Quote Originally Posted by Cyclesome

I am considering the Cannondale R1000 Feminine or the Trek Pilot 5.2.
How do I ride these particular bikes in MY size if they do not have them on the floor. How do I get any more testing time than a 10 minute parking lot trip?

Do any of you gals ride either of these bikes?

Please help.
This is where belonging to a cycling club is a real help. I decided to buy my Lemond Zurich after riding another members Lemond Buenos Aires. I had before that done tons of research so knew I wanted a steel bike and once I had a chance to take her Lemond around the block knew I wanted the Zurich.

Some bike shops have loaner bikes and will allow you to take the bike for a day. These bikes tend to be higher end, say $3000+ range. You can also contact the various manufacturers to see if they are holding demo days in your area. Otherwise, you buy a bike like most of us - on faith and research.

PS my comment on the Cannondale R1000 - beautiful bike but very very stiff and harsh. If you are lightweight and your roads are smooth, you will be OK. In addition the bike is very agressively styled - its geometry will have you very stretched out although WSD bike maybe be alittle less agressive.

And what's interesting is the Pilot is exactly the opposite of the R1000. It's geometry is less agressive, more relaxed, you sit further up not as stretched out as the R1000. If these are your two choices you need to think about why you selected these two bikes and why you think either suits you. Like I said, they are "ying and yang" "night and day" from each other.

Check around to some other shops and look for brands alittle less "big" such as Felt, Lemond, Lightspeed etc. Even Colnago makes a beautiful steel bike.