A BIKE that fits can be the difference between riding it regularly or leaving it to languish in the shed.

Like a cherished item of clothing, if it feels comfortable and performs well when you are out and about, you’re bound to use it more.

Sometimes a tiny tweak to the set up of your bike can make an enormous difference, sometimes your bike simply doesn’t fit.

As a Breeze champion I organise and lead rides for women who are just getting into cycling, or getting back into it, and uncomfortable bikes are a regular topic of conversation.

We welcome all sorts of cycles to Breeze rides, from mountain bikes and hybrid bikes to ancient shoppers – often borrowed from other members of the family – because the main thing is to get out on two wheels and enjoy a ride.

But if you want to cycle more and increase your mileage you soon discover that comfort is key.

Dave Hinde is a bike frame and wheel builder who has a shop in Manchester Road.

He said: “Not everyone can have a bike made for them but everyone should have the right size.

“You can get the most expensive bike in the world but if it’s not the right size it’s horrible.”

Dave sells made-to-measure road and mountain bikes and recommends made-to-measure if you can afford it.

He has a jig in the shop to pin down customers’ exact measurements, even including the angles of the frame to make the most of each pedal stroke.

He also offers off-the-peg frames in a greater range of sizes to achieve the closest fit.

“With off-the-peg bikes it’s about getting it within the realms of the sizes that are available,” he said.

“In our off-the-peg frames there’s 10 sizes with 20mm between them and we try to come in at a price point that’s pretty unbeatable.”

Bike buying guides recommend standing over a new bike to see if it is roughly the right size – the top tube (the part of the frame stretching between the saddle and the handlebars) should be an inch below your groin if your feet are flat on the floor on either side of the bike.

Saddle height is easily adjusted, but you need a friend to hold the bike steady while you check you’ve got it right. It’s all about making the most of your pedalling, rather than being able to reach the floor, and the key is to have a slight bend in your knee when your pedal is at its lowest point. You should pedal using the balls of your feet.

Handlebar height is probably lower than you expect. You should be leaning forward with a slight bend in your elbows. On a road bike your handlebars are often a touch lower than your saddle.

If you are struggling to reach your handlebars you probably need a different sized stem, which is a section of tubing linking your handlebars to the frame.

If you are struggling then it is worth a visit to your local bike shop to check the fit.

• My original road bike was a second hand one that I bought online – I wasn’t sure how much cycling I would do so didn’t want to spend a fortune.

This was fine at first, but the more miles I put in, the more discomfort I discovered.

I was starting to suffer terrible pain in my neck and shoulders, with a real knot between my shoulders, and my saddle was proving almost unbearable over long distances.

After completing the 70-mile Etape Mercia this summer (almost in tears from the various aches and pains) I decided enough was enough and visted Dave’s shop to see how my bike was, or wasn’t, fitting me.

He sat me on the jig and got me pedalling to see how I cycle and what size would suit me best.

My bike wasn’t too far off but my handlebars were too high and the frame was a touch too large.

I have also been pondering an upgrade so I ended up going for an off-the-peg Hinde winter bike, with a frame size more suited to me, and I must admit that I cannot believe the difference in comfort from a better fitting bike.

I also visited the Specialized Concept Store in Chester as I heard that they offered a saddle-fit service.

This involved having my sit bones measured, something that sounded a little scary but just involved sitting on a special cushion so the imprints of my bones could be measured.

I was asked what kind of cycling I do and what position I ride in and matched up to my perfect saddle.

This was a little expensive but, now I know cycling is something I enjoy and spend a lot of time doing, I felt it was worth it.