How you find a bicycle that fits you correctly depends on whether you are an adult or a child. Adult bike sizes refer to the size of the frame, and the standard wheel size on an adult bike is 26 inches in the United States, explains the International Bicycle Fund. Wheel size is the diameter or your rim plus twice the width of your tire.
Step 1
Tell your child to stand straight with her feet slightly apart.
Step 2
Place one end of your tape measure on the inside of your child's leg, just below the crotch.
Step 3
Pull the tape measure's other end down to just below your child's ankle.
Step 4
Read the measurement for the length of your child's inseam.
Step 5
Compare the measurement to the following chart to determine the correct size bicycle wheel. A child with an inseam of 14 to 17 inches should have a 12-inch wheel, a 16- to 20-inch inseam fits a 14-inch wheel, 18- to 22-inch inseam fits a 16-inch wheel, 22- to 25-inch inseam fits a 20-inch wheel and 24- to 28-inch inseam fits a 24-inch wheel.
Tips and Warnings
- Racing bikes and European adult bikes normally use 27 inch wheels instead of 26 inch wheels that are standard in most United States adult bicycle models. Measuring bike wheels involves just determining the wheels total size. Sizing a wheel means determining the best wheel size for someone's height.
Things You'll Need
- Soft tape measure
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