Bike Sizing Guide: What You Need to Know (adults & kids)

For many of us, learning to ride a bike is one of our fondest childhood memories. The sense of freedom and independence bike riding gives you is truly unique and it's something that often doesn't go away with age.

That's why cycling is such a great way to have fun while you exercise. It's also super accessible and the perfect way to enjoy being active and outdoors with your friends and family. But to get the most out of the experience, it's important to have a bike that's the right size for you as riding a bike that's too big or small will impact your comfort, performance and ultimately your enjoyment of the bike.

Whether you're planning to buy a bike online or in-store, it's a good idea to read a bike sizing guide to get an understanding of how to size it correctly before you make a purchase. Let's take a look at how to find the right size bike for both kids and adults.

What kind of bike is best?

Sizing varies a whole lot between different kinds of bikes and for this reason, the first step in working out the right size for you or your kids is choosing the best kind of bike for you.

To work out what kind of bike you're looking for, there are a few things you should consider. For a start, where will you be riding the bike? Just around the city or do you plan on some mountain biking adventures? Also have a think how often you'll be using it, how far you plan on going and what you'll use it for (casual commutes or workouts etc.).

Using Your Height

Once you've worked out what kind of bike you're looking for, you'll need to work out your size. For both kids and adults, using your height is arguably the easiest way to find the right size bike (other than getting a professional bike fitting). Kids' bikes are often also sized by age but, considering how much kids of the same age can vary in size, height will usually give you a better fit for an individual child.

Bike Size Charts

Use these charts to work out which size bike will fit you (or your kids) best. Just bear in mind, these should be used as a guide only as sizing can vary between models and manufacturers.

Kids' Bike Size Chart

Adults' Bike Sizing Chart

Further Adjustments

Once you've established the right size bike for you, there are a host of small adjustments you can make to tailor the bike to fit your unique body shape. Here are just a few of the parts you can adjust on your bike to get the perfect fit for you.

• Saddle: Both the position of the saddle and the saddle itself have a huge impact of the fit and comfort of your ride. If you find the saddle uncomfortable to sit in, it may just be a matter of it not being suited to your body. There are many aftermarket saddles available for all body types, so it may just be a case of finding the right one for you.
• The saddle position can be adjusted by height, tilt (the angle of the saddle) and fore and aft position (moving it forwards or backwards). The height is adjusted by moving the seat pole up or down, while the tilt and fore and aft position can be adjusted directly under the saddle.

• Handlebars: The position of the handlebars affects how far you have to reach as well as how upright your back will be when you ride. Stem height (how high/low your handlebars sit on the steer tube) can be adjusted by using an Allen key to take the handlebars off the steer tube and adding/removing the spacing rings that dictate how high the handlebars sit. Generally, the lower the handlebars, the flatter your back; the higher the handlebars, the more upright you will be. If you're not completely confident doing this yourself, always get a professional to make the adjustments for you.

Final Thoughts

A bike will not only help you keep fit and active, but it will also bring you a whole lot of enjoyment too. It's also a long-term purchase so it's worth spending the time to get the right size and fit to make sure your ride is as comfortable as it should be. Anaconda has a huge range of bikes as well as a bike workshop for all your fitting and maintenance needs. If you'd like to get help finding the right bike for you, drop into your nearest Anaconda store and chat to one of our friendly team members.