Quote Originally Posted by Lakerider View Post
O.K. I've decided to go for the road bike. What advice do you have about being sure they fit me right? I'm 5'9".
Yay I'm so excited for you! It really does feel so different than my mountain bike, which I am sure is very lonely right now. And many LBS people have said that long commutes are better on a road bike, even though I kept asking about a hybrid. I do not regret it one bit -- I was ready for a major change in biking style.

I don't have any fit advice (and I'm sure other posters will have tons) other than go to as many local bike stores as you can and try out the different bikes. You ask for a test drive, they ask for ID/credit card, and you go around the block. Take as much time as you can testing the bike if you feel good about it, and ask the LBS people to make any adjustments (such as to seat height) so you can get a proper fit. The LBS people will (should) tell you what to look out for in terms of comfort and fit, and specifically tell them you are used to a mountain bike so they can let you know the differences and what to watch out for when road bike testing.

It might help to take your own measurements, like inseam, arm length, etc. to see if WSD are right for you.

Bike shopping is so much fun! I ended up with a Bianchi She Ultegra (loved the color and style, good price, friends had good experiences with Bianchi, and it felt good riding it). I looked at the WSDs for (these are brands because I don't remember the details) Trek, Cannondale, Litespeed, Specialized (Ruby I think). I should have given Giant and others a try but by then I was heart set on Bianchi.