I'm only 5'5" but am very long in the torso and short in the arms and legs. As much as I wanted the Specialized Dolce because it was prettier, hey I'm still a girl, I ended up having to go with the Sequioa Elite. The LBS tried to get the Dolce to fit but it just wasn't going to happen no matter how much tweaking they did with handlebars, stem and seats. My bike may not be all that pretty but it fits and I'm comfortable on it. If it wasn't comfortable I doubt I'd ride it and those cute butterflies would have been an expensive mistake.
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06-21-2010, 02:06 PM #1
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06-22-2010, 09:24 PM #2
Bike = Happy
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Fit before style....but no need to stress! Even if you don't want/can't afford a full fitting, one of your shops should be able to do a mini fit to help you get into the correct size. If they can't or won't do that, search for an online fit calculator, there are a number of posts in this forum suggesting ones you can do yourself/with a friend. Then use those measurements to compare different models on top tube length and standover height. Then you can call around and ride some potential matches!
They shouldn't be steering you to models based on resale (!) but based on fit and your riding style and goals. There are very few tall WSDs, so if your torso and arm length allows it you'll find more options in mens.
And +1 to what Tulip said -- yeah, Trek & Specialized are best known, but consider a few other brands. My experience is that the biggest shops in town carry those brands, but sometimes smaller shops will offer more attention and a different variety. I'd consider adding Raleigh, Cannondale and Fuji to the mix...
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06-25-2010, 02:39 AM #3
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- Jun 2010
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The problem is we only have one "local" store, so they kind of have a monopoly and don't seem to be much help... They only cary Trek's in the store, it's a hassle to get a Specialized in, and they can't get much else...
But, I called around to neighboring towns (about 40 mins away) and found a couple of others who carry Specialized, Cannondale, and Giant. One store was very helpful and is going to order a couple wsd in my size and let me ride them and the "mens" bikes to compare.
It'll only take 3-4 days to get them in too!
I'll let you know how it goes...
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