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| *Vultures Knob>>>Cycling |
I'm only 5'7. can I plant both feet on the ground comfortably on all bikes? |
I'm only 5'7. can I plant both feet on the ground comfortably on all bikes? NO! That is why you are fitted for a frame, they come in different sizes. Unless you are on a BMX bike, you should just barely be able to put your toes on the ground. Having your feet flat on the ground means either the whole frame is too small, or you have the seat way too low. Here's a great article about all aspects of bike fit: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.... Touching the ground has nothing to do with bicycle fit. Effective top-tube length, seat tube angle and head tube length are the measurements you need to know. proper way to size yourself on a bike... stand over the top tube, and there shoud only be about an inch clearance between you and the tube.. all else is adjustable Absolutely not! In fact, on a properly sized bicycle, you will inherently NOT be able to do this. Think about it for just a sec. If you have your saddle height adjusted properly, that will leave your feat off of the ground by a distance roughly proportional to the distance between the ground and one pedal at bottom-dead-center. Can you visualize this? Proper, as in no surgery necessary, bicycle form requires that the bike be pedaled in a manner that leaves the knee as fully extended as possible without actual, full, extension. As such, no matter what you ride, you are still going to have your feet off of the ground relative to the proportion I stated above. Many people desire this condition as they feel intimidated without being able to firmly plant both feet at all times. I suggest getting over this. Or finding a new source of exercise/recreation. First of all, being fearful of safety can be its own safety risk. Panic causes a lot of carnage out there, and if you are not comfortable on a properly adjusted cycle, well you can see how that would be bad; as there is no, "up", from that standpoint. The little lean you need to master will come to you as naturally as riding the bike did in the first place. Trust me. Just work up to it in a safe environment. There are some good suggestions already posted about sizing your bike. Trust in the pro's at the shop to set you up with properly sized equipment. If you are buying sight unseen, say online, then you should work out your sizing needs ahead of time. Bicycles fill a dizzying array of niches these days, and contrary to what people here are already telling you, there are no definitive rules-of-thumb. Measure your inseam. Don't go by clothing sizing, memory or anything else. If you don't own one, go get yourself one of those little yellow 1 yard measuring tapes that seamstresses use. 99 cents at a, well, 99 cent store. And do not do this measurement yourself. Get someone to help you, for accuracy. A, "road bike", should be sized as you've already seen another poster telling you. If you straddle the bicycle, not in the saddle of course, a road-bike frame should leave you with about an inch between the top tube and your crotch. Why? Imagine jumping down out of the saddle in an emergency. Much rather have a little room there, no? Mt. Bikes, Hybrids, and other niche cycles aren't so straight forward. By frame design, usage, and a host of other things, you can end up with a bike that fits well, yet has no applicable sizing rule. Again, use your inseam measurement as a rule of thumb, or a starting point. If you are buying online, or sight unseen, you are kind of on your own. You won't have a starting point from which to work. I hate to advocate doing this, but go to a retail environment that sells the product you want to buy, and do your sizing there. And for Pete's sake buy all your accessories there, don't be a jerk. Furthermore, many of these niche cycles are sold as SM, M, L, XL and so forth. Typically the manufacturer will recommend sizes based upon your height. So sizing this way won't be much of an issue. So the answer to your question is, no. |
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