What is the best size bicycle for a short guy?
I'm 5'6" and am in the market for a bike. Been doing some research and I'm a bit confused as to what the bike sizes mean and how they affect what size I should be looking into.
Do yourself a favor and go to a reputable local bike shop and get fitted properly. When I bought my first bike the guy in the shop told me to "try this one" and i rode it around the parking lot. It seemed great but turned out not to be right for me. I knew better by my next bike. The proper fit makes a HUGE difference. If fitted properly you'll be able to ride many miles in comfort as opposed to riding around the block with a sore back. A good dealer can explain the whole thing to you.
Also, there's a lot more to condsider than just your height. Check out some good manufacturers like Specialized or Trek Those sites can direct you to their authorized dealers. Good Luck!
5 Answers
Do yourself a favor and go to a reputable local bike shop and get fitted properly. When I bought my first bike the guy in the shop told me to "try this one" and i rode it around the parking lot. It seemed great but turned out not to be right for me. I knew better by my next bike. The proper fit makes a HUGE difference. If fitted properly you'll be able to ride many miles in comfort as opposed to riding around the block with a sore back. A good dealer can explain the whole thing to you.
Also, there's a lot more to condsider than just your height. Check out some good manufacturers like Specialized or Trek Those sites can direct you to their authorized dealers. Good Luck!
Each manufacturer is definately different, but for road bikes a man who is 5' 6'' should usual ride a 54cm. MTBs are a measured differently. As a long time rider I would say that nothing is better than making an appointment and getting a fitting. It is much more important than any one measurement on the bike Best of luck and enjoy the ride.
getting fitted, while the best way to find your size, cost allot of money. and unless you getting a bike for competition purposes, its not necessary.
bikes come in seize increments of 2. centimeters for road bikes, inches for mountain. the size of the bike is usually posted at the bottom of the seat tube, right above where the pedal arms meet the frame. the number indicates the measurement taken from the middle of the bottom bracket (where the pedal arms meet the frame) to where the frame meets the seat post. if a mountain bike is 17 inches, that part of the frame is 17 inches tall. along with that size, the length of the bike will be in correlation with the hight. so if the hight is 17 inches tall, the length will be around 17.5 to 18 inches long. (this is not an exact science, just rough guidelines)so as you go up and down in sizes, the length of the bike changes as well. with that in mind, the best size isn't the bike that gives you the right hight (seat posts can be taken up to make a bikes hight fit) its the size with the right length.
so based off your high measurement, start with 54cm road, or 17 inch mountain, then try the size above, and the size below. pay attention to your shoulders. if their cocked out when riding, its too long. if your propping your torso up with your wrists its to small.
since there are so many types of bike designs out there now, its impossible to give you exact guidelines for every style. but the length guide is the best overall method.
and hey! congrats on getting out there on two wheels! its the best way to see the world.
Go to your local bike store and get fitted! Check too for bike rentals. This will allow you to try several bikes for an extended period to make sure the one you choose is a good fit.
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Just go to a bike shop and try a few different sizes out, see which one feels the most comfortable. Also ask the staff, they are usually very knowledgable on which sizes are best suited for each individual.