Mountain bike sizing is an important part of choosing mountain bikes because it lets people choose the best mountain bike for them in terms of size. There are different kinds of bikes out there and so with choosing the right sized one, you’ll be able to ride properly and make the most out of your bike trip. If you’ll be taking more bike trips on rough trails, make sure you get a mountain bike because that’s the kind of bike that is most suitable for rugged conditions. In order to weather whatever trail may be up ahead, a mountain bike is designed to have a frame that is stouter and more upright, offering higher clearance so you can easily get over logs, rocks, and the like. Since a mountain bike is designed to take stress and abuse along the trail, this allows you to still enjoy a comfortable ride no matter how many obstacles you encounter along the way. Now, let’s get back to sizing a mountain bike.
Easiest Method For Mountain Bike Sizing
The simplest way to go about mountain bike sizing is to stand over the frame of a mountain bike. For most people who ride, this is the all-important first step towards figuring out what
size mountain bike they should be getting. An ordinary bike will be the right size for you if it has an inch or two of clearance between your crotch and its top tube. However, in the case of a mountain bike, there should be more space, with about six inches of clearance or the entire width of a hand across fingers. This is how you size mountain bikes for men. Women’s mountain bikes don’t offer the same kind of clearance so the girls generally don’t have to go through this step.
Another way to do mountain bike sizing is to measure your inseam length and refer to a sizing chart for bike frames. To get started, measure your leg’s inside with a tape measure. Hold the tape measure taut against the inside of your leg, starting from the crotch and down to the floor. This is what is called your inseam length. Your measurements should be taken in centimeters. Whatever inseam length measurement you get, take that number and multiply it by 0.67. The resulting number will be your bike frame size if you are using a road bike. Since you are sizing for a mountain bike, take your road bike frame size and subtract 10 centimeters from that number. The difference will be your mountain bike’s frame size. Contrary to road bike frame sizes, mountain bike frames are measured in inches. Just convert whatever centimeter measurements you got to inches in order to get the final frame size of the mountain bike you should be getting. You can also refer to the sizing chart below for your convenience:
Mountain Bike Sizing Chart
- If you have a height of between 4’11″ and 5’3″ and have an inseam length of 25 to 27 inches, then your bike frame size is at 13 to 15 inches.
- If you have a height of between 5’3″ and 5’7″ and have an inseam length of 27 to 29 inches, then your bike frame size is at 15 to 17 inches.
- If you have a height of between 5’7″ and 5’11″ and have an inseam length of 29 to 31 inches, then your bike frame size is at 17 to 19 inches.
- If you have a height of between 5’11″ and 6’2″ and have an inseam length of 31 to 33 inches, then your bike frame size is at 19 to 21 inches.
- If you have a height of between 6’2″ and 6’4″ and have an inseam length of 33 to 35 inches, then your bike frame size is at 21 to 23 inches.
- If you have a height of 6’4″ and up and have an inseam length of 35 inches and up, then your bike frame size will be 23 inches and up.
If you are able to go about mountain bike sizing properly, then you should have no need to adjust anything on your bike before you ride. However, there are instances wherein you might not be able to get your hands on a mountain bike of the exact size for you. Here are some points you should keep in mind with regards to how your mountain bike should size up in relation to your size:
- Your seat should be at height where you are able to extend your leg to the point that it is nearly completely straight when you are on the seat. Your knees should only be slightly bent when you have your foot on the bottom pedal position. This kind of seat height should let you minimize fatigue and maximize power output. Your seat is too low if you are able to sit on the seat and firmly plant your feet flat on the ground.
- Position your seat for maximum pedaling efficiency and comfort by keeping it level. Too much tilt forward and you’ll slide forward. Too much angle to the back and you won’t be able to use much power to pedal. Both situations are uncomfortable and distracting and can easily be avoided by keeping your seat level. The easiest way to know if your seat is in a wrong position is by listening to your butt. Your weight should be centered on the right places and if they aren’t you’ll be feeling soreness after just a few minutes of biking.
- As for handlebar height, proper position is actually a matter of personal preference. Just make sure that you position your handlebars at a height that is comfortable for you and does not strain your wrists, shoulders, and back. Do experiment so you can get a feel of what is right for you. While doing mountain bike sizing, you may have noticed that mountain bike handlebars are set lower than their road bike counterparts. This is to lower center of gravity so you can more easily balance as you navigate through obstacles, distributing your weight more evenly across both wheels. If you can’t figure out the right feel for you, do ask for help with the bike store staff where you did your mountain bike sizing.
Take a look at this short YouTube video that shows the proper way to calculate mountain bike sizing.