Hi all - I'm looking to buy a new bike, most likely a hybrid. I have a 1989 Centurion Accordo road bike - very nice and comfy, but after not riding for quite a few years, I feel unsteady on it with the drop bars, down tube shifters and 25 mm tires. So I'm thinking of a hybrid with the goal of it being general purpose for hauling baby trailer or trail-a-bike, but still fun enough for me to ride by myself for 45 min or so at a time.

I'm very confused about fit. I know it's really important, at least in road bikes, and there seem to be general rules about how to tell if a road bike fits (i.e., can you see the front hub through the bars, are your shins over the pedal attachment points when your feet are at 3 o'clock, and a lot of others I don't know).

My question is what do I look for to tell if a hybrid is a good fit, besides is it just comfortable? I rode some that felt like my knees were really far up - what does that mean? I am 5'2" and it's really hard to find bikes in stock that might be might size, especially since I need to have some room (2") on the seat post to attach the trail-a-bike.

BTW, I liked the feel of the trek 7200fx, but I wasn't too crazy about the shop. Can anyone recommend similar bikes of different brands? I especially liked the thumb-style shifters rather than the twist ones, and I liked the solid front fork (can't see the need for front suspension for riding paved bike paths and on the road).

Thanks, and sorry this is so long!