What Size Of Road Bike Do I Need

Riding a bike that doesn't fit is no fun. Information technology's uncomfortable and yous risk injury from being as well cramped or besides stretched out, but knowing what size bike you should purchase tin be a bit of a minefield. So here's some advice to help you find the right size road bike.

Finding the right bicycle starts with the frame shape — traditional, semi-compact or compact — and size.

Two bicycle models of the aforementioned stated size tin can also result in very different positions, so it's well worth reading up on the cardinal numbers that bear upon route cycle geometry, what they mean, and how they affect fit and treatment to ensure you lot're buying the all-time route bike for your needs.

Getting a good fit means more than than only having the correct size frame. Information technology besides means your bike fits at all the primary contact points: saddle, handlebars and pedals. Accept a read of our guide to finding the perfect road bicycle position.

Beyond the principal contact points, standover is too important. You demand to be able to place both anxiety apartment on the flooring with at least a centimetre or so to spare at your crotch when standing astride the top tube.

Of course, we're not all the same shape and size, and so use the information below every bit both a starting point and a guide. Once you've establish the right size wheel and got your position close, you tin can make smaller adjustments to fine-tune the fit. Yous'll be able to get bike fit advice in person from a cycle shop.

Nosotros too recommend taking whatsoever bikes you are because buying for a test ride to gauge how they feel in action. You lot want to make certain you're comfortable on a bike and check its handling.

Y'all'll also desire to make sure there's plenty range of aligning for you to tweak the fit once you've bought the bicycle. Once over again, a reputable wheel shop should be able to offer impartial communication, and you lot tin can likewise read our guide on how to buy a bike.

Manufacturers' size guidelines

Frame sizes tin can vary significantly from one manufacturer to some other.

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The simplest way to determine what size bicycle to go for is to use the guidelines bicycle manufacturers typically provide, which correlate various height ranges with different bicycle sizes.

Notwithstanding, as we've already alluded to, there are no standard sizes between the bicycle manufacturers. Each will have its own approach to wheel design, and so it'southward useful to have an overall understanding of wheel geometry.

How one brand sizes its bikes may be very different from another, and then don't presume ane model has the aforementioned fit as some other, even if the stated size is seemingly the same.

You'll usually find the frame size on the seat tube. Many route bike brands employ seat tube length to size their frames. Watch out, nonetheless – how one brand sizes its bikes may be unlike to another.

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Many manufacturers size road bikes by seat tube length (or a nominal seat tube length that imagines the bikes has a horizontal superlative tube, even if it doesn't), whereas mountain bikes are ordinarily sized as S, Chiliad, 50 etc. That'due south also a system used for some road bikes too. Disruptive, eh?

Nigh bicycle makers will likewise quote stack and reach figures for their bikes because they are a useful mode of comparison bike sizes and geometry between brands.

The advantage of using these figures is they are contained of frame angles – two different frames might have 2 different top tube lengths, but the same reach, with a difference in angles making up the deviation.

Many manufacturers size road bikes by seat tube length.

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If you're planning to buy a cycle on the internet, it's even more important to brand certain that you've got your size correct. Many web-sales brands will suggest a bicycle size based on your height and a few other measurements.

That might be fine if your build is pretty average and you're in the middle of a suggested acme range, just if you're an outlier, we'd strongly recommend a cycle fit and a examination ride to make sure that you buy the right size.

Some road brands utilise S, M, L etc to size their bikes.

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Beefcake of the bicycle frame

Bike manufacturers volition usually list the measurements for each element of a bike's geometry, so knowing what each measurement refers to is the showtime step.

Utilise the diagram beneath to help y'all identify the different tubes used on the frame of a road bike.

Seat tube length is often used to denote size, but meridian tube length is the more important number for establishing the right fit.

However, information technology's also worth noting that two tiptop tube lengths may be quoted on a cycle'south geometry chart: the length of the tube itself and the effective top tube, which concerns bikes that have a sloping top tube (road bikes with a semi-compact or meaty geometry).

