You must ensure that you are riding a bike of the right size. Here are
some guidelines that are important so that you are able to get on and
off your bike safely, ride it comfortably and use all its features.
Stand over the bike, in front of the saddle. Depending on what you are
using your bike for, you should maintain a different minimum distance
between the frame and your body.
Use on asphalted surfaces: 5 cm clearance
Use on non-asphalted surfaces: 7.5 cm clearance
Use on unpaved terrain: 10 cm clearance
For the frames of women's bikes, you should simply imagine a top
crossbar. Even if you are able to stand over the frame, bikes are longer
the taller they are. To determine the size of your bike, you can start
with the wheels, but that is only a rough guide. You need to make sure
that the rider can reach the handlebar and operate the brake levers (if
any) with the elbows slightly bent.
The saddle height is adjustable, allowing each bike to be adjusted to
the rider. Attention should be paid to the distance from foot to pedal,
NOT from foot to ground. Your knee should be almost fully extended
when the pedal is in the lowest position. Although you may not be able
to reach the ground from this position, you can simply slide forward
off the saddle to get on or off. It is much more difficult to ride with a
lower saddle position as your legs are then in an unnatural position.
Younger riders should usually be able to reach the ground from the
seated position, as this gives them a sense of security. This can be adjusted as they become more confident in using the bike. If the saddle is too high and the
knees are fully extended when the pedal is in the lowest position, or if the pedals cannot be reached, the bike cannot be steered properly, making riding
dangerous.
