Suggested Frame Sizes by Rider Height - Cutlass, Ruben, Wander

 

Suggested Frame Sizes by Rider Height - Slot

 

Standover Height

Another quick way to determine frame size is standover height. Standover height is just what it implies – you put your leg over the bike frame with the shoes you intend to ride in, and stand flat-footed on the floor.  If the bike has a flat top tube (the tube is the same height at the handlebar end as at the saddle end), you should have an inch or two of clearance between your body and the tube; if the top tube is sloping (lower at the saddle end) 3 to 4 inches clearance is a good starting point. This is a rough method of determining frame size and ensures you’ll be able to stand comfortably with both feet on the ground while waiting in traffic. Standover height doesn’t accurately measure the distance between the saddle and the pedals - you'll need to determine this by trial-and-error, previous experience, or by making a calculation based on your inseam measurement.

Inseam Measurement

To measure your inseam, stand flat footed with shoes off and put a carpenter’s level between your legs.  Pull the level up firmly enough to approximate the pressure of your weight when riding, making sure it’s parallel to the ground. Have a friend measure the distance from the top of the level to the ground, and write down the number. It’s normally more convenient to use centimeters, as that’s the standard within the bike industry. PS, wear bike shorts or underwear when you do this; if you measure while wearing jeans the seams will interfere with the measurement.

A common method (there are others) of figuring out your saddle height is the Lemond Method (from Greg Lemond’s Complete Book of Cycling). Measure your inseam as described above and multiply that number by .833 to get the distance from the top of your saddle to the center of the bottom bracket. Keep in mind that this recommendation is for experienced cyclists, so if you are new to cycling you may want to begin with your saddle a centimeter or two lower and raise if gradually as you get used to the bike. (On most bikes you can adjust the saddle height by loosening the bolt holding the seatpost with a 4 mm or 5 mm allen key)