Nosotros'll take a closer look at that side by side.

This diagram shows the various tubes that make up a road bike.

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Frame geometries: traditional, semi-compact and compact

There are three main geometries of frame to consider when buying your beginning bike: traditional, semi-compact and compact.

Traditional wheel frame

Traditional road bikes with a horizontal top tube that runs parallel to the ground are now rare.

Raleigh

Traditional frames are characterised past a top tube that runs parallel to the ground. There is a reduced space when standing over the bike, though, so sizing can be more disquisitional here.

Traditional frames were popular in the past, as y'all'd await, but it's much more common to see compact or semi-compact frames on the latest bikes.

Compact bicycle frames

The Giant TCR, at present in its ninth-generation, revolutionised road wheel geometry with the introduction of a compact frame shape and sloping summit tube.

Giant

Compact geometry frames are characterised by a sloping acme tube, shorter wheelbase and smaller rear triangle of the frame. The effect is more standover clearance than a traditional geometry frame and possibly a stiffer, more than responsive ride.

Giant introduced the compact frame shape with the launch of the TCR (which stands for Total Meaty Road), and compact or semi-compact designs are now ubiquitous across the latest road bikes.

With the sloping height tube, expect to see an extra two to three inches of seatpost showing when compared to traditional bikes with a horizontal top tube.

Semi-compact bike frames

Semi-compact frame shapes, equally seen here on the Rose Pro SL, are besides pop.

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Semi-compact geometry is similar to a compact with the only departure being that the sloping angle of the top tube is not equally great, so the standover clearance is reduced and the effective top tube distance is slightly longer.

The difference between a semi-compact and compact frame volition often be quite subtle, though.

Pinnacle tube length

Top tube length is a key sizing measure – but beware, there'south more than 1 style to measure a top tube.

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The almost important consideration to make as you lot decide which frame to become for is the effective top tube length: the altitude from the head tube to the seatpost on a bicycle with a sloping top tube, or simply the length of the acme tube on a road bicycle with traditional geometry.

If the top tube is too long, you'll be overreaching to the handlebars, and your riding position volition likely be more than ambitious, which could exist uncomfortable on longer rides.

If yous're looking for a more than comfortable riding position then you may wish to go for a shorter effective elevation tube length.

Road bike size nautical chart

Use the chart below for a rough guide on the frame size to go for. Again, nosotros'd emphasise that this is a guide and should be used as a starting betoken. If you're unsure, seek further advice from your local bike store.

Tweaking the cycle fit

One time you accept the right size frame, y'all can outset to fine-tune the fit, including handlebar superlative, stem length and lever position.

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In one case you lot've decided on your frame size you tin fine-tune your bike fit.

The next critical adjustment to make is setting the bar and saddle height. Nosotros've got guides to adjusting handlebar height and setting the right saddle height.

Y'all may also want to suit or change the stalk length because that can also affect your accomplish – how far you are reaching forrad to the handlebars – and likewise the handling and performance of the wheel.

Further tweaks tin include adjusting the fore/aft position and tilt of your saddle, the angle of your handlebars and the distance to the brake levers. If the handlebar shape isn't right for you, you may want to consider upgrading.

Cleats can be rotated to enable the shoes to be fixed at a position that's comfortable to you

Cleat position has a big impact on your overall fit on the bike.

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Don't forget about your pedals either. If you lot're using clipless pedals, the position of your cleats tin can have a large bear on on your overall comfort on the bike.

Many of these changes can be fabricated in a good bike shop, though a bike fit is likewise worth its weight in gold if you really want to dial-in your position. As function of a bike fitting session, cycle fit experts will go y'all riding on a fixed trainer to bank check your bike position and ensure everything fits you lot perfectly.

Women who have opted for a unisex cycle may notice our guide to the most common adjustments to make bikes more female person-friendly useful, while we too take a guide to women'south wheel sizes.