Thank you for the suggestions. Some of the solutions were already on my mind. I think what mainly deters me from getting fitted at a bike shop is that most of the bike shops i have visited are run by people that seem less than friendly and seem less than willing to give information to people that don't know the specific questions they need to ask. THis is daunting. I ride, I'm just not a gu-ru. BUT all this info means I need to go. And the pearl Izumi gell gloves are next on my list. Thank you for the information.