Helpful Bike Size Charts - MUST READ Before Buying a Bike (2023)

FAQs

What are the most important bike measurements? ›

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.

Look for listed standover heights, and compare that number to your inseam. The difference between your inseam and the standover height should fall within the target ranges. (For example, if you have a 30” inseam, you'll want a road bike with a 29” standover height.)

When you look at a bicycle, it's easy to see that the frame is the most important part of this vehicle. Not only is the frame the one that holds the entire bike up and together and allows you to sit on and steer it, but it also attests to the quality of the materials used.

Frame size generally refers to frame height, the length of the seat tube from the bottom bracket (crank bearing) to the top tube.

What is a 24-inch Bike? A 24-inch bike is typically a kids bike and the 24” measurement refers to the diameter of the wheels. The smallest kids bikes have tiny 12” wheels but move up incrementally to 26” wheels. 26” wheel bikes are normally reserved for preteens and teenagers as well as many traditional adult bikes.

A 26-inch bike works well for people who are 4'10-5'7, or 147 cm to 170 cm. Also, it works well for people whose leg inseam is 25-30 inches, or 63-76 cm. However, the frame size may need adjustment depending on your height.

When you're between frame sizes, it's better to buy the smaller size. You can always make it bigger by replacing the stem and raising the handlebar and a seat. Making a bigger bike smaller is more difficult, as there is only so much you can do. A smaller frame also gives you more control when riding.

What size person can ride a 29 inch bike? ›

If you're 5'6' or taller, you should be able to find a 29er model to fit you. Riders more than 6' tall can rejoice: You'll definitely enjoy a more natural riding position with the size and frame geometry of a 29er.

The height of your saddle is important for the most comfortable position and safe riding style. When you sit on the saddle, both feet should reach the floor and the balls of your feet should be touching the ground.

Wheels are a major component to any bike and the size of the wheel affects a lot of other things that you might not think of. In particular, frames need to be engineered around the wheels. In general, bikes with larger wheels will have longer chainstays, wheelbases and taller stack heights than smaller wheeled bikes.

The frame is also usually the most expensive part of the bike and the most involved to replace.

The main parts of a bicycle are wheels, frame, seat, handle bars, and components. We also could consider the helmet as a key safety issue.

The 26 in a 26 inch bike refers to the wheel size, so that measurement isn't always the best way to judge how big a bike is. Some youth bikes are measured by this wheel size, but more commonly you'll find 26-inch wheels on a variety of adult frame sizes.

So when we talk about kids bike sizes in terms of 14, 16, 20 or 24, those numbers indicate the diameter of the wheels on the bike in inches.

What is the difference between a 26 inch and a 29 inch bike? ›

The difference between the strike angle of a 26-inch wheel and a 29-inch wheel (over the wooden block) is only about 5 percent, but the cumulative effect of rolling up and over a 5-percent steeper angle thousands of times a mile adds up quickly. The larger-diameter 29-inch wheel has noticeably less rolling resistance.

26″ & 27.5″ Wheels (Age 10 years and above)

As children become young teenagers their options open up even more and bikes become more specialised. A 24″ bike offers much of the same tech, features and benefits of an adult bike but built around a slightly smaller wheel size.

Most adult bikes that are small enough for an 11-year-old or 12-year-old will most likely come with 26 inch or 27.5 inch wheels.

Riders with a height of 5' and above are typically tall enough to comfortably fit on bikes with 26” wheels. However, riders taller than 5'5” may be better suited to the slightly larger 27.5” or 29” models that offer better traction and stability.

A 28-inch bike is best for riders between 6 and 6 feet 3 inches tall, with a leg length or inseam of 28 to 33 inches. The typical frame size of a bike in this category is 18 to 19 inches.

In more modern times, pros often use a smaller frame that a similarly sized recreational rider because they want to ride a big drop to the handlebars. As head tubes continue to grow for a given frame size, pros are forced onto smaller frames to maintain their positions.

Even at the steepest grade he tested (7 percent), a one-pound difference between bikes only saves about 2.5 seconds—and the lightest bike only reaches the top 7.5 seconds faster than the heaviest one.

