Advice on Shopping/Test Ride

Ok, so I've decided to take the plunge and buy my first road bike. I've been riding a hybrid for commuting and some group rides (35 miles max so far). For years I've wanted to train for a ride the STP (Seattle to Portland - double century) and I've decided 2008 is it. So far I'm enamored with the Ruby Expert. I had a fitting today at a LBS and it looks like the 48 will work for me (surprise surprise - I'm just 5' nothing and am used to always buying the smallest and still feeling like it is too big). It felt great but the typical NW winter day (rain, rain, rain) didn't allow for a test ride so I only got to try it out on a trainer. So, I'm making my list and checking it twice - my questions to you more experienced:

I'm leaning towards the triple over the compact double - based on my experience and fitness level on the low end - anything else I should consider with this decision?
Any comparable bikes I should consider test riding?
I've never done a test ride before - what should I expect? what should I be sure to do?

Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks in advance.

Triples are very nice for around here. It's not so much a matter of fitness and experience, it's a matter of HILLS! (one of my bikes is a compact double and one is a triple. I'd definitely take the triple on ALC or STP or RSVP or ...)

I went for a good long ride today in the rain, but I was on my triple with full fenders and buddy flaps. Wheeeee! Considering our weather, you might want to be sure you can get fenders to fit the Ruby. And buy those fenders the day you buy that Ruby so you don't have to wait even one second to go for a ride!

When you do your test ride, be sure to go for a long ride. My LBS lets me wander off for 10-15 mile test rides, which I love cuz otherwise I just can't get a really good feel for a bike. Take it zooming on some flats, slow-poking in a parking lot, uphill, downhill. Shift through all the gears and see how the shifters feel for your hands. Assume you will replace the saddle the bike comes with, don't let the saddle bias you.

Have fun! And ride a few other bikes just for the experience! (how about a Surly Long Haul Trucker? It sizes down to a 42.)

Careful with that fit, if you are long torso short legs that could be exactly right, but if you are long legs, short torso that may be a bit big. You won't feel it until you've been riding for some time (like a few hours) so just sitting on it in the shop, or taking a spin around the block won't really do. I'm 5' nothing as well, they did try to talk me into buying a 48, but I really need a 44....... my legs are long enough to stand over a bigger bike, but my arms (and neck) are unhappy spending very much time on one.

Thanks to both of you.

Yes, I was surprised by the fit as well lbs guy said I had a long torso - funny at 5'0", I didn't think I had anything long. I sat on a 44 at another shop and felt like I was coming over the top of the handlebars. The lbs guy is very patient and seems to be very committed to a perfect fit.

I got to ride it today. And absolutely loved it!

They didn't have the color I wanted or the triple in stock so I placed an order. I'm very excited!

Hey there Bobo... if you love it, then thats the one for you.

A triple is a good place to start.

Some swear by them - I prefer only having two chain rings - I have the "normal" double on one bike, and a compact double on the other.

So pleased it feels good - I remember the first time I hoped on my Giant TCR - I went from a large frame Scorpio to this new bike with a smaller frame - it was superb!

Congrats and am looking forward to hearing more once it is assembled :D

I hope you don't have to wait long before you can enjoy that new bike! The black/gold version looks hot! Like RoadRaven says, a triple is a good place to start. :) Some people do complain that the shifting isn't as good as with a double, but you ought not have any problems with the Ultegra kit on that bike. (Oddly enough, I enjoy climbing more with the standard double on my current bike than I did with the triple on my previous one, but I have young, healthy knees and I think I might just be becoming a bit of a closet hill lover/sicko. :p)