Frames Archives - Mountain Bike Hangout

When it comes to mountain bike frames, you find no consistency as the brands vary in size. So there is no specific frame size to make shopping easier. But when it comes to sizing a bike, frame size does matter for comfort and helps prevent injury in the long term. So there are different factors to consider. What Difference Does Frame Size Make on a Mountain Bike? While a road bike or MBT mechanics is simple, your body position depends on frame sizes, the bike stem and the overall control. If your bike fit is not correct, it leads to the following issues: You end up with incorrect posture leading to back pain when cycling for miles. Whether you adjust the handlebar or seatpost, it does not help. You get wrist pain from wrong positioning, and your body gets tired as you pedal inefficiently. Lastly, it risks crashing as your small or larger frame is not made for your size. So what should you do to get a proper bike weight and height? First, you need to familiarize yourself with the features you need to consider. How Bikes Are Sized According to Riding Style Each bike varies in size, and the fitting methods are dependent on the type of bike: A mountain bike comes in small, medium, and large sizes that differ in the brand. Your road bike works the same in s,m,l, and you find them with numerical sizes included. Yet one size is different from one brand to another, as a 48 specialized bike might not be the same as the Trek brand. The hybrid bike has some aspects from the MBT to road one in sizing. So for short, make sure to check the size charts available when choosing one. The problem is that we are not shaped equally from the arms to the legs. Bike Fitting: Getting The Right Mountain Bike Frame Size It would be best to look at your standover height that refers to your inseam and the clearance in between. Calculating it can be tricky depending on the frame shape, but the actual size you find in the center of the top tube. So to get the correct measurement for your bike frame on MBTs, you need to add at least two inches more. Stand over your frame in the middle with your feet flat with the mtb shoes you normally wear. Measure the clearance of your inseam and the bike's top tube. If you have a full-suspension bike with a Y-frame, the standover height is difficult to figure out. For example, if your inseam is 30-inches, then your standover size is between 32 to 33-inches. For measuring your inseam, you can stand against the wall with your riding shoes on. Place a book under you and against the wall as if sitting on the saddle. Place the spine side facing up. Mark where the top of the book is and use a tape measure to measure from the ground to the mark. Measuring Top Tube Length So with your standover height, you still need another measurement, and that is the ETT. The effective top tube length is the horizontal distance between the seat tube and the head tube. It requires no specific features, and you can measure it on any bike. With the correct measurement, it allows you to fine-tune other bike components for a perfect fit. So the standover height syncs with the ETT. Thus if you have long arms, add an inch or two to the ETT. Saddle Height Once choosing one, you can adjust two things: stem length and saddle height for comfortable frame size. So set your saddle to the correct height to get the most out of pedaling. Next, take the bike for a ride while seated to check your leg position. If your legs are too low, then raise the saddle post and try it again. If your legs are straight, then lower the saddle to the desired position. Also, make sure that the slope of the saddle is in place. The same applies to the stem that connects the top of the fork with the handlebar. How To Know You Need a Larger Frame Okay, finding this out is easy. If your arm span is way longer than your height, we recommend going for a larger frame. But if it is shorter, then choose a more petite bike frame. You want your arms to be comfortable on the handlebars. Final Thoughts As you can see, a mountain bike frame size is essential as you want to feel comfortable on those brought trails. We hope that the information provided answers your question when the time comes to choose a frame that suits your physique.