If you can't get the bike to your ideal position, it is not recommended to ride more than just around town as an improperly fitted bike can cause injury specifically to your knees and back but other areas as well.

20" wheel BMX bikes are ridden by children and adults of all sizes but the minimum age for this style of bike would be between 7 and 8 years.

Who fits a 20 inch bike? ›

Yes, the recommended age for a 20” bike is between 5 and 8 years old. If your child is relatively tall, they may be ready to size up to a 24” bike.

What height is a 27.5 inch bike for? 27.5 inch bikes are suitable for adults between 5'2” and 5'10”. That said, adults of all heights can ride this wheel size. Some brands claim that 27.5” wheels are especially useful for riders 5'7” and under.

The ideal position is to have your knee directly above the pedal spindle (known as the Knee Over Pedal Spindle, or KOPS, rule) when the crank arm is in the three o'clock position.

As a general rule of thumb, your knee should have a slight bend in it when you're at the bottom of the pedal stroke. As a starting point, you can achieve this by setting a saddle height that, with your heel on the pedal and pedalling backwards slowly, your knee just barely locks out at the point of maximum extension.

It's normal for your butt to feel slightly sore after a ride, because when you sit on a bike seat, most of your weight gets distributed on two very small bones on the bottom of your pelvis. That can lead to soreness, especially if you're on a long ride, explains Maddy Ciccone, a SoulCycle instructor in Boston.

If you are under 5'6” tall, a 26-inch mountain bike is still likely to be a better fit. If you're 5'6' or taller, you should be able to find a 29er model to fit you. Riders more than 6' tall can rejoice: You'll definitely enjoy a more natural riding position with the size and frame geometry of a 29er.

One of the most important things to get right when choosing a new bike is the frame size. Although there's a lot you can adjust on a bike so that it fits better, if you start off with a frame that's too small or too large for you, you may be placed awkwardly and uncomfortable as you ride.

When you're between frame sizes, it's better to buy the smaller size. You can always make it bigger by replacing the stem and raising the handlebar and a seat. Making a bigger bike smaller is more difficult, as there is only so much you can do. A smaller frame also gives you more control when riding.

The difference between the strike angle of a 26-inch wheel and a 29-inch wheel (over the wooden block) is only about 5 percent, but the cumulative effect of rolling up and over a 5-percent steeper angle thousands of times a mile adds up quickly. The larger-diameter 29-inch wheel has noticeably less rolling resistance.

27.5-inch wheels are typically quicker to accelerate when compared to 29ers, which is mainly a result of their lower weight that requires less effort to spin. This can be great if your local trails include a lot of slowing down and accelerating through tight turns and short uphill sections.

How do I know if my bike is 24 or 26? ›

These dimensions can be found on your tire: Diameter x Width. The first number is the diameter of your wheel. Sizes such as 26, 24, 20, 27.5, 29 and 700c are common tire diameters.

A 26-inch bike works well for people who are 4'10-5'7, or 147 cm to 170 cm. Also, it works well for people whose leg inseam is 25-30 inches, or 63-76 cm. However, the frame size may need adjustment depending on your height.

26-inch bikes are a common size for adults. Riders with a height of 5' and above are typically tall enough to comfortably fit on bikes with 26” wheels. However, riders taller than 5'5” may be better suited to the slightly larger 27.5” or 29” models that offer better traction and stability.

The height of your saddle is important for the most comfortable position and safe riding style. When you sit on the saddle, both feet should reach the floor and the balls of your feet should be touching the ground.

Often times the standard rule is to select a frame that is an inch wider and taller than the print, or poster. The frame shouldn't be any bigger than the standard as it will make the picture or print look odd.

Carbon (High-Tensile) Steel

Steel is the most commonly used material in bike frames. Carbon or high-tensile steel is a good, strong, long-lasting steel, but it isn't as light as its more high-tech brother, the steel known as chromoly.

There are mostly two issues with bikes that are too small: A frame that's too short may cause problems for steering (toe strike against the back of the front wheel and/or the handlebar colliding with your legs). This is safety critical. It may not be possible to put the saddle at the appropriate height.