The effective top tube length is the horizontal distance from the top tube/head tube junction to the seat tube. This measurement has become significant as more and more bikes are designed with sloping top tubes.
How long should my top tube be?
PERFORMANCE ROAD BIKE
| PERFORMANCE ROAD BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame Size | 38cm | 56cm |
| Suggested Rider Height | 4’11”-5’1″ | 5’9″-6’1″ |
| Top-Tube Length, Horizontal | 516mm | 550mm |
| Seat-Tube Length, B-B Center to mid top tube | 340mm | 520mm |
Is bike size top tube length?
Anatomy of the bicycle frame
Seat tube length is often used to denote size, but top tube length is the more important number for establishing the right fit.
How is a bike top tube measured?
The top tube is measured horizontally from the top tube / head tube junction to the seat tube. The measurement is referred to as the ‘effective’ top tube as bikes with a sloping top tube would provide inconsistent information.
Why is top tube length important?
Effective Top Tube (ETT) is a traditional way to measure a bike’s length. … This measurement identifies how long a bike will feel while standing. So Reach measures your cockpit anytime you’re standing and Effective Top Tube measures your cockpit only while seated with your saddle at a specific height.
How does top tube length affect handling?
While the seat tube length doesn’t directly affect the handling of the bike, important measurements for handling and fit, such as reach, must be compared to the seat tube length to define how long the bike is relative to the height of the rider.
How is stack height measured?
Stack measurement. Measure the height of the top part of the head tube from the floor, then the height of the (middle of the) bottom bracket. Subtract the bottom bracket height from the top tube height and that give the frame’s stack.
How is a top tube measured?
What is Top Tube Length?
- Actual (Center-Center): Measured along the length of the top tube from the center of the seat tube to the center of the head tube. …
- Effective (HT Top): The length of an “imaginary” level tube extending from the center of the seat tube axis to the top of the head tube.
What top tube length do I need BMX?
BMX Frame Sizing
| Rider Height | Rider Age (Avg.) | Top Tube Length |
|---|---|---|
| 4′ 5″ to 5′ 2″ | 10 to 13 | 19″ to 19.5″ |
| 4′ 8″ to 5′ 5″ | 10 to 13 | 19.5″ to 20″ |
| 5′ 6″ to 5′ 10″ | 13 & over | 20.5″ to 21″ |
| 5′ 8″ to 6′ | 13 & over | 21″ to 21.5″ |
What height does a 26 bike fit?
What size person is a 26 bike for? Bikes with 26-inch wheels are designed for people who are between a height of about five feet to the smaller end of six foot. If you’re taller than that, then your bike should have larger tires and more space in length (26 inch bikes generally don’t go much over 24 inches).
Does head tube length matter?
A longer head tube makes for a more upright position as it raises the front end somewhat. Conversely, a short head tube will lower the front end and improve the aerodynamics as the rider is put into a lower, tucked position. Therefore, this makes for a huge difference to how a performance road bike will ride.
What is the best bike size for my height?
Road bike size chart
| Rider height | Suggested frame size | |
|---|---|---|
| Feet/Inches | Centimeters | Centimeters |
| 5`0″-5`3″ | 152-160 cm | 49-50 cm |
| 5`3″-5`6″ | 160-168 cm | 51-52-53 cm |
| 5`6″-5`9″ | 168-175 cm | 54-55 cm |
Does top tube length affect reach?
When the seat tube gets steeper the ETT will get shorter relative to the reach. So if you left the reach (distance from center of the cranks to center of steer tube) identical and made the seat angle steep ETT MUST get shorter. Keep ETT the same however and reach has to get longer.
Does seat tube height matter?
Why does it matter? Historically, Seat Tube Length was used to determine the Labeled Size of a bike. … These days, seat tube length is still important in some cases: To understand the lowest position of a saddle, especially important when sizing up to a larger frame or considering a bike with a classic, level top tube.
Why do bikes have sloping top tubes?
As people got used to the unconventional look of a mountain bike, with its sloping tube, frame designers began to incorporate the sloping top tube into road bikes as well. Usually, the reason given was that the smaller front triangle created by using a sloping top tube resulted in a lighter, stiffer frame.