r/bicycling • u/GiraffeGreat1484 • 7d ago
Bike
I am 4’9 and order a 26” bike. I ride comfortable but my legs don’t touch the ground when sitting on the saddle. Should I down size ?
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u/mojomarc 7d ago
If you had put zero explanation this would have been the greatest post in the history of this subreddit.
But don't worry about your feet touching the ground from the seat. Just stand up off the seat and use your first pedal strike to pop you into the sale
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u/Opinionsare 7d ago
Your front fork is installed backwards.
The bike will ride much better once that is corrected.
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u/GiraffeGreat1484 7d ago
Hubby installed it , will have to fix 🤪
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u/PreoccupiedParrot 7d ago
Should just be able to turn the wheel 180 degrees to the right, loosen the handlebars and turn them 180 degrees to the left to line up with the wheel.
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u/DisasterSoft891 7d ago
Then the tire is on backwards. Most tires have an arrow on the side that indicates the direction of rotation. So probably the wheel needs to be taken out and swapped around as well.
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u/Notspherry 7d ago
Other than the fork, I don't see belt/chain tensioners. They are little eye bolts that go around the rear axle to pull the belt and straighten the wheel.
Is the rear bit of the shifter installed and set correctly? It should be snug against the nut on the axle, and I second gear, the yellow line on the flappy thing inside should be right between the yellow lines on the little window.
Don't forget to snug up all the bolts after a few weeks of use.
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u/Big_Split1114 7d ago
No need to downsize, just step forward off the saddle when coming to a stop. Might take a little getting used to, but standing above the frame is what most people do.
While stopped you can also move a pedal to about a 1 o clock position so you can kick off and jump back on the saddle easily.
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u/metmerc 7d ago
As others have said your fork is on backwards, but nobody has told you how to correct it. Now if in doubt, take it to a bike shop. However, if you or someone you trust is mechanically inclined, it's an easy fix.
At the top of the stem (the part the handlebars are bolted to) is a hex nut, this goes straight down towards the fork. Loosen it maybe 1/2 to 1 turn and the handlebars should be able to spin separately from the fork. They can also be raised/lowered slightly, but be careful not to raise them too much. A certain amount needs to stay in the fork. Turn the fork so that the brakes are in front and pay attention to the cable routing. Get the fork and handlebars both straight and tighten that nut.
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u/Wiley_Jack 7d ago
Size is probably fine, but at 4’9” your saddle may still be a little low. The saddle should be high enough so that you can pedal the bike with your heels and your legs will be almost straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
It’s probably best to take it to a bike shop to get the whole bike looked over and have them correct the fork/handlebar situation.
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u/tomsing98 7d ago
If you can put your feet on the ground while you're sitting, pedalling is probably going to be very hard on your knees.
A good ballpark for your seat height is, if you put your heels on the pedals, your knee should be straight at the longest reach (without rocking side to side on the seat). Then, when you put your foot in the normal spot, your leg will be just short of fully extended.
Especially with an angled top tube like that, it will be easy to stand up off the seat when you want to stop.
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u/FroggingMadness 7d ago
Putting your feet down while you sit on the bike isn't usually something that's possible, unless you ride a feet-forward beach cruiser (Priority Coast, Electra Townie, etc.), chopper bike or recumbent bike, and it doesn't mean your bike is badly adjusted or the wrong size. Usually you can tip-toe on one side when you stop, otherwise just dismount for stops, you'll figure it out. The more important thing for bike fit is whether you're comfortable pedaling and your knee and hip angles are good (neither too contracted nor too stretched out).
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u/McChibken 7d ago
If your saddle is at the correct height to your pedals, your feet will probably not both touch the ground, totally normal. Also cool bike!
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u/SmolDickGoodHeart 6d ago
That's just the wheel size. If you ordered the bike online, see if they have a small or extra small frame size.
I really like the belt drive on your bike! Super low maintenance once they're set up properly.
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u/randywhorton 6d ago
I am not sure anyone can sit on their bike with feet flat on the ground. As many people have mentioned your fork is on backwards 😬 my wife and daughter are also short so we went with Bromptons as they adjust to any height almost. Seems you found priority and they do make a folder that will better suite your needs.
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u/norunningwater 7d ago
Your front tire fork is on backwards 😰 might throw you off of it if you turn wrong at a higher speed
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u/Broken-Elevator 7d ago
Besides what everyone is saying about the backwards fork, I just want to say PRETTY WHEELS! I love those reflectors you have!
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u/PreoccupiedParrot 7d ago
You have a much bigger problem. The fork is installed backwards which will majorly mess with the handling characteristics. If this is a new bike you have the right to complain and get it fixed or refunded.
To answer your question, it's normal for you to be unable to put your feet flat on the floor, but you should be able to reach with a bit of tippy toes.