holy hell i'm overwhelmed! PLEASE HELP!

If you don't want to do lycra you can always get bike short liners that will fit (well sometimes) under 'regular' shorts or capris. You can get them at REI or anywhere that sells Pearl Izumi stuff. After riding for a couple of years, I don't wear padded shorts all the time, only when I mountain bike where it's really rocky.

The thing where people are saying your feet should be flat is the standover height, where your butt is off the seat, how you would be standing at a stop sign. Your feet should be flat on the floor and you should be able to stand comfortably over the tube of the bike without having to tilt to one side to compensate for the bike being too tall. Hope that makes sense!

Earthgirl --

now starts the fun with the saddle thing. You said the bike is a Trek, and my understanding is that "everyone hates those saddles." I figure someone has to like them, or the company would go out of business cuz they sell bikes that are uncomfortable.... (and the saddle company would be in deep poo too!) Anyway, when DH and I decided on the "comfort bikes" a couple of years ago, they came with "comfort saddles" -- wide, cushy things that he actually rode on for quite some time. (he bent his, and adopted mine for a while before getting something more "serious") On the other hand, I couldn't sit for a week after riding that saddle. Perhaps I was lucky, I picked up a Specialized Dolce saddle (not gel) and have been very happy with it on my hybrid (not the comfort beast anymore, I ride an older Trek hybrid, as mentioned back a page or two!)

I had found this forum already, and been reading a bit -- the suggestion was to not go too padded, because that's actually LESS comfy than the firmest saddles.

The comfort beast has a Specialized Milano on it now, I've never actually ridden on that saddle. I put the Dolce on my newest bike, a road bike, and didn't like it there. Replaced it with an Ariel, also Specialized. That's been a pretty happy choice too. Either I've been lucky, or I just have a specialized butt!

(and speaking of my specialized butt, I really ought to shift it into high gear and go for a ride!)

Karen in Boise

thanks for the advice on the tube length! i wouldn't have thought of it. I'm going to have to take it to an LBS as someone mentioned in my other post ... and do a fitting.

also - thanks for the seat advice, kano ;-) i'm going to research more here in the forums b/c that's about all I can do ... our cable went out so i'm relying on my phone for entertainment.

At least I don't have to listen to CNN tell me we're all facing "Certain Death."

Jeez. Dramatic, much?

hey Earthgirl! congrats on your first ride! wasn't it kinda windy?? :confused::confused:

You're on your way!

Everything I know about saddles I learned here on TE for the theory...for the practice, I had to learn from my own bum, like everyone else.

And holy hell or holy heck (for the righteous), I'm in Utah!

I'm 5'4" with longish legs just like you. I had the 15" Trek wsd fx and went to the 17.5" regular Trek fx the second time. There is no difference in the geometry of the wsd and the regular 7.2fx. It changes as you go up the fx line though. I showed a printout of the geometry to my lbs and they were surprised too. The 17" was a better fit for me, so maybe you just need to get used to it. Also, I don't do the lycra only and I've been riding a long time. What I do is wear good padded shorts under a pair of regular shorts or capris, like mountain biking style or wear a Terry wrap skirt. I do recreational rides that are always more than 30 miles and they work beautifully.

Congratulations and have fun!

Hey, earthgirl, where are you? Did ya survive the hurricane?

I am 5'4 and ride a Trek 7.3 fx size 15 inch (mine is a regular frame not a WSD-womens specific design). A 17 inch bike may be too big but it depends on your proportions. I'm long legged but very short waisted for 5'4 so the mens frame fit me better at the time I bought mine. Along with my short waist comes very short arms so reach becomes a problem for me if I get a bike that is too big. You'll just have to get fit by your LBS to find out what works. We just bought a 13.5" WSD 7.2fx for our daughter who is 5'1, cost about $430 but is well worth it. If you can ride what you have and save more money, you'll have more options and get a bike that will work better for you.
I love my Trek 7.3fx and it has held up well, I've had it 3-4 years and commute on it (18-20 miles). She's a real workhorse and very comfortable.
Good luck and I'm so glad you are working toward a healthier life! You will love biking!