Surly Love

[KnottedYet]

I do like the bars he selected. I found one here - though will have to get used to this style and the bar-end shifters

http://www.bikeman.com/HB9776.html

<gentle sigh>
Please tell me he didn't recommend the 40cm bars you linked.
The LHT already comes with 40cm bars. Why pay more? If this is the first pair of drops you've ridden, why change?

In all likelihood, you need narrower bars anyway. Women tend to have narrower shoulders than men of similar size.

Buy the stock. If it seems too wide (pain in between the shoulders and up into neck) then go to an LBS and have someone measure you for bar width. Buy a pair of Salsa Poco or Short and Shallow, sell back the stock, and ride on!

(I'm riding 38cm bars, and I'm 5'8" with wide shoulders. Wide shoulders. It's hard to find women's shirts that fit.)

[Catrin]

<gentle sigh>
Please tell me he didn't recommend the 40cm bars you linked.
The LHT already comes with 40cm bars. Why pay more? If this is the first pair of drops you've ridden, why change?

In all likelihood, you need narrower bars anyway. Women tend to have narrower shoulders than men of similar size.

Buy the stock. If it seems too wide (pain in between the shoulders and up into neck) then go to an LBS and have someone measure you for bar width. Buy a pair of Salsa Poco or Short and Shallow, sell back the stock, and ride on!

(I'm riding 38cm bars, and I'm 5'8" with wide shoulders. Wide shoulders. It's hard to find women's shirts that fit.)

Ummmm...what I linked to are the bars he recommended
I am glad that I brought this here...

[KnottedYet]

Well, don't base your decisions on my ranting and raving. I'm quite opinionated.

But I also specialize in women's bike fits, I get paid to be opinionated!

Perhaps you should just buy the complete, and get the Brooks B17 saddle of your dreams from www.wallbike.com If you decide the B17 doesn't suit you within 6 months of purchase, you can send it back for full refund. Will your LBS give you a full refund within 6 months?

Ride, ride, ride. That's the best way to learn what you need most.

[Catrin]

Well, don't base your decisions on my ranting and raving. I'm quite opinionated.

But I also specialize in women's bike fits, I get paid to be opinionated!

Perhaps you should just buy the complete, and get the Brooks B17 saddle of your dreams from www.wallbike.com If you decide the B17 doesn't suit you within 6 months of purchase, you can send it back for full refund. Will your LBS give you a full refund within 6 months?

Ride, ride, ride. That's the best way to learn what you need most.

LOL, as I said, I was already starting to lean this direction before you spoke up, including the wallbike.com purchase for the saddle. Certainly no LBS will give me a 6-month refund period. I will pay $30 more for the saddle this way - but the refund period is attractive.

Obviously it is in the fitter/builders best interest to sell me a custom build, whether he can provide a true upgrade in the budget given or not... It is in my best interest to learn what I can, and to get advice where I can

[OakLeaf]

OTOH... I'm probably Catrin's same size or maybe a little bigger, and I absolutely need crankarms no longer than 165 mm (can't even ride 167.5) and handlebars no narrower than 40 cm...

Everyone's different.

But it does sound like the stock bike would be fine for you...

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, I just don't see the point of switching one pair of 40cm for another pair of 40cm; especially when it's the first pair of drops someone has ever ridden.

Riding usually tells you best of all what you need. If stock is acceptable, I'd go with that for starters.

[Catrin]

Yeah, I just don't see the point of switching one pair of 40cm for another pair of 40cm; especially when it's the first pair of drops someone has ever ridden.

Riding usually tells you best of all what you need. If stock is acceptable, I'd go with that for starters.

I don't think he looked at the complete build specs that closely and did not see that the bike comes with compact 40cm bars for the three smallest sizes. The same thing happened with his spec for the brake levers, he included the standard size, not the compact size that Surly includes for the two smallest sizes. This is the same individual who first thought the LHT would not fit me - but I understand that he was very busy that day and just looked at something incorrectly.

I am also checking with another LBS in town - they are newer and may be willing to give me a lower price on the complete build if they have a spring sale on 2010 models. I was surprised to note that their fitting fee ($200), is good for the life of the bike - so if you use their professional fitting services and problems develop later, or changes are needed due to upgrades/whatever, there is no additional charge. For a small store that specializes in mountain biking, they have two fitters, one is female. This is the same store I visited yesterday to see the LHT.

All of this is certainly a learning experience! Ok, back to drooling over the beautiful new bikes in the new edition of Bicycling
-----------------
New information - I just spoke with that other LBS, and while their March sale is just on 2009 models that are left, they include the full lifetime of the bike $200 professional fitting (for free) in with the sale of each bike. This other store is looking better all of the time... The LBS I have dealt with throws in a quick basic fitting for free, if you get it within 4 weeks of purchase.