very new at this and LOVE it!!

[mimitabby]

unless you are really really small, the regular 700c wheels ought to be fine.

You haven't told us how tall you are.

[j.nurse63]

Oh yeah...I am 5' 4" with a 30" inseam.
so are the wheel size related to height? are certain ones more common that others? are the 700c wider?
hope my questions are not too annoying

[aicabsolut]

700c refers to circumference. The other measurement you'd see on tires refers to the width: e.g., 700x23

650s are generally only available on very small road frames. You *shouldn't* have to worry about that based on your inseam. Get 700c wheels if there's an option.

If your tailbone hurts, you're in the wrong saddle. It is probably too big and not ergonomically shaped in the back. Elbow pain is a sign of incorrect fit more than improper form IMO, unless you have some really bad habits. I have known a person to give herself tennis elbow on her road bike, but again, the problem stemmed from her fit mostly.

[j.nurse63]

I don't play tennis...but I know what it feels like! I have it. They are sore. Chatted with my LBS today. We talked "fit" for almost an hour. I know that this seat is NOT what I should be riding on. It ididn't bother me for the first part of the spring, but now...bottom line, my Mongoose needs to be limited to the grocery store. It is not enough and way too heavy for the riding I am enjoying now.

So...I drop the credit card sooner than later?? LBS is going to take a Ruby they have from last year and build it for Saturday. I will test for a long ride. He will do a basic fit and then I'll give it a try. It felt great on my short 20 min test but I wanted to spend more time on it to be sure.
It is a lot of $$ and I hope I am moving in the right direction with this. It is exciting and scarey! I'll keep working those extra shifts!

Thanks for explaining the wheels.

[aicabsolut]

If you're in a significant amount of pain such that you don't like riding your bike, then yeah, getting the right bike and components for you is definitely worth the $$.