Is there anything wrong with buy a bike that is small for you from craigslist?

Question

its a size 16 but im 5'7 i was just wondering whats the worst that can happen. i will be trying to use this bike to travel from destination to destination. i know it may be uncomfortable but how uncomfortable?

Answer 1

It all depends on how small the frame is.

There is sometimes a little bit of room for adjustment (by  changing the handlebar stem/handlebar reach & seat post).

But if that doesn't fix the bike "fit", it can be a bad thing.

It can over time affect one's back (I learnt this the hard way) & maybe other  joints/parts in the body.

Answer 2

Why dont you just keep looking for a bike that is more your size?  A few more days of searching and you might find what your looking for.

http://www.LiveSimon.com - The FREE Auction and Classified Community.

Answer 3

No there is nothing wrong with a bike that is too small for you than the fact that the bike is too small for you.  Would you walk around all day in shoes that were too small for you?  Besides being uncomfortable it could also be dangerous as it may negatively impact how well you can maneuver the machine.

Answer 4

Depends on how small the bike is and how far you plan to ride it.  My commuter bike is slightly too small for me and I get a lot of back pain on longer rides because of it.  If it's just for short distances, you're probably okay but anything more than a mile or so and you could really hurt yourself.

Answer 5

If you can't raise the saddle to where your legs are almost fully extended at the 6 o'clock position, you can do serious damage to your knees.