Bikes are some of the most common tools for exercise that people use all over the world. Whether you’re a little kid climbing on one for the first time, or you’re an extreme adventurist; you’ve likely been on a bike at least once in your life.
Among the most common bikes you can see in almost any home are 20-inch bikes, which leads many to ask just how big is a 20 inch bike, anyway?
The answer to the question seems relatively simple, but it all depends on what angle you’re looking at it from, the type of bike, and whether you’re an adult or a kid. You can use this simple guide to help break things down for you so that you can get peddling sooner rather than later.
On Kid’s/Junior Bikes
When it comes to children and junior bikes, more often than not, their size is determined by wheel inches instead of the frame. However, with the design of some hybrid bikes, you can also find them with frame details as well.
The most important thing to consider when looking at a 20-inch bike and trying to determine if it’s going to be the right size for your kid is the actual size of your kid. A 20-inch wheel is a 20-inch wheel, and there’s no way around that. However, the size and shapes of children change, and what is suitable for one kid might not be ideal for another.
Typically, a child between the ages of seven and nine are suitable for a bike with 20-inch wheel size, but circumstances could pull them away from this. The best way to determine if your little one should be riding a bike with 20-inch wheels is to measure their inseam. As long as they’re running an inseam of approximately 22 to 25 inches, they should be fine.
With or Without Stabilizers
Stabilizers are used to help with steadying a child while they are on their bike. When using stabilizers, the measurements change slightly so your kid can safely get on and off. When using stabilizers on a 20-inch wheel, the inseam should be between 20 and 22 inches. If the bike doesn’t have stabilizers on a 20-inch wheel, the inseam should be between 21 and 23 inches.
On Adult Bikes
Things start to get more complicated when looking into how big is a 20 inch bike once you break into the adult categories and the different types of bikes that there are. It’s critical to ensure that you select the appropriately sized bike, and when you’re purchasing one for the first time, it’s always suggested that you do in-depth research, and ask for assistance.
Having the right size of the bike is going to ensure you enjoy riding it, and it could even help prevent injuries.
Adults still find it challenging to choose the right size of bike. Fortunately, when it comes to children, it’s usually just a matter of pairing up the inseam with the inch size of the wheel. However, as an adult, factors such as the type of bike, height, and the style of riding need to get taken into consideration.
Road Bikes
Road bikes are some of the most complicated types of bikes given what they’re used for. They need to be properly fitted for maximum performance. With road bikes, the fit is more important than the components and the frame. It’s also important to note that depending on the brand, the measurement that your inseam gets multiplied against differs.
Mountain Bike Hardtails
These bikes are built for off-road biking, so the frames are smaller to handle sharp cornering and rough terrain. Usually, a 20-inch structure on a mountain bike hardtail is suitable for someone who is 5’10’’ and above.
Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes
A lot of extremists use suspension bikes, and brands such as Cannondale and Lapierre have developed these bikes to perform quickly, efficiently, and safely on even the roughest terrains. They provide stability and high speed when you aren’t sure of the ground beneath you.
Like with mountain bike hardtails, the full-suspension bikes have a wide range of frames, but a 20-inch frame is mostly recommended for those who are 5’10’’ and above. However, once you reach the 6’2’’ mark, it’s suggested that you move on to a 21-inch frame.
City and Hybrid Bikes
These are some of the most common bikes, and the ones that you’re likely to see while strolling through the park. They’re designed to perform well and provide comfort, and they have a basic model to follow when selecting a frame.
To get proper positioning, those who are 5’9’’ would fair well with a 20-inch frame, though someone with a height of 5’10’’ might be more comfortable with a 21-inch frame.
What Age is a 20 Inch Bike for?
20 inch bike is for 4’0” to 4’5” taller kids and the age should be 5 to 8 years old which means 22-25 inch inseam. Age is always not perfect for sizing a kid's bike, because all kids do not grow equally that’s why height and inseam would differ. You measure the inseam accurately, then select the bike that would be most fit for kids. Kids who can ride 20 inch bikes at the age of 6 or 7 years old, can ride 24 inch bikes at the age of 8 years old.
Is 20 Inch Bike Good for What Height?
When kids reach 4 feet in height, 20 inch bike will be the best fit for them. Height under 4 feet of a kid, 20 inch bike will not perfect fit for this boy or girl. Kids over 4 feet 5 inches are not suitable for 20 inch bikes.
FINAL VERDICT
Being safe when you’re riding your bike is incredibly important, and it’s going to take work to find the bike that suits you perfectly. If you aren’t versed in purchasing bicycles, always consider going to your local sporting goods store with your measurements.
More often than not, these stores have experts there who are trained to give you all the information you need about purchasing a bike, and they can let you know if buying one with a 20-inch wheel or 20-inch frame is suitable for you, or your kid.