Step-by-Step Guide
What you’ll need:
- Tape measure (at least 36 inches/90 cm long)
- Pen and paper
- STP series inseam guide (see below)
STEP 1:
- Have your rider stand with their back and heels against the wall. Make sure their legs are straight.
STEP 2:
- Using their fingtertip, ask the rider to find their hipbone. Have them hold their finger on that spot.
STEP 3:
- Have the rider lift their knee to a 90-degree angle, while maintaining a finger on their hip joint. Slowly and repeatedly have them lift and lower their knee to confirm the location of their hip joint; this is the pivot location.
STEP 4:
- Once the spot is confirmed, have the rider place their finger on the pivot location, and lower their leg to the straight position.
STEP 5:
- Take the tape measure and measure from the middle of the rider’s foot, up to their fingertip. Write this number down.
STEP 6:
- Use the Guide (Below) to find the right size bike for your rider!
Kids' Bike Fit Seat Height and Reach Guide
Once you’ve figured out the right size bike for your young rider, you’ll want to adjust the seat height so they can feel confident getting on and off the bike and also feel safe while riding. You’ll also want to adjust the reach to the handlebars to put the rider in a good position.
Seat Height
(for New Riders)
The seat should be set low enough so the rider can rest their feet flat on the ground when they’re seated on the saddle.
This makes getting on and off the bike much easier and also gives them confidence that they can easily reach the ground if they need to. This is a great technique to use if the child is sizing up to a bigger bike to get them used to the new size.
Seat Height
(for Experienced Riders)
If a child has been riding for a while, or is used to their new bike at this point, the seat height can be adjusted higher to make pedaling easier and more efficient. A good place to start is to adjust the seat height so that when they are sitting on the saddle, they can still touch the ground with their toes.
Make sure you check that the seat post is NOT extended beyond the minimum insertion mark. If you see the minimum insertion line on the seat post sticking out of the bike, they may be on a bike that is too small for them. This is a safety issue.
Handlebar Reach
The proper reach will put the rider in a position so that their upper body leans forward slightly. They should be able to comfortably hold their head up and rotate it for good visibility.
The rider's elbows should be slightly bent to allow for a natural wrist position, good shock absorption, and full steering range.
A good way to help your rider find the right bar distance is to have them sit on their bicycle, close their eyes, hold their arms straight up - and then let them drop forward. Their fingertips should just touch the bars.
Proper Fit vs. Improper Fit
