How can I choose the right frame size for my height?

You can do a search online for “bicycle owner’s manual” for the brand that you are interested in getting. There will be a bicycle sizing chart in the manual which you can refer to.

If you refer to (page 9 of) Apollo or Radius Bicycle Owner’s Manual, you will see this “Bicycling Sizing Guide” for their kid’s range of bicycle.

According to the manual, for your safety, as you stand straddling over the toptube, there should be a gap of about 1 inch / 25mm from it to your crotch area. This is to prevent you from hitting the toptube and getting hurt by it, should you fall forward during an accident.

The sales person at the bike shop you go to should also be able to assist you. However, even without the sizing chart or shop assistance, following through with these steps, will help you to decide on the right frame size, based on your height.

1) Sit on the saddle of the bicycle you are interested in buying. Place your hands on the handlebar. Do you feel that you are leaning way too forward?

Note: If it is and you still like the bike, you can request the bicycle shop to change a stem with a shorter reach or replace it with one which is adjustable so that you can raise the handlebar nearer to you.

2) As you sit on the saddle, are your feet sitting flat on the floor? Raise the seatpost up so that only the tips of your shoes are touching the floor.
Note: Sometimes, the bike shop may have to change the seatpost if it can’t be pushed down any lower. The bolts installed for the cage could be blocking the way. This can be resolved if a seatpost of shorter length is installed.

3) Now get off the saddle and straddle over the toptube. Is your crotch area touching it?

Note: If it is, ask the shop to let you try one with a smaller frame size. Example, if a 16″ to 17″ frame size (M size in Asia) is too high for you, you may have to try a frame size of 15″ (S size in Asia). Anything above 18″ is L size in Asia. The size of the frame is usually printed on seat tube, sometimes just below the toptube.

If you are checking on frame size because you plan to buy your bicycle online, you will find some of the points at the following link useful:

Can a quality bike be purchased online? What are the dos and don'ts?

What are the best tips to maintain a bike in the proper way?

When you buy an equipment, a manual will be provided with it. A good manual will provide instructions on how to install the equipment correctly. It will provide information on how to use it safely and maintain it so that it will run efficiently.

Even though not all brands/retailers for bicycles will provide such a manual, if you google “owner's manual for bicycle” you should not have any problem in finding one online. From it, you can even learn if you are getting the right frame size for your height.

Though you get your bicycle fully assembled from your bike shop, in the manual you will learn how it is assembled and the type of tools and the sizes you need to do the job. That way if any of the parts are loosen, you will know how to fix it back correctly and with the right tools.

You will learn the name of the parts on the bicycle which will enable you to tell the mechanic clearly what needs to be fixed if professional help is required. I like this image extracted from an old manual for Centurion Road Bike:  

A manual also provides a schedule on when and what on your bicycle should be cleaned, serviced and lubricated. It also inform you what you should not do with it. Eg, here is a tip on how to set your gears so that you will not wear out your chain earlier than it should.

I like the instruction manual provided by Green Line for its Single-speed and Multi speed Beach Cruisers, it provides very clear information with lots of images.

The link to ”Owner's Manual Single Speed and Multi-Speed Bicycles” from Dynacraft Bikes is also very good.

If you take the time to read the manual, you should not have any problem maintaining your bicycle in a proper way.

Tools for assembling a bicycle

Most good quality bicycles are usually supplied with “Bicycle Owner’s Manual”. If it is not supplied with the bicycle you purchased, you can easily find one if you google “bicycle owner’s manual”.

I googled “bmx bicycle assembly tools .pdf” and found a link to this image of tools:

These are the tools you require:
1. Standard Phillips Head Screwdriver
2. Adjustable Wrench
3. 4,5,6,8mm Allen Wrenches
4. Pedal wrench or 15mm Open End Wrench
5. Standard Slip Joint Pliers
6. Standard Flat Head Screwdriver

This information is extracted from Dynacraft Owner’s Manual. It provides very clear instruction for assembling a 12” to 24” wheelsize BMX which is the standard procedure for assembling most single speed bicycles. Since the manual is for a BMX, it includes information about gyro brake system which you can ignore if your bicycle is not installed with one..

However, if you assembling a bicycle with gear components installed, check out “Dynacraft Owner’s Manual for MTB”. The tools required for assembling it are the same.

What are the best tips to maintain a bike in the proper way?

When you buy an equipment, a manual will be provided with it. A good manual will provide instructions on how to install the equipment correctly. It will provide information on how to use it safely and maintain it so that it will run efficiently.

Even though not all brands/retailers for bicycles will provide such a manual, if you google “owner's manual for bicycle” you should not have any problem in finding one online. From it, you can even learn if you are getting the right frame size for your height.

Though you get your bicycle fully assembled from your bike shop, in the manual you will learn how it is assembled and the type of tools and the sizes you need to do the job. That way if any of the parts are loosen, you will know how to fix it back correctly and with the right tools.

You will learn the name of the parts on the bicycle which will enable you to tell the mechanic clearly what needs to be fixed if professional help is required. This image is from link to “Owner's Manual for Marin Mountain Bikes”.


It provides a schedule on what and when you should clean, service and lubricate on your bicycle and what you should not do. Eg, here is a tip on how to set your gears so that you will not wear out your chain earlier than it should.

I like the instruction manual provided by Green Line for its Single-speed and Multi speed Beach Cruisers, it provides very clear information with lots of images.



The “Owner's Manual Single Speed and Multi-Speed Bicycles” from Dynacraft Bikes that I found online is also very good.

If you take the time to read the manual, you should not have any problem maintaining your bicycle in a proper way.

What combinations on a 7x3 would be cross chaining?

You will receive a “Bike Owner's Manual” if you buy bicycles of reputable brands. If you do not have one, just google “Bike Owner's Manual” to find one.

If you take a look at page 6 of “Bike Owner's Manual” supplied by Apollo, you will see a diagram on “Recommended Chainwheel/Rear Sprocket Gear Combinations”


Chain crossing will wear out your chain and damage your drivetrain sooner than it should. So, avoid setting your gears so that your chain sits on the chainring and sprocket as marked “X” on the diagram.

Customers who buy bicycles with gears from Jom Johan will be given a chart to advise how gears should be used for efficient cycling and to prevent drivetrain from being damaged any sooner than it should.