Fat girl doing the STP? That's me! (Sorry, I'm allergic to "plus-sized". I know that some people are really sensitive to the word "fat", but it's just how I describe myself...because, um, I am fat.)

My best bike shop experience in Seattle was at Gregg's Greenlake. They were helpful and patient, and didn't even blink an eye when I asked the "Am I too fat for a road bike?" question (I worked with Ed when I was bike shopping there. I think he's the floor manager, and he's incredibly nice). And despite my admitted newness to the notion of road bikes and shifting anything with more than three gears, they explained how the shifters worked and sent me on my way to test ride for as long and as far as I felt like going. I thought that was pretty cool, too. Oh, and as far as saddles go, I know they have a trial policy, though the particulars escape me at the moment. (I remember the girl helping me pick out shoes and gloves telling me about it, but I was so excited about taking my bike home that my ears were buzzing a little.)

Interestingly, my worst experience was at Recycled Cycles. I really wanted to like Recycled Cycles, because I'd heard such great things about them from so many people, also because I liked the notion of getting a used bike that still had plenty of life in it and just needed a new home. I really *tried* to like Recycled Cycles...I went back there three times. Once, I was looked up and down an pointedly told, "I'm sorry. I don't think we have anything for you." And twice I was just completely ignored, even though I tried to get someone's (anyone's) attention for a good twenty minutes. *shrug* I don't know what that was about (my friends speculate that it was my fatness, but who knows really), but they didn't leave a great taste in my mouth...so despite the relative convenience of the shop to my house, I don't know that I'll ever go in there again (which sucks, because I kind of wanted to go to their flat fixing workshop thingie).

At any rate, good luck!