Elements of Fit

Primary Elements

If you are ever sad enough to look at the bike reviews in Cycling Weekly or Cycling Plus you’ll know that there are a multitude of measurements and dimensions that can be used to describe the shape and size of a bicycle. On the other hand bike shops, catalogues and advertisers seem to think that they can do it with just one. In fact there are four basic dimensions that determine the fit of a bike.

Saddle height

The distance between the bottom bracket axle and the top of the middle of the saddle.

Saddle setback

The horizontal distance between the saddle and the vertical plane of the bottom bracket axle

Reach

The distance between the saddle and the centre of the handlebars.

Crank Length

This is a slightly strange one as there is very little consensus on crank length - and not a tremendous amount of choice. The vast majority of cranks happen to be 170mm long. These are fine for almost everyone. The other reasonably readily available lengths are 165, 172.5 and 175. For anything else you have to pay a lot of money. I actually think that tall (or rather, long legged) people are disadvantaged by this.