Buying a new bike

Hi Annie,

Actually, about all the bike shop did to get me set up for the bike is to make sure the saddle height was correct for me. There was no fore/aft adjustment or any special fitting they did. The seatpost was stock - not sure which kind.

The stock stem is pretty short already, and they said that there wasn't much they could do to bring it up higher (i.e., for less reach) for me b/c of its threadless design (ie., spacers, etc). But it wasn't bad - it may well have worked once I got the saddle right.

One other problem I had with it was that the shop had installed the handlebars a bit oddly (for me, anyway). They had rotated them back such that the drops were farther away and virtually unusable for me. That would be an easy fix to re-rotate them forwards, but I'd probably have to have the brake/shift levers moved further up on them too (so the reach wouldn't be too far) and thus the handlebar tape redone. No biggie, but not a 1 minute fix. ;)

If I do seriously consider the 5200 WSD, I will go back and see about getting it dialed in better for me. If this particular shop doesn't want to accomodate me, I'll find one that will. That's one really nice thing about Trek - lots of dealers. :)

I am looking specifically for a carbon-fiber bike (eventually), so most of the other womens-specific bikes don't suit me as they are either aluminum or cro-moly. I am very interested in an Aegis Swift, but they are more $$ than the Trek, so if the Trek could be dialed in to fit me properly, I'd be very pleased. But this is a 2004 purchase - one bike per year is enough! (My husband and I just bought a gorgeous tandem...)

The Aegis comes in sizes down to 44 cm, and I heard from one 5'2" woman who has the 44 cm size, and it fits her perfectly. That's what's so odd about these sizes!

Thanks again,
Emily