Should I buy it? Would you?

[Trek420]

Bikeless, do not get the 17" Trek.

A 17" bike is MY size. TE gals Bikeless has been known to refer to me as her "scale model". I was just discussing this with 5'8" or so (?) Spazzdog and she said

Don't get that bike and frankly ANY other bike in Madison WI. I think this shop is just interested in unloading product or at minimum doesn't know how to fit a bike.

I have the day off Thursday, will use it to go to Moms and pick up your bike which is a hybrid but fits you fine.

And don't worry TE gals.

Chris at Robinson Wheelworks is my shop and he can do magic with slicks at minimum.

Or there may be a possibility of a loaner from my "other shop", Cyclepath in Hayward.

The manager there says he may have a Specialized Sirrus in Bikeless actual (not tortured) size. If the loaner bike is available he'll swap the pedals and seat and match the geometry. He'll fit her and then Bikeless can try distance cycling on a flat bar road bike.

If he does not have the loaner let Chris and Tim do their magic.

Distance cycling is not for all, you may love it and then begins the long slow process of finding and choosing the perfect bike for you.

Right now I'm just interested in getting you through the Cindy or as much of it as you can in comfort and fun.

[Duck on Wheels]

Bikeless, do not get the 17" Trek.

A 17" bike is MY size. TE gals Bikeless has been known to refer to me as her "scale model". I was just discussing this with 5'8" or so (?) Spazzdog and she said

Yes, and I'm the enlargement. 7 years older and 7" taller. OK OK. Gave the bike a test ride today, and I know it shouldn't fit, but amazingly it does. With the seat up high the legs get a good stretch, feel fine full cycle, back straight, arms relaxed, spun me right up a few small hills on campus, gears were smooth, not a rust spot on her. Fits like a dream for me, who likes sitting up straight and wears a backpack like a snail carries its shell -- everywhere. And this was a day I had upper back and ankle pain already, so any bad fit would have hurt right away.

Still ... on the walk home I reached a decision (all my best thoughts come to me while walking -- a good 4-5 miles usually gets my head sorted). The decision is not to complicate my life with more bikes to sell in just a few months. So first I'll wait and see what sister Trek has worked out for the Cindy -- either slicks on the hybrid I have or a better loaner to test ride. Then decide. It only costs $80 to take it back here as checked luggage (well ... "only", but still less than the risk of an unsold bike) , and only takes a few minutes to pack if we have a box handy and another few minutes to reassemble this end. If I'm test riding the Specialized and fall in love with it, then ship it here and from here back to Norway and sell my old Trek in Norway. If I'm on slicks on the Giant and feeling fine with that, then ship that here and sell it from here in June. Or, if I decide I'd rather go with the 17-incher here, they may still have it come Mar 26, which, after all, still won't be bike season here yet. Or if I do that and find it sold, then they'll have something else that will work just as well for 2 months. I'm not about to keep that little Trek anyway, so no hurry to buy it.

There. Decision made. What a relief. Now back to work.