Cambridge is a compact city and one synonymous with cyclists. Getting around and seeing the city and surrounding countryside by bike is really easy, eco friendly and convenient. Here we guide you on choosing an electric bike for your travels.

After deep diving into the ins and outs of electric bikes, their classes, and types in a comprehensive guide to a new world of motors, in this article, we will be exploring the world of electric bike sizes to help readers get a structured understanding on what they need to know before choosing a measure of electric bikes. This is an intro to all you need as an essential size guide. 

How to Choose an Electric Bike Size?

Figuring out the appropriate size is one of the significant parts of purchasing an electric bike, as choosing the wrong size of a bicycle for an individual could lead to incidents, cause discomfort, and inconvenience the rider. 

In addition to that, it reduces the thrill of riding a bike. Purchasing an electric bike is a considerable investment, and it should be treated in that manner, hence the need to know the appropriate bike size for an individual before a purchase is made.

Here are the things you need to consider before making that choice:

1. What Would the Bike Be Used For?

It is vital to ascertain what terrain you would be stepping into often with your Himiway electric mountain bike. Would it be mountain biking or just a general commute? Is it intended for an aggressive or straight ride? 

The size of road bikes and hybrid bikes vary, hence the necessity to know what the bike’s primary use will be before you start trying to size yourself. 

The major basics to look into when choosing your bike size are; 

A. Frame Size

Choosing the correct frame size is one of the critical aspects of bike sizing, this being that once a bike frame is set, there are no turnarounds from that moment. To find the right size frame, you can measure your inseam, which can be done in multiple ways. Still, the easily accessible one would be grabbing a notebook, standing against the wall, and placing it between your thighs as though you are straddling said notebook, referencing what it would look like if you were hopped on a bike. Keep the notebook on the wall and take measurements from where it is placed to the floor. The size obtained from that is your inseam. 

It would also be a good idea to put on the shoes you’d most likely wear while riding, as it could affect your measurements. Your height could be the primary measurement method, but the inseam would be a more reliable route.

B. Wheel size

It is essential also to consider wheels when choosing an electric bike. Electric bikes with larger wheels are generally known to provide better traction and roll over trail obstacles more efficiently. An e-bike with a possible 27.5-inch wheel would be an excellent help for mountain riders in tackling bumps and any rough terrain they may come across, and it will also serve as a way of reducing the chances of discomfort a rider could experience. The most commonly used wheel sizes for e bikes are the 26-inch wheel size. 

When riding an e-bike, it is crucial to preserve your battery life, and compared to operating with smaller wheels, large wheels help far better in the preservation of battery life as they do better with the maintenance of momentum. That is not to say that large wheels do not also have their cons, as they can be more challenging to accelerate than smaller wheels and would be slower than smaller wheels.

1. Standover Height 

Your stand-over height is an integral part of choosing your bike size. Your stand-over height is the distance between the top tube of the bike and your crotch when you are straddled on the bike. This means when you are measuring your standover head, it is important to aim for one inch of clearance, especially if the electric bike is one with a traditional straight top tube or two inches of support if the bike has a sloping top tube. 

How to measure your standover height; 

The first thing to do would be to procure a large hardcover book, tape, and a pencil, put on your riding shoes, stand rim straight against a wall with your back on it, straddle the book, and straight your spine, almost as if you are seated atop a bike saddle, then have a partner assist in measuring the height of the book from the floor upwards, the number gotten from the measurement is your standover height and your best result for your standover height would be obtained from resetting and measuring and averaging the difference you get. 

The ideal standover clearance you should have is 1” or more.

1. Reach and Handlebar position

Your handlebar needs to be within comfortable reach to avoid incidents and for the comfortability of the rider, and the most comfortable position for a large majority of road and gravel bike cyclists is usually where the angle between the torso and upper arm is around 90 degrees. It is also advisable to have a slight bend in your elbows to maximize comfort and control.

Different Electric Bike Styles and Sizing Considerations. 

Different bike styles are appropriate for other locations and with proper sidings for each choice. Some of them are：

A. All Terrain Electric Bikes:

An all-terrain electric bike is a bike style suitable for all road types. They are very highly equipped and can serve as mountain and commuter bikes. They were built to meet individual expectations for a riding experience, and the Himiway Zebra and Cruiser bikes are good examples of all-terrain e-bikes.

The Himiway Zebra fat tire electric bike is a perfect fit for riders with heights ranging from 5’3″ to 6’5″. It’s designed to cater to a wide range of individuals, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable biking experience for everyone within this height bracket. One of its standout features is the pair of 26″ x 4″ Kenda fat tires. These top-notch tires provide exceptional traction and stability, no matter what type of terrain you’re traversing. Whether you’re tackling sandy beaches, snowy trails, or rough off-road paths, these high-quality tires ensure a smooth and thrilling ride every time you hop on the bike.

B. Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes like the Himiway Cobra were designed to take you further into Rocky Mountain terrains comfortably and safely, with more accessible and faster movements than a regular bike would. The Cobra bike features a robust high-end four-bar linkage suspension paired with a coil suspension, with its 26″ x 4.8″ CST super fat tires and a powerful 250W gear hub motor, it ensures a stable and enjoyable riding experience, so you can confidently explore any road ahead.

They are designed for possible rough routes. 

C. City bikes 

City Bikes are generally known as commuter bikes, and they are designed for that purpose, which is primarily short-distance trips and inner-city commutes. The Himiway big dog is an example of an efficient city bike.

1. Evaluating Comfort and Fit Through Test Rides. 

Another easy way to ensure that an e-bike is the right size and fit is to go to your local dealer’s shop and take a test ride before you purchase. Going to your local shop will allow you to try out multiple options to find the right and comfortable choice that buying online might not do. 

In addition, it is important to ensure that every measurement you do to determine your size is done correctly, especially in a case where you are ordering your bike off the internet, to avoid instances of having to return the bike if it is not your perfect fit.

Conclusion: 

Your bike riding experience will only go smoothly if your electric bike is the appropriate size for you. If there are cases where your arms are too short for the handlebars or the saddle is not comfortable for you, it would make riding and transport complex and slower than it should be. It is always important to ensure the bike you purchase is the right fit for you, be it purchased at a dealer’s shop or online in the comfort of your home.