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Questions and answers about sports

Do pro cyclists ride small frames?

6 min read

Asked by: Shawn Hernandez

In more modern times, pros often use a smaller frame that a similarly sized recreational rider because they want to ride a big drop to the handlebars. As head tubes continue to grow for a given frame size, pros are forced onto smaller frames to maintain their positions.

What size frames do pro cyclists ride?

How Small Are The Frames of Pro Cyclists

Cyclist Height Frame Size
Chris Froome 186cm/6’1.5″ 56cm/22inches
Simon Clarke 175cm/5’9″ 52cm/20.5inches
Taylor Phinney 1.97m/6’6″ 58cm/22.8inches
Ryder Hesjedal 188cm/6’2 56cm/22inches

Is it better to have a larger or smaller bike frame?

Neither a smaller or bigger frame is better for everyone and generalizations in frame sizing are almost always risky. If your riding position is established first the best decision for you will likely become much more clear. Consider bike fit the holy trinity of comfort, power, and efficiency.

Can you ride a smaller frame road bike?

With a smaller frame, you will need an appropriately longer handlebar stem in order to retain the cockpit length. This will affect handling of the bike: it will feel more “lively”, which can be good in some cases (tight turns, difficult terrain) or bad (less stable) – in most cases.

What size bikes do pros use?

Pros generally ride bikes that have a Top Tube of 20.5 inches to 22 inches in length. Shorter riders, including kids, generally have a Top Tube of 18 to 20 inches in length. The Top Tube for a Pro-size bike is 20.5 inches to 21 inches in length.

What if my bike frame is too small?

Having too small of a bike places you too far forward on the bike. Sliding your saddle back can help solve this. The first way to do this is to loosen the bolts on the rails of the saddle and slide it back as needed. If you find you can’t slide it back far enough, you can get a seat post that has increased set-back.

Do pro cyclists size down?

In more modern times, pros often use a smaller frame that a similarly sized recreational rider because they want to ride a big drop to the handlebars. As head tubes continue to grow for a given frame size, pros are forced onto smaller frames to maintain their positions.

Is 16 inch frame too small?

It’s still important to consider seat tube and top tube length when buying a bike.



What size mountain bike do I need?

Bike size Frame size Rider height
Extra-small 13-14in 152cm-162cm (5ft-5ft 4in)
Small 14-16in 162cm-170cm (5ft 4in-5ft 7in)
Medium 16-18in 170cm-178cm (5ft 7in-5ft 10in)
Large 18-20in 178cm-185cm (5ft 10in-6ft 1in)

Is a smaller bike faster?

Push bikes with larger wheels can go faster than the ones with smaller wheels because the radius of the wheel is larger they are also more stable at higher speeds.

What is the correct frame size for my height?

Fitness And Hybrid Bike Size Chart

Rider Height Suggested Frame Size
Feet and Inches Centimeters Inches
5′ 1″ – 5′ 5″ 155 – 165 15 – 16
5′ 5″ – 5′ 9″ 165 – 175 17 – 18
5′ 9″ – 6′ 0″ 175 – 183 19 – 20

What size bike does Tony Hawk Ride?

Tony Hawk Jargon 20″ Bike



When it comes to BMX, the Tony Hawk Jargon 20” bike talks the talk.

What is the average weight of a pro cyclist?

Rider Weight and Body Composition



Climbers, of course, tend to be whippet thin at an average height of 5’8” to 5’10” and an average weight of just 132 to 145 pounds. Time trial specialists, while still very lean, are bigger and heavier, averaging 5’10” to 6’0” in height and 154 to 165 pounds in weight.

Who is the lightest pro cyclist?

Leonardo Piepoli

The heaviest rider on record is Magnus Backstedt at 95 kg (209.5 lbs). The lightest, Leonardo Piepoli at 57 kg (125.7lbs). Below is the graph of the winner’s body weight for each tour.

What size frame does Chris Froome ride?

size 56cm

Froome will be riding Factor’s new OSTRO VAM frame in a size 56cm. The OSTRO VAM is one of many do-it-all lightweight yet aero road bikes, designed to rule across all race scenarios. Notably, the frame features NACA tube shapes and dropped stays amongst other design features for better efficiency through the air.

Why are cyclists skinny?

6. Why are cyclists’ arms so skinny? Partly it’s the flesh-eating bugs in our sweaty kit, but mostly it’s because (this is complex) the pedals are under our feet and our arms aren’t really doing anything except going slowly numb.

What is the minimum weight for a Tour de France bike?

6.8kg

Today, bikes weigh in at just under 15 pounds—but not any lower, since the UCI’s minimum bike weight is 6.8kg, which translates to 14.99 pounds.

Do Tour de France riders pee their pants?

Many Tour de France stages are road courses, so the riders can stop at the side of the road to pee, with teams sometimes organizing a “nature break” in which the teammates collectively urinate. Time is of the essence here because riders will be passed by other racers while they are taking care of their business.

Do lighter bikes go faster?

And even though a lighter bike has a slight advantage over a heavier one, any lead it achieves up a hill will be partially cancelled out on the way down. (A heavier bike won’t make up the entire difference, especially if the downhill requires breaking, but it will accelerate slightly faster than a lighter one.)

Do pro cyclists run?

If we look back a few years, we can see that the running abilities of pro cyclists are nothing new. French cyclist Laurent Jalabert, who held the 1995 UCI number one ranking, recorded a 35:32 10km (5:43/mile) run, and finished the 2007 Barcelona Marathon in a credible 2:45:52 (6:20/mile).

How much do pro cyclists sleep?

Professional cyclists might spend anywhere from 10 to 12 hours sleeping for each day of racing.

How many hours per week do pro cyclists ride?

20-30 hours a week

Pro cyclists often ride 20-30 hours a week. Riders training for ultramarathon events may log even more. Recreational racers (category 3, 4, 5 and masters) usually put in about 10 weekly hours, although some get by on 5 or 7 quality hours if their events are short.

Do cyclists lift weights?

Yes, but there are a few important things you need to know. No matter whether you call it strength training, weight training, or weight lifting, using weights and resistance exercises to improve your riding has become rather widely accepted by cyclists of all ages & levels from around the globe.

Do squats make you a stronger cyclist?

Doing squats is beneficial for cyclists because it helps to keep the hamstrings balanced by working them in a different way to the pedalling action. As a cyclist, you should aim to squat down fairly low, so that your thighs are roughly parallel with the ground – an angle your legs will be used to through pedalling.

How fast do elite cyclists ride?

Average Speed Climbing: 12.8 mph



In the 2019 Tour de France, the athletes averaged 12.8 mph while trudging through the infamous climbs of the race.

Are leg curls good for cyclists?

Stability Ball Hamstring Curls



While cycling is one of the best low-impact cardio workouts you can do, the best way to build up your leg muscles is with bodyweight moves.

Should cyclists do leg extensions?

Leg extensions don’t have much application to our sport. They train your muscles to thrust your foot up, and you never do that in cycling – unless you’re kicking the bike in frustration after a poor result. Also, leg extensions create a great deal of shearing force on the back of the kneecaps.