Need help selecting a MTB

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie in this forum and need some help. I've have been searching since 1/09 for the right WSD MTB (5'4" short torso, long legs & arms) and have narrowed my search to 2 WSDs; the Trek Fuel ex8 or the Gary Fisher HiFi Deluxe GS. The problem is that I have hit every LBS around the Phoenix area that carries these brands but they don't have the models in stock I'm wanting to ride and compare so that I can make a decision on which one I want to purchase. If I'm lucky they may have one WSD. The LBS have been very helpful in trying to accommodate me but I can't help but feel that they don't cater to our gender (in my opinion) and I'm not sure why. I even went to the recent Trek demo, which was an hour drive for me from home, only to find out they didn't have any WSDs! They said I could check on the website for the WSD demos but they aren't going to be anywhere near Phoenix on their schedule. I'm now thinking of going to the Specialized store (I did try a Safire and I liked it, but that was at the very beginning of my search) in hopes they will have more than one WSD for me to try. Sorry for the long description but am I alone in this frustration? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.:)

I just wanna ride!!! :D

You would probably be happy with either one of those bikes. The Trek's geometry is going to have you a little more upright. It has a longer travel fork and a better rear shock (a good reason to choose it over the Fisher). The Fisher has a bigger brake disc in front, but that's not as important as travel. Most of the other components are in the same range, they are from the same manufacturer after all. I think the Trek brand gets more attention from the company than GF. As an example the Fuel had a remodel in 2007 AND 2008 when they changed the rear suspension linkage. IMO the Fuel has a better suspension design. I know a LOT of people who have bought the Fuel in the last 2 years and they are very happy. Not too many buying GF.

I am riding a 15" Fuel. It is a little big for me, but the carbon did not come in a smaller frame. I adjusted to it fine. MTB's can be tuned to fit you more so than a road bike. Every bike I have bought was sight-unseen. That includes a Giant Trance 14" and my Trek 2.3 road bike. I haven't had a problem.

Dealers have to pay for the bikes in their shops. Small shops are not going to carry higher end bikes they may not sell. Makes it hard as a shopper, I agree! But small shops are great to deal with. I think it is a good idea to shop for the right LBS. Are they friendly? Competent? Do they offer free lifetime adjustments? I think these things are very important because when you buy a bike you are buying into a relationship. Hope that helps.

Thanks fbg! Today I went back to the LBS I started at in January and to my joyous surprise I found a female, who was also the manager!! She explained the +'s and -'s of Trek and Specialized for me. So she had me compare apples to apples on a Specialized (Myka) and a Trek (was one of the __00's). After doing that side by side I found the Specialized fit and handled better than the Trek! She told me that Trek makes a good bike but she felt, as does the store owner, that the Specialized is just a better bike overall...and I agree! I compared the Safire Comp and Elite and the multi adjustable front fork and the Shimano shifters on the Elite did it for me! The bike lists for 3100 but she quoted me 2800, as did another Specialized store I stopped at afterwards, which is local for me... Gonna go with the 1st store even though it's a hike for me to get there cause the latter store had zero good vibes!!

Finally, I can now focus on purchasing, getting fitted, and RIDING!!! I'll keep you posted on how things go!! :D

Congrats!

We get pics when you bring your new bike home, right? :)

Right on!!! I'm happy you found the right bike and the right people. Get on your bike and ride!

Absoutely! Pics will be forthcoming! Anybody out there live in the Phoenix area, specifically the east valley??

And I wanna see the picture of your pug. :D

I have the Specialized Myka Expert, and I love it.


Congrats on your new bike!

Ordered my Safire Elite yesterday at Global Bikes in Gilbert. Tim the sales manager helped me out and he was endlessly knowledgeable, helpful, and patient! Also bought a pair of Specialized Taho MTB shoes, which felt sooo much better than the last pair of riding shoes I had.

My eye was also attracted to a lonely left over brandy new '08 Ruby Elite sitting all by itself off to the side. I've never road biked before but this was a carbon frame with a VERY low price so I had to take her for a spin cause she was the right size for me too! My elbows and butt were bothering me by the time I finished riding around for about 15 minutes. The road bike expert was not there and Tim's area of expertise is mtbing so I'm gonna let that one sit there till I pick up my Safire sometime near the end of the week. Tim said the close out price is not yet on that road bike, which means an even lower price.

I was gonna consider buying a road bike next year but on the ride home from the bike shop I thought that maybe I'm just cut out for mtbing only. I'll talk to the road bike guy when I take delivery on my Safire and see what's what then.

In the meantime here's a pic of my pugs! Enjoy fellow dog lovers! Bandit on the left; Rocky on the right...:)

Pugmom, your boys are sooooo cute. :) I love how Bandit is perched on Rocky, lol. :D

You know you'll have to post pics of your new Safire. ;) Specialized really knew how to design a sexy, hot women's mtb when they created the Safire. It's a work of art in my book. :cool: I drool over one every time I see one and wish I could fit a women's specific design. Instead, I go with the ho hum men's models and tweak it to fit. :p

Don't knock the road bike just yet. The Ruby has an aggressive geometry for racing so you may not be as comfortable on that bike as a "plush" road bike, like the Roubaix, Sequoia or Dolce. You might actually enjoy riding one of these or even a commuter type bike (the Globe), which will put you into a more upright position with less pressure on the hands, wrists, and elbows. Mountain bikers like to ride road bikes too for the cardio fitness aspect. :)

Personally, if I could only have one bike, I'd go with the mtb. It can be so versatile and when the fit is dialed in, it's really very comfortable for on or off road riding. :cool: There are mtb's for many purposes--even for touring. :cool: Salsa makes one. The Jan/February issue of Bicycling magazine features one man who lost tons of weight just riding his mtb day in and day out as his commuter, all purpose bike.:cool: He rides 16 miles to work daily, plus an extra 10-15 miles on country roads and has ridden up to 75-80 miles on Saturdays. :p

Tahos--yay! I really like how grippy the soles are and I pair mine with BMX style pedals. I can walk and hike in them too which is a really nice bonus. One thing I did notice was how roomy the Taho's are and I added an insole to make them fit a little more snug. Hope you enjoy yours too! :) Can we see your new shoooooz?