Quote Originally Posted by Susan126 View Post
One person whom I truly enjoyed talking to, and Joe too, was a guy from Rodriguez bikes named "Smiley"! He is totally awesome! I told him that I would be buying a new bike next year when my two kids are finally out of college and that I wanted a 700cc wheeled bike. He told me when he fits me and sees that I would be better fitted with a 650cc he would tell me this.
I know a lot of people really like Smiley, but he seems to recommend everyone under 6' have 650c wheels...... Don't neccessarily believe this. I know a lot of people who have Rodriques bikes and they are very good bikes, but its downright silly to see 650's on a bike made for someone who is 5'6".... My coach also has one, and he told her the same thing, but she's a PT and knows very well what she wants and what she needs. She told him if he didn't make her bike to *her* specs she'd take her business elsewhere and actually got a bike with 700's. Yes - there are some smaller people who need a bike with smaller wheels to get the fit right, but we are all very different from one another, so make sure who ever fits you with a bike isn't so caught up in what they believe to be gospel truth that they refuse to look at alternatives. My body breaks all the rules. I fit better on a bike with 700c wheels even though I'm only 5' tall. I have long legs for my size and extremely short arms. I currently have 2 bikes, one with 650's and one with 700's and I know which one fits better. Now I'm not trying to say the you or anyone else is the same as I am (I think I have an odd body type...) and a bike with 650's could be just the ticket for you, just be aware.