Fit; Standover Height; Diamond Frame Bicycles; Step-Through Frame Bicycles - Flash FLASHV1 User Manual

3. Fit

NOTE: Correct fit is an essential element of bicycling
safety, performance and comfort. Making the adjustments
to your bicycle which result in correct fit for your body and
riding conditions requires experience, skill and special
tools. Always have your dealer make the adjustments on
your bicycle; or, if you have the experience, skill and tools,
have your dealer check your work before riding.
WARNING: If your bicycle does not fit properly, you may
lose control and fall. If your new bike doesn't fit, ask your
dealer to exchange it before you ride it.
A. Standover height

1. Diamond frame bicycles

Standover height is the basic element of bike fit (see ). It
is the distance from the ground to the top of the bicycle's
frame at that point where your crotch is when straddling the
bike. To check for correct standover height, straddle the bike
while wearing the kind of shoes in which
you'll be riding, and bounce vigorously on your heels. If your
crotch touches the frame, the bike is too big for you. Don't
even ride the bike around the block. A bike which you ride
only on paved surfaces and never take off-road should give
you a minimum standover height clearance of two inches (5
cm). A bike that you'll ride on unpaved surfaces should give
you a minimum of three inches (7.5 cm) of standover height
clearance. And a bike that you'll use off road should give you
four inches (10 cm) or more of clearance.

2. Step-through frame bicycles

Standover height does not apply to bicycles with step-
through frames. Instead, the limiting dimension is determined
by saddle height range. You must be able to adjust your
saddle position as described in B without exceeding the
limits set by the height of the top of the seat tube and the
"Minimum Insertion" or "Maximum Extension" mark on the
seatpost.
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