Mountain Bike Dimensions Explained

How are mountain bikes sized.

Mountain bike dimensions explained. Sizes written as decimals such as 2 75 are different than sizes expressed as fractions such as 2 3 4. Mtb sizes are measured in inches or as s m. The sizes you commonly see for mountain bike wheels like 26in 27 5in and 29in all refer to the outside diameter of the wheel with the tire fully inflated. A hybrid of road and mountain tires cyclocross tires are labeled as 700c and have widths indicated in millimeters like road bikes yet are knobbie like mountain bike tires.

Once you ve identified your tire diameter 29 27 5 or 26 you ll want to dial in your width. Trail and all mountain bikes will have tires in the 2 25 to 2 4 width range. What mountain bike frame size should i ride. For the most part bike frame size is the only thing that changes when you go between sizes things like wheel size suspension and relative geometry number remain the same.

Mountain bike tire size and width. A third type of tire size might appear on either a mountain or a road tire. When looking at mountain bike sizes you will first be presented with the frame sizes. Read the size carefully.

This is the angle of the seat tube relative to the ground. Mtb s are engineered for off road riding. Seb s been riding and racing mountain bikes for half his life. Frame size is based on the frame s seat tube.

The point is don t fret if a bike shop employee takes a laid back approach to sizing your mountain bike. Most mountain bike manufacturers use classic small medium large sizing. A cross country bike will have tires in the 1 9 to 2 25 width range. 700x25c indicates a tire with a 700mm outer diameter and a 25mm width.

The frame size is so important that bikes are labeled just by this size. A tire size you might see on a road bike. A tire size you might see on a mountain bike. How mountain bikes are sized.

First consider what kind of bike you want sizing varies greatly between road and mountain bikes as well as between men s and women s models and even between. Mountain bike sizing guide. Traditionally they come with a 26 wheel but more recently we ve seen the launch of 29 and 27 5 650b wheeled bikes. Since getting hooked on mountain bikes aged thirteen riding a tiny 24seven crosser he s raced downhill enduro and cross country.

29 x 2 3 indicates a tire with a 29 outer diameter and a 2 3 width. As the name suggests actual seat angle refers to the lay back of the seat post but on modern suspension bikes this is complicated by the seat tube starting forward of the. These new sizes offer more speed and are generally better at soaking up the bumps.