One problem that people have is that they are sometimes measured wrong for the bike and end up having one that's too big or one that's too small which can end up hindering your riding enjoyment. In case you are not sure there are methods you can use to see if you are using the correct size with your bike.
Standover height
When you check the fitting yourself, the first thing you want to check is the inseam clearance, or the
standover height. You want to have plenty of room between yourself and the top tube when you come to a stop. There should be around four to six inches of clearance from the top of your inseam to the top of the top tube.
Leg and feet position
There's a nifty formula for determining the leg position for riding a mountain bike. When riding
a mountain bike, the terrain constantly changes, raising you off the seat constantly, sometimes just
slightly, other times completely off.
Therefore, you'll need to sit your saddle slightly lower than you would on any other type of bike.
Be sure you take this slightly lower seat height position into effect when you factor the size of
the frame.
Riding compartment
The next thing you'll want to check is the rider compartment layout (the distance between the saddle
and the handlebars). Once the proper leg extension has been determined, be sure the handlebar is one
to two inches below the height of the saddle. You should never have the handlebars higher than the
seat, unless there is some type of upper body problem.
Dual suspension bikes
With suspension being at both ends, you'll want your weight more in the middle of the bike so that
your weight is distributed evenly between the front and rear suspension units, thus allowing the front
and rear suspension to work as a unit.
This can be done quite easily by using either a higher or shorter stem to raise the hand height, which will in turn move the upper body up and the weight towards the rear. The increase in rise shouldn't be no more than two inches, then the decrease in reach shouldn't be any more than two inches.
Test ride
Once you have taken all of these steps into account, go out and test drive the bike. Make sure you
wear a helmet, even if you are going to be testing for a brief period of time. Be sure that the tires
are set to the right pressure, and the shop has adjusted the bike for you properly.
You should have a shop employee observe your body position and ride height while riding, to determine is any further adjustments need to be made. Ride the bike around for a bit to get used to its
handling and new equipment. Start off slowly, then give the bike a bit of time to present its personality.
After a few minutes, you might notice that something isn't working correctly or just doesn't feel right
in general. If this happens, go back to the shop and have the problem corrected before you rule out
the bike.
The more you ride bikes, the easier it will be to tell the difference in the ride types. Keep in mind, it may take months and even years to appreciate the way a bike handles. Talk to those who ride, and
ask them if they ride the bikes they sell. This way, you'll learn more about the mountain bikes you
love so much!
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