Cycling is a form of physical activity that most anyone can enjoy. That is as long as the bike you’re riding is fit to you. Now most people just hope on a bike and as long as their feet can reach the pedals they think it’s ok. But knowing about road bike sizing and having a bike fit you is far more important than most people think.

The truth is if you’re not comfortable on a bike, you won't ride. Not only that but if the bike doesn’t fit you, you will exert a lot more energy while you’re riding then you need to. Some people try to make the answer to fitting a bike simple and use some general rules to determine a bikes fit, and there are some general guidelines. But they are just ballpark at best. These forms that people use are good for determining what size frame you should buy but that doesn’t fit the bike to you, your body or your usage.

Buying the right size frame for your bike isn’t all that difficult. For example, a 54 cm frame means that the distance between the center of the bike petal bearings (or the bottom bracket) to the top of the seat tube is 54 centimeters. According to the chart this size of frame usually fits a person 5’4" to 5’9" tall. Road bikes are typically built in 1 cm increments giving the buyer a fairly wide range of sizes to choose from.

But buying a bike like that doesn’t mean it is fit to you all it means is that generally speaking that size frame fit those heights of people. While with road bike all companies tend to use a common wheel size 700 c these same companies tend to complicate matters as they often use different geometries which position the rider slightly differently which tends to fit one person better than another. They do this because they feel the geometry they prefer gives their riders an advantage.

But having the right size frame is only the start. Next you need to have the seat and handlebars adjusted to the right height to suit you. Years of cycling design and experience has gone into adjusting bikes to each individual rider to ensure them a comfortable ride along with proper handling properties. Not only do they need to be set to the right height but also the right distance from each other. Some people have a longer reach than others and the position of the seat front to back can make a big difference in how much power your legs can produce over a period of time.

Some people go as far as going to a special shop where a computer is used to help fine tune a bike to the rider. Though this is not necessary for the average rider it still may take a few rides and several adjustments to get your new bike set up specifically to you.

The fit of the bike should be one of the main considerations when you buy a new bike. The truth is even an extremely expensive bike won't feel that great if it is too big or small or is not specifically fit to you.

Road bike sizing is a bigger deal than you might think. So when buying a new bike make sure you get a bike with the right size frame and have it fit to you properly. This will give you maximum comfort and minimize your effort so you can truly enjoy your rides.