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4. FIT AND SAFETY
4.1. Fit
Make sure the bike fits. A bike that's too big or too small for the rider
is harder to control and can be uncomfortable.
WARNING:
If your bicycle does not fit properly, you may lose control
and fall. If your new bike doesn't fit, ask your dealer to exchange it
before you ride it.
4.1.1. Frame size
Your dealer will have recommended the best frame size for you,
based on the information provided. If you picked your own bike at the
dealership, your dealer took the time to fit you to the correct frame
size at the time. If someone else selected the bike for you, as a gift,
for example, it's important for you to make sure that it fits before you
ride it.
The first check for correct size is standover height. Standover height
is the basic element of bike fit. It is the distance from the ground to
the top of the top tube at that point where your crotch would be if you
were straddling the bike by standing half way between the saddle
and the handlebar stem. To check for safe standover height, straddle
the bike while wearing the kind of shoes in which you'll be riding, and
bounce vigorously on your heels. If your crotch touches the frame,
the bike is too big for you.
Don't even ride the bike around the block. A bike that you ride only
on paved surfaces and never, ever take off-road, should give you a
minimum standover height clearance of one to two inches. A bike
that you'll ride on unpaved surfaces should give you a minimum of
three inches of standover height clearance. A bike that you'll use for
real mountain biking on difficult, rough terrain should give you four or
more inches of clearance.
4.1.2. Saddle position
Correct saddle adjustment is an important factor in getting the most
performance and comfort from your bicycle. Your dealer will have
positioned the saddle where experience tells him most people find it
comfortable. If you find the saddle position is not comfortable, return
to your Authorized Dealer for assistance or, make the adjustments
yourself.
