How do i understand the heights of bikes? I am buying a bike in Toronto and im confused

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1

How do i know bike height?

2

Hello @Toronto Lady -

I took a moment and asked Google AI and this what they said:

**
AI Overview**

To find the right bike size, match your height and inseam length to a brand’s sizing chart. Most adult bikes use frame measurements in inches or centimeters, or general sizes from extra-small to extra-large. Stand over the bike with your feet flat on the ground to check for a safe clearance gap.

Check Your Height and Inseam

  • Find a sizing chart from the bike maker.
  • Match your total height in shoes to the chart numbers.
  • Measure your inner leg inseam from crotch to floor.
  • Use road bike charts for drop-handlebar styles.
  • Use mountain bike charts for flat-bar styles.

Do the Standover Test

  • Straddle the top tube of the bike with both feet flat on the ground.
  • Leave 1 to 2 inches of space between your body and the top tube for road or hybrid bikes.
  • Leave 2 to 4 inches of space for mountain bikes.
  • Skip this test on step-through or sloping frames designed without a high top tube.

Check Leg Extension While Seated

  • Sit on the saddle with your hands on the bars.
  • Put the ball of your foot on the bottom pedal.
  • Keep your knee with a slight bend of 25 to 35 degrees at the lowest pedal spot.
  • Adjust the seat height up or down if your leg is too straight or bent too much.

Check Reach and Handlebars

  • Sit in your normal riding posture on the saddle.
  • Look down at the front wheel hub with the handlebars straight.
  • Make sure the handlebars hide the front hub from your view.
  • Change the stem length if you feel too stretched out or cramped.

The long and the short of this is - Measure the inside of your leg from bottom of your foot flat on the floor up to the top of your inseam.

That is the number you are looking for when you buy a bike.

3

I understand you are a girl so it’s slightly different due to the frames of the bikes being different but i’ll explain the 2 cent boy version for quick comprehension.

First size of wheels matters. 24-26-28-30 etc. Generally adult bikes are all 26". The 28"+ are for trails and mountain riding.

For boys the quick and dirty way is standing over the bikes center frame on tippy toes (not the seat in front of it on the bar). Does the center bar hit your crotch? no? bike is too small. You need to balance tippy toe to tippy toe but the bar is right up in there? bike is perfect size. can’t do tippy toes while standing over the bike? too big get smaller size.

This is the quick in the store rule for boys. on girl’s bikes the frame center bar generally slopes way downwards to help you get on with dresses and skirts, plus not swing your legs all wide.

buy if you understand the boys way and where, ahem, the bar should be, you can judge pretty quickly on a girls bike if it’s the correct size for you.

Hope my my shows a different way if quickly judging bike sizes regardless of your age or height.

4

This is actually so helpful, do you have any idea why some bikes have a loop in peddle? this scares me if im going down a hill and i wont be able to loop out. Are there any key features i need to think about? its not like a car where i can see mileage usage ha. Is it 5 months old? or 10 years? the jury is out.

5

To help injure yourself easier when you can’t get your feet out in time of course.

You can just change the pedals if you do find a bike that is good but has those.
Also some “road bikes” need some dumb clippy feet thing - avoid those they are irritating.

Bikes last as long as someone is willing to take care of them. Very little to go wrong but not many actually do the maintenance either.

I think at this point your best bet is to pop into a local bike store at ground level to look at all the new stuff, ask questions etc. then go shop for similar used around town, kijiji etc.

Fyi nothing has changed since 20 years ago. Most bikes on craigs/kijiji with super low prices like 20 bucks are stolen. If you don’t care fine, just saying however.

6

This is so helpful, thank you very much, yah im nervous if i was bombing down and hill and wouldnt be able to unlock, thanks again for all of your support and advice!

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