You all should see the crazy hunt I'm going through now. After visiting 3 stores yesterday to ask in-person whether they had any 13" or XS bikes (that weren't entry-level), and of course them not having any, made me realize I was wasting my time. Calling is better. Still, I've spent almost all morning calling Specialized dealers within 50 miles of me to find out if they have any 13" bikes in stock. NONE! Literally. None. They can order for me, but then I wonder, am I obligated to buy? There's a reason they don't carry them - their target demographic is not me, and they'd be stuck with a bike they can't sell.

I did end up at REI last night and they had a Cannondale SL3, in "petite." I rode it around quite a bit and enjoyed taking it off of curbs and such. Still, I was hoping to have something to compare to. They also had an SL2, but I really wasn't a fan of the Sram shifters. I have Sram on my road bike, but the shifter setup for the mtn bikes..didn't care for it. The Rockhopper looks great, and I wish I had an opportunity to compare but nobody has it! Argh.