Published: September 10, 2012
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Whether you’re a recreational rider or competitive triathlete, you’re bound to spend hours on your bike. To avoid injury and have the best experience possible, it’s important that your bike fits you properly.
Today, Kevin Calvey, physical therapist at ATI Physical Therapy in Middletown, DE, brings us four ways to find the right size bike frame.
- Know how to measure and find the right size bike frame: Kevin suggests that you first inquire with bicycle dealer which way the frame is measured, either Center to Top (C-T) or Center to Center (C-C)
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- Greg Lemond Formula
- Inseam x 0.65 = C-C frame size in cm
- Inseam x 0.67 = C-T frame size in cm
- Inseam is measured from a leveled straight edge pulled up to crotch with approximately twenty pounds of pressure to a firm surface in bare feet.
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- Avoid a frame that’s too large: Using a bike frame that’s too large will lead to increased low back pain. This can also lead to neck pain down the road because of how the neck must be held to ride longer distances.
- Understand “reach” and find what fits you best. Reach is another aspect of frame size that can cause severe wrist, hand, and neck pain. The “stem,” which is the part that connects the bike front fork (steering tube) to the handlebars, is a standard length for the size frame it’s on.
- This part should be swapped out for a shorter one if you have a shorter torso or a “higher rise” version if you have a history of low back pain.
- Measurements aren’t everything. Remember that measurements are good starting points for the average proportioned adult, but not everyone is averagely proportioned, Kevin says. Your measurements may differ based on your size and proportion, which means you may have to adjust your frame.
It’s National Bike To Work Week, and we’re celebrating on the “Get There” blog all week long! Check out our tips for safe bike riding, and come back later this week for an inspiring story about one of our physical therapists who rides his bike to work every day!