How to choose a bicycle: size by height, types and prices (2026)

Pick a bicycle by your height first and by the road second: if the frame size is wrong, even an expensive model will tire you out. On 27 September 2026 Prayk's Bicycles section had 6,139 listings (parts and accessories included); the median price of the latest 300 was 175 AZN, with half of them between 110 and 285 AZN. Below are the types, a height-to-size table, wheel diameters and a checklist for used bikes.

Short answer: for the city and parks choose a city (road) bike with 26–28 inch wheels, for dirt roads and hills a 27.5–29 inch mountain bike, and for a child 12–20 inch wheels depending on age. On 27 September 2026 the median price on Prayk was 170 AZN for a mountain bike, 130 AZN for a city (road) bike, 60 AZN for a kids' bike and 690 AZN for an e-bike.

Which type of bicycle do you need?

Start with “where and how much will I ride?”. On Prayk bicycles are split into several subsections:

• Mountain bike (MTB). Wide knobby tyres, usually a front suspension fork. Good for dirt roads, park trails and mountain villages; on tarmac it rolls heavier than a city bike. This is the largest subsection — 1,320 listings.
• City and road bike. Narrow tyres, easy rolling, often a rack and mudguards. For the boulevard, parks and daily commuting. On Prayk this group sits in the “Road bikes” section (418 listings), which also includes city, trekking and folding models.
• Kids' bike. Wheel size depends on the child's height (table below). 856 listings.
• BMX. Small frame, 20-inch wheels — for jumps and tricks, not for long rides. 50 listings.
• E-bike. A motor and battery assist the pedals; heavy and expensive, but it cuts fatigue on hilly streets and in courier work. 70 listings.

How do you choose frame size by height?

Mountain bike frames are usually sized in inches (15, 17, 19…) or letters (S, M, L); city and road bikes are sometimes sized in centimetres. The table below is a widely used rough guide; every manufacturer has its own chart, so always check the official size chart of the specific model.

If you are between two sizes, consider your leg length: standing over the top tube, you should have a few centimetres of clearance (a bit more on a mountain bike). If the handlebar feels too far away, go a size down; if your knees hit the bar, go a size up. With the saddle at the right height, your knee stays slightly bent when the pedal is at its lowest point.

Wheel diameter: 20, 26, 27.5 or 29 inches?

Wheel size affects both comfort and price. We separately counted Prayk listings that state the wheel size in the title or description. The median is the middle price when listings are sorted by price; the “half” column is the range of the middle half of listings.

What it shows: 26-inch mountain bikes are mostly older budget models, hence the 130 AZN median. The 27.5 and 29-inch models are newer and cost roughly 100 AZN more. A large wheel rolls over obstacles more easily and is steadier on the road, while a small one is nimbler and lighter; riders under 165 cm often find 29-inch wheels too big.

For a child, look at height rather than age alone: sitting on the saddle, the child should reach the ground with the tips of their toes. Don't buy a bike “to grow into” — it is harder to control and the risk of falling goes up. Children aged 9–12 usually get 24-inch models; there are too few such listings, so we don't give a median.

How much does a bicycle cost: prices by type

Most listings are used bikes; 220 of the latest 300 are in Baku. Among e-bikes some of the cheap listings are rentals rather than sales, so treat this section's lower quartile (263 AZN) with care. To see whether a price matches the market, compare it with the market block on the listing page and the “Check a listing” report, opened from the listing page.

What should you check when buying a used bicycle?

1. Frame. Look for cracks, dents and fresh paint over welds, around the head tube and the bottom bracket. A cracked frame cannot be repaired.
2. Wheels. Spin each wheel: if it wobbles sideways, the rim is bent. Tyres should have no cracks or heavy wear.
3. Brakes. Test each brake separately: with the lever squeezed the bike should not roll. On disc brakes check that the rotor is straight.
4. Drivetrain and chain. Shift through all gears: the chain should not skip or rattle. A rusty, stretched chain and worn sprockets mean extra costs.
5. Suspension. Push the fork down several times: no leaks or knocking, and it should return smoothly.
6. Bottom bracket and headset. Rock the pedals and handlebar sideways — play means worn bearings.
7. Test ride. Ride for at least a few minutes, uphill and downhill.
8. E-bike battery. Ask how many kilometres it covers on a full charge, how old the battery is and whether the charger is included — the battery is the most expensive part.
9. Origin. Ask for the receipt, box or purchase history. A new “brand-name” bike far below market price is a red flag.

How to search for a bicycle on Prayk

All listings are in the Bicycles section; by type you can go straight to mountain bikes, kids' bikes, road (city) bikes or e-bikes. Typing the wheel size in the search (“29”, “20 lik”) narrows the results. If nothing fits yet, save your search and you will be notified of new listings. Listings with a fresh price cut are on the Price drops page. Don't send a deposit before you see the bike: inspect it first, pay after.

Frequently asked questions

I am 170 cm tall — what size bike should I buy?

By the rough guide, 165–178 cm suits a size M mountain bike (about 17–18″) or a city bike with a frame of about 52–55 cm. Check the exact size against the model's official chart and, if possible, sit on it and ride before buying.

What wheel size does a child need?

Roughly 12″ for ages 2–4, 16″ for 4–6, 20″ for 6–9 and 24″ for 9–12, but height is the main criterion: when seated, the child should reach the ground with their toes. On 27 September 2026 the median price on Prayk was 65 AZN for a 16-inch kids' bike and 60 AZN for a 20-inch one.

Is a mountain bike good for the city?

Yes, but on tarmac wide knobby tyres and suspension waste energy. If you ride mostly in town, a city (road) bike rolls easier and its median price on Prayk is lower: 130 AZN versus 170 AZN for a mountain bike.

How much does an e-bike cost?

On 27 September 2026 the median price of 70 e-bike listings on Prayk was 690 AZN, with half of them between 263 and 1,200 AZN. Some of the cheap listings are rentals, so read the listing text carefully.

What is the most expensive defect on a used bike?

A cracked frame — it is usually not repairable. Next come the suspension fork, the drivetrain and, on an e-bike, the battery. Always check these before you buy.

Sources and methodology

Listing counts and prices come from Prayk's public catalogue API on 27 September 2026: the “Sports, hobby, leisure → Bicycles” section and its subsections. For each section the most recent listings were used (300 for the whole section, mountain, kids' and road bikes; all 70 for e-bikes); the median and the 25th–75th percentiles were calculated only from listings priced in AZN. Wheel-size segments were selected by how the size is written in the title and description (“29″”, “20 lik”, “26 düym”), so they are approximate. We do not publish a median for segments with fewer than 15 listings. The height-to-frame table is a general guide and does not replace the manufacturer's official size chart. Prices are asking prices, not actual sale prices.