How To Measure The Frame Of A Bike

The instructions below explain how to measure a classic road bike.

How to measure the frame of a bike. Determining that number the bike s frame size takes just a few seconds. Everyone s body is a little different and the proportions of your arms legs and torso might mean you need a different frame to feel comfortable. Most bicycles have a sticker somewhere on the frame indicating the size of the frame. Many bicycle brands and bike shops offer demo days or demo events to allow customers to test ride bikes.

While not all bicycle frames have a size label it ll save you some work if yours does. The top tube is parallel to the road giving the frame more stability and support. Then test out a size bigger and size smaller. As an added bonus.

A bike frame measurement is important especially when you re buying or selling a bike or trying to figure out how tall a person should be to ride it. Most big box stores will list their bike frame sizes in inches 26 inches and so on. That measurement is the size of the bike s frame in inches. You get the frame size by measuring the appropriate part of the bike depending on what type of bike it is.

The frame size is determined by measuring the length of the seat tube in centimeters. The classic style road bike frame is most commonly found on road racing touring and commuting bikes. If you look near the bottom of this tube about 3 inches 7 6 cm up from the chain sprocket you ll see a glued on label that states the bike s frame size. Use your inseam measurements to get a starting frame size then go to a local bike shop and test it out.

The seat tube is the long tube that the bike seat post sticks into. For some people the number 17 or 54 or the letters xs s m l or xl cause confusion. It also helps to ask questions and speak to knowledgeable staff members. Measure from the top of the seat hole not the post but the hole the post goes into down to the center of the frame where it joins the lower support tube over the sprocket.