The Right Bike

Choosing the right bike size can help you ride more efficiently, enjoy the experience and keep you from giving up.

The right size depends on the type of bike, your height, riding style and personal preference. There’s no substitute for sitting on a bike and taking it for a ride, but this guide will help you get started.

Different bikes are designed for different riding positions. Road bikes put you in a lower position to improve aerodynamics, while town bikes let you sit more upright for comfort. Whatever type of bike you choose, a few general principles apply.

You should be able to:

  • Reach the handlebars and brake levers without stretching.
  • Pedal with a slight bend in your knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
  • Stand over the top tube with about 5 cm of clearance.

What type bike are you sizing?

Hybrid Bikes

Rider (ft & in) Rider (cm) Frame Size (in) Frame Size (cm) Frame Size
4’10” – 5’2″ 148cm – 158cm 13″ – 14″ 33 – 37cm X Small
5’2″” – 5’6″” 158cm – 168cm 15″ – 16″ 38 – 42cm Small
5’6″ – 5′ 10″ 168cm – 178cm 17″ – 18″ 43 – 47cm Medium
5’10” – 6’1″ 178cm – 185cm 19″ – 20″ 48 – 52cm Large
6’1″ – 6’4″ 185cm – 193cm 21″ – 22″ 53 – 57cm X-Large
6’4″ – 6’6″ 193cm – 198cm 23″ – 24″ 58 – 61cm XX-Large

Mountain Bikes

Rider (ft & in) Rider (cm) Frame Size (in) Frame Size (cm) Frame Size
4’10” – 5’2″ 148cm – 158cm 13″ – 14″ 33 – 37cm X Small
5’2″” – 5’6″” 158cm – 168cm 15″ – 16″ 38 – 42cm Small
5’6″ – 5′ 10″ 168cm – 178cm 17″ – 18″ 43 – 47cm Medium
5’10” – 6’1″ 178cm – 185cm 19″ – 20″ 48 – 52cm Large
6’1″ – 6’4″ 185cm – 193cm 21″ – 22″ 53 – 57cm X-Large
6’4″ – 6’6″ 193cm – 198cm 23″ – 24″ 58 – 61cm XX-Large

Road Bikes

Rider (ft & in) Rider (cm) Frame Size (in) Frame Size (cm) Frame Size
4’10” – 5’0″ 148cm – 152cm 18″ – 19″ 47 – 48cm XX-Small
5’0″” – 5’3″” 152cm – 160cm 19″ – 20″ 49 – 50cm X-Small
5’3″ – 5′ 6″ 160cm – 178cm 20″ – 21″ 51 – 53cm Small
5’6″ – 5’9″ 168cm – 175cm 21″ – 22″ 54 – 55cm Medium
5’9″ – 6’0″ 175cm – 183cm 22″ – 23″ 56 – 58cm Large
6’0″ – 6’3″ 183cm – 191cm 23″ – 24″ 58 – 60cm X-Large
6’0″ – 6’6″ 191cm – 198cm  24″ – 25″ 61 – 63cm XX-Large

Kids Bikes

Your child’s bike should be a perfect fit, so please don’t make the mistake of assuming they’ll grow into a slightly larger bicycle. It’s dangerous! Riding a bike that’s too large may cause steering problems, make braking difficult, or prevent them reaching the ground safely when stopping.

Unlike adult bikes, children’s bikes are specified by wheel diameter. Bikes range from 12-inch bikes for very young kids, to 24-inch bikes for kids approaching 12 years, or whose height approaches 5 ft. After this, kids will move on to adult bikes with smaller frames, smaller wheels, and shorter seat tubes.

Rider (ft & in) Rider (cm) Inside Leg (cm) Age Range Suggested Wheel (in)
Up to 3″ Up to 90cm Under 40cm Under 2 years Balance Bike
3′ – 3’5″ 90cm – 105cm 40cm 2 – 4 years 12″
3’5″ – 3’9″ 105cm – 118cm 46cm 4 – 7 years 14-16″
3’9″ – 4’5″ 135cm 53cm 53cm 7 – 10 years 18-20″
4’5″ – 5′ 135cm – 150cm 62cm 10 – 13 years 24″