How to Make Your Bike the Perfect Fit

Before riding too far away from home, make sure you and your bike are comfortable with one another.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cleated Bicycle Shoes
• Padded Bicycle Shorts
• Bicycle Helmets
• Bicycle Seats/saddles
• Gel-cushioned Bicycle Saddles
• Children's Bicycles

1. Straddle the bike with your hands on the handlebars and your feet flat on the ground. Don't sit on the seat.

2. Lift the front of the bike with the handlebars. On a road bike, there should be 1 to 2 inches between the bike frame and your crotch; on a mountain bike, 3 to 4 inches.

3. Get a friend to hold you up on your bike.

4. Sit on the seat with your feet on the pedals, as if riding.

5. Pedal backward - so you don't ride away - until one pedal is at the bottom. Your leg on that pedal should be slightly bent, not completely straight.

6. Raise or lower the seat accordingly.

7. Put your hands on the handlebars. You should be able to reach them with your arms bent comfortably.

8. Move the seat forward or backward accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• If your back or neck hurts from riding no matter how you adjust the seat, ask a bike mechanic about getting a different-size "stem." This is the elbow-shaped piece of metal that attaches the handlebars to the rest of the bike.
• Mountain bikes and road bikes will fit you differently. Because you sit up straighter on a mountain bike, your arms may be extended more than they would be on a road bike.
• Whatever is comfortable is likely correct.

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[DoctorYO]

on 3/25/2009 There is a contour seat at walmart for around $20 without the harness that hurts in the middle. I really like it.

[dusterdog]

on 3/20/2009 I am 4 monthes past a total knee replacement. I am having a really tough time getting my range of motion and mobility back.I like to bike and I have my bike set up for maximum room down to the pedals. I can just get about two toes on the ground from the seat. When my modifed leg comes up to the top of its stroke, the pain is pretty bad.Usually after a couple trips around the block I de up into my soft grass area and just kind of do a semicontrolled fall over. Then it's into the house for ice packs and ****.Any sugesstions on how to get my ROM back easier??Thanks!

[Termecasa]

on 9/13/2008 I AM 62 YEARS OF AGE AND INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A BICYCLE FOR CASUAL RIDING AND HOPEFULLY TO GO ON BICYCLE TRAILS, IE. JIM THORPE TRIAL....DO NOT WANT TO SWING MY LEG OVER A BAR WOULD LIKE AN EASY PASS THRU TYPE OF BIKE TO GET ON. ANY RECOMMENDATIONS...ALSO, NOTHING SO HEAVY THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LIFT IT UP TO PUT ON BACK OF CAR BICYCLE RACK...THANK YOU

on 9/25/2006 I bought bike padded underpants thinking this would cushion more with my padded bike pants. Wrong answer! I'm in big time pain. So let people know not to wear both at the same time. Nobody told me and I didn't ask.