One of the most important measurements to consider when you are shopping for a new bike is the bike frame size, because that determines how the bike will fit you and how you’ll ride it. Plus, some bikes only come in certain sizes, so knowing your frame size can help you narrow down your options and make an informed decision about which bike to purchase. Here’s how to measure bike frame size and some considerations to keep in mind.
Measuring the Seat Tube
Seat tube size is one of the most important measurements for picking out a new bike. The seat tube is essentially an extension of your leg and it needs to be sized correctly in order for you to feel comfortable when pedaling. Just like determining your shoe size, there are different methods for measuring your bike frame size, which all have their pros and cons. For this, you have to measure your bike frame size by measuring from your seat post down to your desired pedal position. You’ll want to add about 2-3cm for comfort-ability or if you prefer larger pedals on a small frame.
Measuring the Top Tube
This is by far one of the easiest ways to measure your bike frame size. The top tube is that large pipe that runs horizontally along your bike’s top and connects both of your handlebars. To measure it, use a cloth tape measure and wrap it snugly around your bike’s top tube while you’re standing near it.This will help out tremendously to measure bike frame size!
Measuring the Head Tube
To measure your bike frame size, you’ll need a tape measure. Start by measuring your head tube (the top of your headset), which is located at either side of your bike’s front tire and directly above where your handlebars meet them. Make sure that there isn’t much slack in your tape measure. If there is too much play, it will make it more difficult to measure accurately. Wrap your measuring tape around the smallest part of your head and write down how many inches are on your measuring tape.
Measuring Stand over Height
Stand over height refers to how much space is between your crotch and top tube. Since riders rarely jump off their bikes, it’s a very useful measure of bike frame size when deciding whether or not a bike will fit you comfortably. If there isn’t enough room for your feet to clear that section, you may come crashing down at inopportune moments. And even if you don’t, stand over height can be uncomfortable on longer rides as weight shifts towards the front end of your bike.
Measuring Clearance for Pedals, Shoes and Cranks
There are a couple of ways you can go about measuring your bike frame size. The one of the important steps is measuring clearances around various parts of your body such as pedals, shoes and cranks. It’s important to measure these because different bike frames will allow for different degrees of clearance. For example, if you have big feet, or wear large sized shoes then there may not be enough room on some bikes for your foot. While others may provide more space. While it seems like an obvious step when measuring bike frame size, not everyone measures their pedal and crank clearances before ordering a new bike. So make sure that you measure bike frame size properly!