Ten Considerations in Fitting Your Bike in .NET

Painting QR Code JIS X 0510 in .NET Ten Considerations in Fitting Your Bike

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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

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

The crank arm determines the circumference in which the pedals rotate The larger the crank arm, the larger the circumference in which you ll be pedaling A longer crank arm gives you more leverage when you pedal Riding with a longer crank arm is kind of like being in a lower gear, an important benefit if you re doing a lot of climbing On the other hand, a shorter crank arm comes in handy if you pedal at a high cadence (for example, if you re racing) With longer crank arms it s important to make sure the bottom bracket has enough clearance If you buy a bike with a crank arm that s too long, the crank arm may hit the ground when you re cornering Your height will impact the length of the crank arm you chose In most cases, taller bikers should have longer crank arms, and shorter bikers should have shorter crank arms A number of different crank arm lengths are available It s common to see lengths of 165mm to 180mm in 25mm increments, with the most common lengths being 170mm and 1725mm If you re in the NBA, you ll be glad to know that a few manufacturers will sell you a crank of 185mm or more Work with your local bike store to find the crank the best suits you

Choosing the appropriate gearing may not be fitting a bike in the traditional sense, but it is an important factor in how well a bike fits the way you ride By selecting a bike with the gearing that meets your fitness levels, how you pedal, and the terrain on which you ride, you can make a significant and positive impact on your riding experience Most newer bikes have seven to ten cogs in the rear and two to three chainrings in the front Multiply these two numbers together and you have the total number of gears for your bike If you re in shape and you don t do a lot of climbing, you re probably fine with seven to eight cogs and two chainrings Some riders like to have a third chainring in case a climb is necessary or fatigue sets in at the end of a long ride (though that third chainring does add extra weight and three chainrings won t shift as effortlessly as two); third chainrings are also useful for mountain biking and touring If you re planning on doing a lot of mountain biking or touring, talk to your local bike shop to make sure you have the right gearing They can give you advice not just about the total number of gears but about the size of the individual cogs and chainrings, important factors in gearing (For a more detailed discussion of gearing, turn to 2)