Is fit different for different style bikes?

[Veronica]

drplasma64,

Down tube shifters are kinda tough to use,

Shifting with down tube shifters is really no different than reachng for a water bottle.

Friction shifters have such an elegant simplicity of design and are less likely to have mechanical problems. Having ridden with both, I prefer friction, granted mine are bar end shifters.

V.

[drplasma64]

Simplecycle- thanks, I'll pay more attention to seat height when I get my bike.

Trek420 - I considered making over my centurion, but it's also a 12 speed and I'd like better gearing, so I think if I wanted a makeover, I'd need a triplizer, and granny ring, new BB, plus the new handlebars, possibly stem, front derailer, shifters, maybe break levers, and wider tires. I figured I might as well buy a hybrid, and if I get really into riding, then makeover the centurion as the road/touring the frame is meant to be.

Grog - glad to hear another good review of the 7200FX. I ordered mine today!!

Veronica - ummm....I confess I have trouble getting the water bottle out of the cage while moving too

I ordered a women's frame Trek 7200FX today, after talking to the people at Trek and my LBS again. I finally got it straight that the women's 7200FX frame is NEITHER a WSD nor a step-through like the women's 7200 (which I thought was too retro for my taste). It's just a sloped top tube, and a women's saddle instead of the men's. Very little difference in geometry otherwise. And since those were the only things about the men's I didn't like, I'm hoping this bike will be perfect for me (for right now, at least).

Thanks all for your input. This is a great place.