How to choose the diameter of the wheels of a bicycle by height?

A bicycle is not a purchase that you can choose to choose after your sleeves. The only inconsistency of any of its parameters can turn this vehicle from a sports apparatus or relatively comfortable vehicle into a real tormentor. Each trip on it will be full of discomfort and not the most pleasant associations associated with overwork, and in some cases even with aching and dull pain.

The radius of the wheel is greater than the length of the spoke - this is an imaginary line from the center of the hub to the edge of the rim. But as the initial data, the diameter of the rim is often indicated - the distance from edge to edge (two opposite points on its circumference).

The following classification will help determine which bike a child or adult will need.

The next parameter is the size of the frame or the length of the “seatpost” that is part of the frame (without an internal seatpost). Do not want to procrastinate due to the study of other characteristics of the bike and delve into the scatter of their parameters - use the selection of the size of the bike mount according to the growth data.

Finally, to generalize, to connect all these characteristics into a single equation, it is customary to use the following values ​​for universal and purely urban bikes.

The size is 17-24 inches. You can, of course, take as a basis the average statistical growth of people and the maximum size, while ultimately lowering the saddle. But the upper tube of the bike loop, if it’s not a female model with lowered crossbars and not a folding bike “for everyone”, will make it difficult to sit down - especially for people with not quite trained stretching.

The dependence of the size and diameter of the wheels of the bicycle on the growth and build is given for a reason. Perfectly balanced user height and weight with wheel diameter and frame size allow it’s better to drive a bicycle, better control the situation on the road and avoid accidents and falls on steeper and slippery corners.

It affects the diameter of the wheels on the roll, acceleration, patency in bad roads. The larger the wheel, the easier and faster it moves over potholes and cracks in the asphalt, pebbles and gravel poured along the railroad tracks. On a flat road (streets, highways) with large wheels, maintaining a high speed is much easier - there is no need to pedal with an overestimated frequency. But such wheels are clumsy compared to their smaller counterparts. It’s more difficult to enter a lift without shifting into a lower gear with larger diameter wheels.

To simplify the classification and choice of a bike with a specific wheel diameter, remember their assessment of suitability in real situations, consisting of the following.

• 20 inch Suitable for children's bikes with the growth of a child (or teenager) from 120 to 140 cm. The weight of a rider is up to 40 kg. The bike is equipped with a folding hinge with a latch mounted on the frame. The age of the child is 5-10 years.
• 24 inches Suitable for adolescents and adults in height of 140-170 cm and weighing up to 70 kg. Available: adjustment of the lift and saddle lift, on-folding mechanism. Appointment - for streets and highways, lanes with a relatively even surface.

26 inches will fit for high speed. Many of them are equipped with 12-18 speeds. The rider's height is 160-185 cm, these bicycles can withstand a person's weight of 90 kg.

• Bikes with wheels 27.5 inches, the height of the rider - up to 165 cm, weight - 95 kg. Single-speed city bikes and multi-speed universal models are common. In addition to a wide selection of speeds, there are also female models with a reduced upper oil pipe.
• 28 inch - these bikes are designed for people of the highest (from 175 cm) height, they are easy to choose according to the size of the frame. Hybrid, travel, and highway models with this rim size are common.
• Finally, bikes with 29 inch wheels - mostly urban, highway and hybrid. They will be appreciated by people of the largest growth category. Their purpose is racing, bike trips and bike trips, as well as trips around the city and the region.

As a result, an adult is unlikely to ride a bicycle with a wheel diameter of less than 24 inches - with the exception of special cases:

• not the biggest growth (for example, up to 175 cm);
• the bike is folding and belongs to one of the well-known brands of the company, the purpose of which is to specialize in ultra-compact folding models that easily pass into the train or bus.

Similarly, a student is unlikely to immediately be able to sit on a men's bike with 28 or 29 inch wheels, where the frame has a decent size. The exception will be people who have inherited a large increase in inheritance from their ancestors, and at the age of 14-15 they reach, for example, 180-185 cm. A typical, not too “openwork” model of a bicycle for men is already suitable for this.

In order not to buy the “wrong” bike, before choosing a size and wheel diameter, decide in advance where you will ride more often: in a mountainous city or region - or your “area” is not full of ups and downs.For residents, for example, the republics of the North Caucasus and the regions of the Urals, Eastern Siberia and the Far East, the choice is obvious - in favor of the “miner” with ten or more speeds. A similar option will attract tourists who decide to travel around Russia. Otherwise, a Citibike with 1-7 speeds is your optimal solution.

Invalid choice of bike for children “overgrowth”. Excessive size will cause difficulties with the development of proper posture in the child. The seat must be adjusted so that when pedaling, the legs straighten completely. Otherwise, maybe the size of the bike mount is not suitable for you. When turning the pedals, the knees should not touch the frame or devices hanging on it (for example, an oil bag).

The more thorough and comprehensive the approach to choosing the “right” bike in each case, the lesser the load on the knees, arms and spine as a result. The goal is to choose a bicycle model on which to drive large, tens or hundreds of kilometers a day, distances are not a problem for a more or less trained person.

For how to choose the diameter of the wheels of a bicycle by height, see the next video.