...frame since he is 14. Is this right? He is 5'6" and still growing and I'm thinking we'd be better off buying a 19 inch frame so I won't have to buy him another bike when he is full grown, which could be in a couple years. The salesperson said he is a little short for a 19 inch frame now and could get hurt on it if he falls. Is this true?
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My son wants a Trek 3700 bike. The bike shop owner thinks he needs an 18"...
- Thread starter Lisa
- Start date
imported_AntDU
New member
19" is way to big. I am 5'10" and ride a 17.5" and it is good for people who are as tall as 6' .
Go with the bike shop owner. He is correct.
Go with the bike shop owner. He is correct.
Anomaly 17
New member
It's more likely that a too big frame will cause 1). Discomfort due to having to lean too far forward to grasp the handlebars (such as back, neck, and shoulder pain, numbness in the hands, and compression of the nerve that innervates the genitalia (e.g. numbness) 2). More likelihood of losing control of the bike due to the handlebars being too far away to steer precisely.
Believe it or not, one inch on a bike can translate into several inches difference in reach from the seat to the handlebars. For example, I just bought a woman specific bike in 53cm after trying a 54 cm men's bike first. We measured the difference in reach between the two and it was close to two inches, which is a lot!
Also, down the road when he grows a few more inches, you can put a longer stem on the bike and raise the seat up a bit, and he'll be fine. If he grows another 4 or 5, then he would really need a bigger bike overall. So, stick with the smaller frame for now and he'll be much safer and comfortable.
Believe it or not, one inch on a bike can translate into several inches difference in reach from the seat to the handlebars. For example, I just bought a woman specific bike in 53cm after trying a 54 cm men's bike first. We measured the difference in reach between the two and it was close to two inches, which is a lot!
Also, down the road when he grows a few more inches, you can put a longer stem on the bike and raise the seat up a bit, and he'll be fine. If he grows another 4 or 5, then he would really need a bigger bike overall. So, stick with the smaller frame for now and he'll be much safer and comfortable.