Fitting your road bike (part 3) (also touring, hybrid, commuter, city) bike shop Ontario California

We have been posting a blog series on how to adjust for fit on various types of bikes. For part three of our series on road bike fit, we will talk about stem adjustments. 

Confused about bike parts and fit?
Come see the experts at Bumsteads bike shop in Ontario, CA

We are talking about road bikes in this series. We already covered selecting the right frame size, checking standover height, and adjusting the height and position of your seat. 

The length and angle of your bike's stem determine how far you will reach and bend your waist in order to reach the handlebars. If your stem is the wrong length or angle, you can either adjust or replace it. Some bikes' stems are adjustable, but more commonly, you will have to have a bike shop order a correctly fitting stem and install it for you.

When seated on your bike, have someone hold it upright while you check for stem fit. With your hands on the handlebars, your waist should be bent so that your back is at a 45 degree angle. Your neck should feel comfortable when you look forward. Your arms should be gently bent at the elbows to allow for maximum shock absorption, and you should be able to reach your brakes and gears easily.

These guidelines will help you determine the correct classic road bike fit. Many cyclists vary these adjustments for the style of riding they do, or personal preferences. 

Fitting your road bike (part 2) (also touring, hybrid, commuter, city) bike shop Ontario California

This is part of a series from our Ontario bike shop (near Chino Hills) about acheiving proper fit on your road bike.
Selecting the correct frame size is step number one. Our employees are experts in bicycle fit and are happy to assist you with this. Here is a handy sizing guide on About.com: http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/bike_sizing.htm

Once you have selected a good sized bike for yourself, it is time to make adjustments for perfect comfort and performance. When you buy a bike from a quality local retailer, you can expect a professional adjustment. If you are adjusting yourself, here are some tips:

In our last post we discussed selecting for proper standover height. The next thing you want to check is the saddle height and position. Have someone hold your bike steady while you sit on the seat, with your feet on the pedals.
Saddle height: When you are seated on your bike, you want your leg to be almost fully extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke, but not fully extended. If your knees are bent, you should raise your saddle. If you are hyperextending, bring the saddle down a notch. Many bikes have a quick-release lever, making this adjustment quick. For other bikes, you may need a wrench, or you can bring it into a shop for help.
Saddle position: Generally, you want your knee to align directly over the ball of your foot, with your seat parallel to the ground, and your shin angle slightly frontwards.

If you need help with fit, come into our shop. Stay tuned for our next post about stem adjustment on your road bike...

Fitting your road bike part 1 (also touring, hybrid, commuter, city) bike shop Ontario California

As part of our bike shop in Ontario, California's series of bicycle fit guides we've been posting on our blog, we bring you a series on fitting your road bike. Fit guidelines for touring bikes and hybrid, commuter and city bikes are likely to be similar to fit for a road bike. These are loose guidelines. Always make adjustments to fit based on your riding style, preferences, and comfort, if needed. Generally, the road bike guidelines are designed to make your ride more aerodynamic and fast. If you are uncomfortable with the road bike's fit, it is a good idea to come into a local retailer and get help making adjustments and modifications so your bike will work for you.

First, select a bike that fits you. This is done by checking standover height. A quality shop will have experts help you select the right bike, but you can also check standover height yourself. 

Stand straddling the top tube of the bike, in front of the seat. If the top tube goes straight across, you will want about 1" clearance between your crotch and the tube. If the top tube of your bike is sloped, your aim will be 2" of clearance. Wear your cycling shoes when you are checking fit, as they will affect your standover height. 

Check out our shop, including our road bike selection at www.bumsteadbikes.com and stay tuned for our next post describing adjustments to your road bike fit.

Fitting a bike for kids: bike shop Upland

Our Ontario bike shop, near by Upland, just posted about how to select the right size bike for your kid. Today we explain how to adjust this bike for perfect fit.

Of course, kids' size has a tendency to change over time, as parents know. It is good to start with a bike that has a little room for their growth if possible, but kids should never ride an oversized bike as this can be dangerous. 

You can use these guidelines to adjust this bike as your kid gets taller. Ideally, you'll be able to adjust for your child's growth before the bike needs to be replaced. 

First, check standover height by having your child straddle the top bar of the bike. There should be 1-2"  of space between their crotch and the bar. 

Next, adjust seat height. Position the seat so your child can be in a comfortable, upright riding position. Their elbows should be able to slightly bend while their hands are on the grips. Allow a little flex in their knee when at the bottom of a pedal stroke. Knees should not be hyper-extended.

Come into our shop in Ontario for help selecting a quality bike that can safely stand up to your kids' tough riding and give them a little room for growth. 

Kids' bike sizes: bike shop near Chino Hills

Our bike shop near Chino Hills in Ontario has been sharing some of our secrets to great bike fit on our blog. Every style of bike has different fit guidelines. We started with mountain bikes, and today we are going to share how to adjust fit on a kid's bicycle.

Kids’ bikes are sized according to wheel size. You can look for a size according to general age guidelines, but it is their size, not age, that should determine your final selection. Wheel sizes are:

• 14"-  4 to 6 years 
• 16"- 5 to 8 years 
• 18-20"- 7- to 10-years
• 24"- 10 and up

After you find the correct sized bike for your child, you will need to adjust the standover height and seat position to their proportions. Our next post will describe how to do this. 
  

Come into our shop in Ontario for help selecting a quality bike that can safely stand up to your kids' tough riding and give them a little room for growth. 

How to fit a mountain bike (part 2)

One of the reasons to purchase your bike from a quality local bike shop like ours near Chino Hills, is that we know how to help you find the right bike, and adjust it to fit you perfectly  Having a bike that fits you properly is very important for getting the maximum fitness, performance, and comfort in your riding experience.
This is part 2 of our tips on fitting a mountain bike.  Individual riders may have different preferences according to the type of riding they do, but these are general guidelines. (Steps 1 and 2 are in our previous post)
3. Saddle height: When seated, your legs should be slightly bent at the bottom of a pedal stroke. If you can put both feet flat on the ground while seated, you should raise the seat.
4. Stem: Have someone hold the bike steady while you sit on the seat. If your arms are reaching, with elbows locked, you need to adjust the stem, or may need to have a bike shop replace your stem with one that has the right length and angle for your body.
5. Saddle position: Your saddle should be parallel to the ground, and your knee should be over the ball of your foot. When you pedal, your shin should be angled slightly forward.

Come into our shop, we would love to help you get the perfect fitting mountain bike. 

How to fit a mountain bike (part 1)

One of the reasons to purchase your bike from a quality local bike shop like ours in Ontario, is that we can help you find the right sized bike, and adjust it to fit you perfectly. Having a bike that fits you properly is very important for getting the maximum fitness, performance, and comfort in your riding experience.
Here are a few tips for how to find a mountain bike that fits you. These are general guidelines. Individual riders may have different preferences according to the type of riding they do.
1. Standover height: Straddling the top tube, lift the bike. On a hard tail, you should have at least 2” between the tires and the ground. Some mountain bikers prefer up to 5” of clearance. On a full suspension bike, 1” may be enough, as the height will be compressed when you are seated.
2. Reach: When seated, with your hands on the handlebars, you should have a relaxed, slight bend in your elbows.
See our next post for other aspects of fitting your mountain bike. Any time you purchase a bicycle from our shop, we are available to fit the bike for you.