How to Make Your Bike the Perfect Fit

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Rate: (16 Ratings)

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

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Straddle the bike with your hands on the handlebars and your feet flat on the ground. Don't sit on the seat.
Step2
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.
Step3
Get a friend to hold you up on your bike.
Step4
Sit on the seat with your feet on the pedals, as if riding.
Step5
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.
Step6
Raise or lower the seat accordingly.
Step7
Put your hands on the handlebars. You should be able to reach them with your arms bent comfortably.
Step8
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.

Comments

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Anonymous

Anonymous said

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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.

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eHow Article:  How to Make Your Bike the Perfect Fit

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