Q : What size of bike fits me best?

A: Most people can safely ride several sizes of the same model of bike, so choosing the best should become a personal decision. Correct fit is important to your cycling satisfaction ­ that's why we offer so many frame sizes. Along with different frame sizes, we also change other fit considerations, like handlebar width, toe clip length, or crank length. To help you decide which frame size will be best for you, we've outlined a few considerations here:

Standover height -- this is the measurement from the ground to the top of the top tube, measured at the middle of the top tube's length. Since this affects the clearance you'll have when dismounting your bike, it's important that there be a minimum of one inch between you and the top tube, on any bike. For off road bikes, you may want more clearance since you may find yourself getting off the bike in uneven terrain (depending on bike size and body proportions, this can be as much as six inches or even more).

Top tube -- the distance from the handlebars to the seat does not allow a lot of adjustment compared to changing the seat height, so this is the next most important consideration. A more bent-over posture will allow better handling of the bike, be more aerodynamic for increased efficiency, and it will allow you to use larger muscle groups in your legs for more power. Generally, however, your comfort is the most important factor. After riding for awhile your body will adapt to a cycling posture, so keep this in mind.

Head tube length -- this, along with the stem adjustment, determines the height of the handlebars. But since there is a limited amount of stem height adjustment available, check to make sure the handlebars can be placed where you want them.

Seat tube length -- it's ironic that our last frame size consideration is the seat tube, because this is the dimension we use to describe the bike's size. But as bike design has changed over the years, this is a less important measurement than it used to be. This is because older bikes only had seatposts in the six inch range, while newer bikes come standard with seatposts as long as fourteen inches. These longer seatposts allow a lot more adjustment for leg length, making the seat tube length less important.