I tried to do a search on this, and the key words were all over the place. This isn't really about a specific bike, so I decided to just post here in open topic...

When you were shopping for your bike, how did you, or your lbs, handle test rides?

We have a few different lbs in the area, but finding one that has an actual bike to ride is challenging to non-existent. I think if you are an average sized man, looking for a more common bike and lesser priced, in the male-dominant sport of cycling, you have various options to ride first hand...

But, when you factor into that picture... ME, a woman, looking for a woman specific road bike, carbon, and not the most common size frame... the test ride options drop out the bottom. Of course, if the shop orders for you, they expect you to buy it (which I get the lbs spin of carrying inventory). It's a lot of $ sight unseen & untouched though.

There are some things with my current bike that bring me to a point where I want to upgrade to carbon. I've heard that the 'feel' is nothing else like it (carbon). Well... I'd like to feel it... but I need a way to do that.

TYIA for any help.
Miranda