Riding a bike that doesn’t fit is no fun. It’s uncomfortable and you risk injury from being too cramped or too stretched out. So here's some advice to help you decide on which frame to go for – traditional, semi-compact or compact – and to help you find your perfect size.
Getting the right fit means more than just having the right size frame. It also means your bike fits at all the main contact points: saddle, handlebars and pedals. Have a read of our road bike positioning article to achieve the perfect setup.
Of course, we’re not all the same, so use the information below as both a starting point and a guide. After you get the position close using these tips, make smaller adjustments based on what feels better.
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You'll be able to get fit advice in person from a bike shop, though we'd recommend getting an understanding of the different elements that affect how a bike fits to ensure you end up with the right size. We also recommend taking any bikes you are considering for a test ride to gauge how they feel in action.
Manufacturers' size guidelines
The simplest way to determine what size bicycle to go for is by using the guidelines bicycle manufacturers provide, which correlate various height ranges with different bike sizes.
However, there are no standard sizes between the bicycle manufacturers, and each will have their own approach to bike design, so it's useful to have an understanding of bike geometry and how that affects the fit to ensure you get the size that suits you best.
Anatomy of the bicycle frame
Frame geometries: traditional, semi-compact and compact
Traditional bicycle frame
Compact bicycle frames
Semi-compact bicycle frames
Important lengths
Tweaking the bike fit
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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