Size matters, whether it’s for clothes, tools, or even a house. It shouldn’t be surprising that this attribute is also important for a bike. But a 27 inch bike for what size person and what makes a good fit?
27-inch refers to the bicycle’s wheel size, and this is well suited for people who are below 6 feet tall. However, there is more to a bicycle’s dimensions that merits a more detailed explanation.
Let’s go over the important details below.
Bike sizes
Sizing is essential when choosing a bike; however, it is sometimes overlooked because of various reasons. It may not seem to matter much when kids are just learning to ride, but there are risks with prolonged use.
One of the most important aspects of sizing is having the right position when riding. Long-term use of an incorrectly sized bike may lead to problems and injuries.
Among the biggest problems include back pain, wrist pain, and a greater risk of accidents or crashes. A person with an incorrectly sized bike may also have more trouble pedaling, leading to tiring out more easily.
These should be enough to make considering bike sizes worthwhile.
Bike measurement may involve the frame or the wheel. However, it is also important to consider the type of bike, whether it’s a mountain or road bike, as these have different sizes.
Frame size
Frame sizes differ based on the type of bike. Road bike frames are measured using the metric system with the centimeter unit. Smaller frames start at around 47cm and are intended for people around 5 feet tall.
Looking at a bike size chart would show mountain bike frames start at a measurement of over 35cm or around 14 inches. An XXL frame would be around 20 inches and is recommended for taller people.
By referring to size charts, we’ll notice that road bike frame sizes are bigger.
When talking about a 27 inch bicycle, a 27 inch frame bike would not be appropriate for most people.
For road bikes, an XL size frame that measures 62cm or 24.4 inches is recommended for people over 6 feet tall. This means that a 27-inch frame is for people much taller than 6 feet and is probably too big for anyone unless they are well over 7 feet tall.
This leads to the point that 27 bike for what height must refer to the other measured aspect of a bicycle — the wheels.
Wheel size
You’ll often see three sizes for bike wheels at 26, 27.5, and 29 inches. However, there are also standards used, which complicate things.
The well-known standards include the ISO and the ETRTO, and we’ll only cover the 4 common ones below.
- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is probably the most commonly used and measures the wheel diameter in millimeters.
- The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO) uses the size of rims instead, but it also picks millimeters as the measurement.
- The French standard is most commonly used for vintage models. One notable type is the 700c, which belongs to the French standard but is the most common road bike wheel used today.
- The American standard is inch-based and is the common standard for the US.
Let us go back to our earlier question. A 27.5-inch bike wheel is intended for people around 6 feet in height or below. You will also see this option referred to as an ISO 584 or 650B.
Meanwhile, the 29-inch wheel would be better for those above 6 feet tall.
The right frame size will vary as people’s height changes, and the wheel size does contribute to this as well.
This is where the inseam measurement comes in.
Bike Inseam
Inseam size is what needs to be measured when determining the right frame size for a person. This is done by measuring the height of your pelvic bone relative to the floor when at a certain standing position.
The bike wheel size factors into this as well because the inseam size of a bike increases as the wheel size goes up.
Although the process of measuring the inseam seems simple, there are many considerations to be made. This procedure is better left to a professional for better accuracy; but for reference, let’s look at how we can do it ourselves.
- Stand against a wall with feet apart. Take a hardcover book and place it between your legs.
- Measure the distance between the floor and the top of the book; this is your inseam size.
You will be able to see the recommended frame and wheel sizes for you based on this measurement in a bike sizing chart.
While this is more accurate compared to referencing frame sizes and comparing them to your height, a professional evaluation is still preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a 27-inch bike?
A 27-inch bike refers to one with a 27-inch wheel, since a bicycle frame of the same size is too big for practical use.
2. Are 27-inch bikes the same as 700c?
No, they are not the same. They are similar in measurement, but they have a difference, with 27-inch road bike wheels being 8mm bigger in diameter.
Their rim sizes also differ, along with various other details such as load capacity and air pressure. Of these attributes, the 700c has a smaller rim (23 vs 24.8 inches) but higher weight endurance and air pressure.
Conclusion
Now, we know that the question 27 inch bike for what size person refers to the size of the wheels. With this information, we can get a bicycle with the perfect fit, ensuring that we will be able to ride comfortably.
Do you have any experiences with bike sizing that you would like to share? Leave any comments or suggestions you might have in the section below. We would love to hear from you.
Always ride safely.
“I ride my bike to work for years, but is that enough? Our carelessness towards our surroundings has taken a toll on the environment. And now, everyone is responsible for changes; even the most minor contribution is counted. With this hope and spirit, I started with my partner to establish Biketoworkday to help more individuals commute to their work sites on their bikes.”