Fitting for a new bike
 

I am short... 5'2" and 3/4 to be exact..... I am new to the bike world and I am looking for some advice on how to best fit a bike. Essentially, I can get on both the small and extra small frame of the bike that I am looking into buying. On both bikes I have a good reach/extention on the pedals... how should it feel when your knees come up? I have been told that I should never exceed a 90 degree angle, but it seems that I am on both bikes??? Any advice??

What type of bike / biking? Mountain? Road? I know for mountain bikes you want more standover clearance. It would depend on you proportions too (long legs, short torso or ???). Perhaps post your inseam for the bike gurus?

I just got into cycling again (I just broke 100 miles total on the new bike :beer: ) and I have my seat about 1.5" - 2" higher than when I bought the bike (with a taller saddle now and I used the same method to set the seat height both times).

I am 5'2" on a good day, and I have the Trek 4300 in a 14.5 frame. However I recently got a tandem (Trek T900) to use with my son, and my half is an 18" frame. I can barely standover it, but I enjoy riding it (makes the mountain bike seem cramped) and feel confident I can control it.

I don't know about the knee angle, as I am still learning what feels good to me. (The handlebars are now at the same height as the saddle, new experience for me). But if your knees are in your chest something is probably wrong.

You would not try to find out your shoe size by asking strangers on the internet...you would go to Nordstroms and get your feet measured. Bikes work the same way. Visit the three or four bike shops closest to your home. Tell them about how you intend to use a bike and your price range. Listen to what they have to say, and then buy from the shop that does the best job of listening and responding to your needs.

+1

Different bikes fit in different ways. I have 56cm, 58cm, 59cm, 60cm, and 62cm bikes, all fit me just fine due to the different geometry of each frame. You need to try some bikes and see what fits your body best; there is no 'one size' for you.