicycles know very well what they need and what to look for when choosing the right bike.
If you do not understand this matter, then we advise you to take this type of bike for a while from your friends and you yourself will find all the answers to the main question “how to choose the right bike”.
| Height (cm.) | Frame size (inches) |
| 140 – 150 | 19,5 |
| 150 – 170 | 20,0 |
| 170 – 180 | 20,5 |
| 180 – 190 | 21,0 |
By the way, good quality goods for cyclists can be bought at the cheapest prices on the Internet on the Planet Sport website, here you will find everything from protective pads to a thermos, and of course much more.
We told you how to choose the right bike, and what parameters you should pay attention to, now you can go to the store without fear. Remember that choosing the right option will ensure your comfort and safety.
It is better to pay special attention once and use the advice from travel-picture.ru, and then, the purchase will delight you for more than one summer season.
In the following articles, we will tell you about the secrets of how to choose a travel bag, subscribe to new articles.
