What bike size should I get if I'm 5'8" and my inseam is 30-31 inches?

Question

I want a bike that gives me speed I need to get from point a to point b faster. Is that a road bike or a speed bike? I live in NYC so I also have to worry about the broken glass on the NYC floor as well.

Answer 1

You can get a 52-54cm size road bike.

I would recommend getting a 15 inch mountain bike frame with slick tires though. It's easier to handle and you'll learn better skills(bunny hopping) You never know when you have to quickly bunny hop up a curb!

Answer 2

Go to a specialty BIKE store and get fitted properly!  

Answer 3

I'm 5'10" and ride a 56cm frame, so I would guess you would need a 54cm.  The only way to know for sure is to sit on a bike prior to purchase.  Proper fit is essential for road (not speed) bikes.

You might look at fitness/hybrid bikes as well.  Basically a road bike with tougher tires, a flat handlebar, and more upright seating position.  Trek FX or Giant FCR would be two examples of the breed.  I also like the look of the Trek Soho, which is a bike meant for urban conditions.

Have fun!

PS:  54cm refers to the size of a road bike frame, the distance measured from the crankset center axis to the theoretical intersection of the top tube and down tube.  Most road bikes have 700mm diameter wheels.  Mountain/hybrid bikes are sized differently, usually in inches.  I would definitely recommend a trip to your local bike store to learn these basics before spending money!

Answer 4

Go to this web site, it will help you to understand what size bike you need.  You need to go to a bike shop to get fitted.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit