How to Do a Bike Fit Yourself

If you’re new to cycling, or if you’ve never had a professional bike fitting before, you might be wondering how you can ensure that your bike is the right size and set up for optimal comfort and performance.

Luckily, there are a few easy things that you can do at home to get a great fit. In this blog post, we’ll share tips on how to do a bike fit yourself.

1. Start by measuring your inseam. This is the distance from your crotch to the ground. You can do this by standing against a wall with your shoes off and placing a book between your legs so that it’s flush against your crotch. Once the book is in place, use a measuring tape to measure the distance from the top of the book to the ground.
2. Next, use a tape measure to determine the length of your torso. This is the distance from your sternum (breastbone) to your waist.
3. Once you have these measurements, you can consult a sizing chart to determine what size frame will be best for you.
4. However, keep in mind that there is some variation between brands, so it’s always best to try out a few different bikes before making your final decision.
5. Once you’ve found the right-sized frame, it’s time to start adjusting the saddle height. To do this, place your heel on the pedal at its lowest point and extend your leg so that your knee is slightly bent (around 25 degrees).
6. The saddle should be adjusted so that when your leg is extended, there is only a slight bend in your knee—you should not be stretching too far to reach the pedal or pedaling with your knee bent too much.
7. If you’re unsure of where to set the saddle height, start with it slightly higher than where you think it should be—you can always lower it later if needed—and then readjust as necessary after taking some test rides.
8. Another important factor in achieving proper bike fit is ensuring that the handlebars are at the right height relative to the saddle. To do this, first, sit on the saddle and place your hands on the handlebars in their natural position (i.e., not stretched too high or low).
9. Once you’ve found comfortable handlebar positioning, use a tape measure or ruler to determine how far away the handlebars are from the ground—they should be approximately level with the saddle.
10. If they’re not already, adjust the handlebars until they are level with (or just slightly below) the saddle. By following these tips, you should be able to get a great bike fit without having to go to a professional. Just remember to take your time and make adjustments gradually so that you don’t end up making big changes all at once. Adjusting one thing—like saddle height—can impact other areas (like handlebar positioning), so it’s important to make small tweaks until everything feels just right. Good luck!

Conclusion

By following these tips, you should be able to get a great bike fit without having to go to a professional. Just remember to take your time and make adjustments gradually so that you don’t end up making big changes all at once.

Adjusting one thing—like saddle height—can impact other areas (like handlebar positioning), so it’s important to make small tweaks until everything feels just right. Good luck!