Bicycle Fit Guide
It's very important that the bike you ride fits you well. When many people think about getting the correctly-sized bike, they think only of the frame size. While bike manufacturers do make bikes in a variety of sizes, you should also pay attention to other ways to fit your bicycle to your body including handlebar width, body position and seat height. You can do much of this work yourself, but a good bike shop employee should be able to assist you once you've realized you have to make some tricky adjustments to your bike.
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Instructions
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Stand over the frame. The general guideline is about 1-3 inches for a road bike, or a hybrid bike that you'll be riding around town and on pavement and more clearance for a mountain bike that you'll be using off-road. You should be able to stand over the bike comfortably and be able to lift it up. If you can't decide definitively between two sizes that both seem to fit you well, you'll test ride both of them. And then, of course, you'll make other adjustments.
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Sit on the bike saddle and pedal backwards. The seat height is very important as it determines how much you leg will bend or stretch when you pedal. When you're seated on the bike and you have one leg extended there should be a slight bend in your knee. You shouldn't have to extend your toe or shift your hip to pedal down. Another way to check this is to sit on the saddle with both legs bent and feet and pedals parallel to the floor. Your knee on your front foot should be just about centered above the top arch of your foot.
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Reach for the handlebars while sitting on the bike. How far are you reaching for your handlebars? Your bike should feel comfortable and part of this is your reach. Do you feel too stretched out? Do you feel too upright? This reach can be adjusted by trading out the handlebar stem for a longer or shorter one. If the reach doesn't feel right, try a shorter or longer stem. A bike shop employee can swap your current stem for a new one. Oftentimes, bikes that are made specifically for women have a shorter top-tube, which means a shorter reach. This is an option for many women, and for men with short torsos.
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Choose the right saddle. You don't have to use the saddle that came on your bike. Many people buy a saddle that fits them. Men and women have different needs when it comes to saddles because of their differently-shaped pelvises and getting the right saddle will make a significant difference when you're riding. You should buy a saddle that is specific to your male or female anatomy, and that is comfortable for you. Once you install the saddle onto your bike make sure the nose is pointed forward and the saddle is mostly parallel to the ground, it can be tipped just slightly up or down to suit you.
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Measure the handlebar width and compare it to your shoulder width. These two measurements do not to be exact, but they should be close for most bikes other than cruiser-style bikes that can have wide handlebars. You'll want handlebars that are the right width to prevent soreness in your upper back. They should be about as wide as your shoulders.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you're riding in the right clothing, too. This will help ensure a good fit and a comfortable ride. Good, padded gloves can help absorb shock from the road or trail. Other properly-fitted clothing and accessories can increase your comfort, too. A properly-fitted helmet ensures safety and comfort, as do pants and skirts that are properly tied up to avoid being caught in the spokes or in the chain ring.
If you don't have experience working with bikes you should leave the mechanic work to the professionals for your own safety.
