Is this a good deal?

[Miranda]

Gheez... hope you are OK after your shower mishap!

OK, first of all... go to WallyWorld GF and get yourself a cheap folding chair and rubber mat for that shower. In case you are every loopy again, don't want to bend your back to lean over to shave legs, etc. I have one in my bathroom I use time to time. I just put a towel over the chair and let it get wet. The terry material actually aids like a gripper and keeps me seated on the chair (read less distance to fall over seated vs standing).

On the the back... and your avatar... I SO heard ya sista. I'm 40yo... my bod decided to fall out about age 30 after I had kids. Bleah. I have multi-level degerative disk disease for one thing. Yea... isn't all that back doc, MRI stuff a real trip? Gheez. With that in mind...

I know you don't *want* to hear this, but take heed to the comment on bikes/activity easy on the back. I have forced myself to adjust my stuff due to this. One crash, use of back-unfriendly gear, etc. results in a long time of PT and not being able to "play" at ALL. Which is even worse than adjusting.

The bike in question TT length... is the mens version going to make you too stretched out and stress your back more? I own a hardtrail Trek WSD 4500 for my mtb. It's a 15/16" and effective TT of 53cm I think. I know 2cm doesn't sound like much... but it can become noticeable after riding a while. I am in the process of getting a new road ride due to my frame being too big. Yes, you can "tweek" stuff on bikes... but cutting length out of the TT is not a tweek. Personally financially painfully aware of this reality.

Just some more thoughts if you have not already bought your bike. Either way, good luck on the riding, back health, and shopping!

EDIT ADD: Another thought... is there any cheaper version of hard trail you could borrow from someone, or buy used, to try it out and see how the back likes it? Before spending over $1K. Then you would have a better idea if in general hardtrail would work for you or not... without dropping that much cash.