At Pat's 605 bike shop (near Santa Fe Springs), we can help you select the proper frame size for your new mountain bike. Not only that, but our experts will adjust the whole bike to fit your proportions and preferences exactly.
Having proper fit is very important for getting the best ride possible. It will maximize the performance, fitness benefits, and comfort of your ride.
The following are a few of the ways we adjust fit on a mountain bike. Individual riders may opt to tweak these guidelines for their comfort or to change the way the bike responds. However, for many riders these adjustments will provide the most satisfying ride.
1. Standover height: Straddle your top tube, and lift the bike off the ground. On a hard tail , you should have at least 2" clearance between the tires and the ground. You may prefer up to 3-5 inches of clearance for aggressive riding. On a full suspension bike, 1" clearance may be enough, because the compression of the suspension will lower the bike's height when you are seated.
2. Reach: Sit on your bike with your hands on the grips. Your elbows should be slightly bent, rather than hyper-extended. This allows you to absorb the impact of bumps and rough terrain. If you have to reach or lock your elbows, you need to adjust for reach.
The following are a few of the ways we adjust fit on a mountain bike. Individual riders may opt to tweak these guidelines for their comfort or to change the way the bike responds. However, for many riders these adjustments will provide the most satisfying ride.
1. Standover height: Straddle your top tube, and lift the bike off the ground. On a hard tail , you should have at least 2" clearance between the tires and the ground. You may prefer up to 3-5 inches of clearance for aggressive riding. On a full suspension bike, 1" clearance may be enough, because the compression of the suspension will lower the bike's height when you are seated.
2. Reach: Sit on your bike with your hands on the grips. Your elbows should be slightly bent, rather than hyper-extended. This allows you to absorb the impact of bumps and rough terrain. If you have to reach or lock your elbows, you need to adjust for reach.
See our next post for more tips on mountain bike fit...
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