Road Bike Fit and Set Up

Fitting a road bike

Having a correctly fitted bike makes a huge difference. Without one a normal ride can turn in to an uncomfortable painful experience that can lead to injury. Never buy a new bike without first getting one correctly fitted and trying it out on a test ride. Below are some of the basics you should look out for when looking at a new bike however be aware that there are an ever increasing variety of frame geometries out there so be sure to test out any potential new rides before purchase.

Frame Size

Your first port of call to finding a correctly fitting bike should be tto select the correct frame size. If you select the wrong frame size you may not be able to adjust the other components (handlebars, seat etc) enough to find the fit that works for you. The best way is to stand over the frame with the bike between your legs - ideally there should be a gap between the horizontal top tube and your crotch of about 5cm.

Seat Height and angle

When adjusting your seat height the best approach is to sit on the bike. When you pedal is at the bottom of the pedal stoke you leg should be very slightly bent. If your leg is too low and you leg very bent you may lead you towards knee problems. At worst you'll pace too much stress on your quads causing you to run out of power too quickly. If you're unable to get the seat height right it means your on the wrong bike, go back a stage and choose a different frame size.

Be careful not too set you seat to high. Most seat tubes will have a maximum height marker - be sure not exceed this.

Never tilt your seat forward as this will make you put too much pressure on your arms and hands. Ideally the saddle should be level or even slightly raised at the front. It is important to remember that when you first start riding a new bike it can take several rides before you get used to a saddle so resist temptation to rush out and replace it if it leaves you sore after your first ride.

Handle bars

The golden rule with handlebars is that they should be at least as high as you saddle. If not you'll be riding leaning forward/down which can be dangerous both in terms of balance and visibility. The rest is down to comfort. Most handle bars can be raised however as with raising your seat be sure not to raise them above the recommended height indicated on the stem.