Are you riding the right size bike? | Bike Geometry Explained

Getting the right size fit on your bike can be challenging, there are a lot of trends out there right now, some are awesome and might not be. I think a hardtail needs to be sized quite differently than a suspension bike and in this video I'll show you why! What do you think? Comment below!

Thank you for the rad illustrations: @maxilla_art

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[scottaw]

As one who constantly alternates between hard and full squish, this makes total sense and aligns with what I’ve felt over the years. Great video and content!

[sixate]

I love riding hardtails, and currently only ride a HT. Never thought of this take on sizing. Great video. And I love their vids on RAD sizing and pretty much everything else they do. I've made fit changes to my bike from watching those vids and has helped me progress past a plateau I think I've been stuck at for a while.

[highlander]

Man. Love your videos. Much appreciated!

I am 46. 6’1 with 35” inseam, and prefer to ride size Large frames. Recently watched Lee’s RAD measurement video. As soon as I was done watching, ran to a park nearby, and did a bench test to see if my bike fits. It is SPOT ON. 😁

[nodrog]

Damn i wish you made this 8 months ago. Cause it now make so much sense why my hardtail feels bigger than my full squish rig even though the geo numbers are the same.

[charliehicks]

Man, I have never seen it explained this way before. Especially where I could understand it. Thanks or the video Jeff.

[jcklondon]

Yup, with the sport's marketing focus on West Coast riding there is a growing gap in reality for East Coast riders. It's being filled by smaller brands, though they're still a bit expensive for average joe.

[mackturtle]

as a dedicated hardtail rider, I appreciate the explanation of he difference. I would have a hard time making a modern bike fit me with the "compact" fit I prefer.

[aaronashear]

Jeff, I'm sure I'm not the only one whom has been saved by this video from choosing a frame size too large (especially when going from full suspension to hardtail). Thanks!!

[chrisallen]

Thanks for the video. Makes total sense. Glad I saw this before purchasing a large hardtail. Now I'll go with the medium. Thanks again TB

[nsalata]

Jeff is such an asset to the sport. Decades of experience behind these insights. It’d be interesting to see a similar analysis for wheelbase (tall guys know about wheelbase) and the relationship between front center and chainstay length.

[redtl]

This explains why my XC HT felt longer than it was! Good thing I bought a L size HT when I'd usually choose an XL. Thank you for the insight. 👍👍

[slimjimever]

This explains why I feel comfortable on a full squish. I’m a small guy 5.5ft almost always ride S in a hardtail. Few months ago I went all out & got Supercaliber in M since I couldn’t find one in S (at least at my price point). But out of surprise the bike fit was perfect even though geometry numbers were waaay out of my reach.

[ajmckay]

Great video. Given how expensive bikes are these days I think it's especially important to consider how well the bike fits you to maximize enjoyment.

[reubenneate]

Can we have a video on Reeb bikes sometime? Like a inside look and maybe an origin story.
For those of us interested in the industry it's pure gold

[fenderbenderspecial]

This was interesting to see! I dilly dallied when purchasing my hardtail last year, so all the large frames were sold out. I ended up with an XL frame. It works, but it has been very hard learning manuals, etc. on it compared to an old large full squish bike. I can get the old bike to the balance point, but not the new one.

[hellojrod]

Thankfully, the Jamis i bought is sized perfectly. I have another hard tail that feels a bit too long and your explanation confirms what i have experienced. Btw, i like twist turns more than speed through the trails. I ride my road bike off i wanted speed. Lol

[padovann]

Feel like a similar effect happens when you setup your front and rear suspension hard or soft. I demo’d a remedy with suspension pumped to the moon and it felt insanely good. Bought one and tailored the pressure to my weight to be supple / correct and it feels slightly small. Have a HT with longish top tube and shortish WB and it feels like the bars are a mile away. This definitely speaks to me. Nice video. Crazy!

[SAMTB]

Great video, really drives home the point that you need to go with the “Feel” of a bike over what a chart says you need. Super helpful!!!

[polkops]

this is the most informative, most down to earth and easy to understand video on the topic out there. thank you.

[Jollytime-ulym]

Great description of the movement of the full-suspension bike!

Regarding hardtails, it is impossible for a hardtail to lengthen when the fork is compressed (using a standard telescoping fork). The lengthening as demonstrated is an illusion. Here is why: the front hub moves toward the rear hub as the fork compresses. In doing so, the headtube angle gets steeper. This pitches the handlebar forward as the wheelbase shortens which makes it appear that the bike is getting longer but the handlebars are on a different plane than the hubs. In order to truly lengthen a hardtail, the headtube angle would have to slacken and the front hub would have to move forward, or away from the rear hub. This happens when you wheelie or manual. So in reality, both hardtails and full suspension bikes shorten as the suspensions are compressed.

Thanks for the great vids!