Ten Considerations in Fitting Your Bike

In This Chapter

^ Looking at the length of the crank arm ^ Choosing the right gearing ^ Paying attention to all things saddle ^ Finding the right frame size ^ Handling handlebars

Я n the course of maintaining and repairing your bike, you need to consider how any adjustments you make might affect the way your bike fits you. The better a bike is fitted or tailored to your body size, the more enjoyable your riding experience will be. A properly fitted bike leads to more efficient riding, more power delivered to the pedals, greater comfort, and less chance of soreness or injury.

When you first purchase a bike, you should work with a fit specialist at the bike shop to make sure that the bike you buy fits your body. But you can — and should — also focus on fit as you maintain and repair your bike.

Fit is not an exact science. Yes, there are some high-tech measurement and sizing machines, fitting systems, charts, and formulas. But put two experts in a room, and they’ll come up with a different set of measurements. Our best advice is to follow the basic principles and tips in this chapter and throughout this book and consult with your local bike shop. If you do that, you should be able to get a fairly good fit with your bike — and your back, shoulders, arms, legs, and hands will thank you for miles to come.