It's not so much that I recommend the larger frame, but I think it's important to give it a try so an individual can decide what is the right fit.

If I knew then, what I know now, we probably would not have bought the tandem we did. Now I love riding the tandem, but I feel so squished on it. And I thought that's the way you were supposed to feel on a bike. When I went in to get fitted for my single, I came up between sizes. They wanted me to go with the 56, but I felt that was too big, so I chose the 54. And I do not feel squished! My hands don't fall asleep, like they do on the tandem. It's a good thing I can ride no handed back there! Now I put up with this discomfort because there are other advantages to being on the tandem, SPEED and couple time. It's a lot of fun to do a century or a double metric on the tandem. Especially on a course with lots of rolling hills.

I guess it's the rebel in me, saying ride because it's fun and don't let marketing influence your decision too much. If racing is your thing - great! get the racy bike because YOU want it. If not, you don't need super light components or high gears. Especially if you're just getting into riding. You don't need funny clothes and funny shoes either. And it seems like many bike stores want to cram all this down our throats. You're not a real cyclist unless you're clipped and wearing spandex. How does that make you a real cyclist? Eddie Merckx - arguably the world's greatest cyclist - didn't win the Tour, the Giro and the Vuelta with clipless pedals. But I do think he was in tight shorts.

Now I do have a pair of cages on my bike that cost $35.00 each. Because I thought they were pretty. They're hand brazed steel. They seemed to go with the bike and I got them when I bought Fluffy, so it was all included in the final purchase price. BUT it was my decision to get them, not somebody else saying you really need these. And I do ride clipped in, most of the time, because I prefer it. Not because it makes me faster, but because I find standing on hills a lot easier and my cadence is smoother, which makes my shifting smoother. Important on a bike with friction shifters.

(Look at those cool water bottle cages!)

About gearing - it's not so much the 52 versus 46 that I get hung up on. It's the other end 30 versus 24. I've ridden the tandem (it has a 52) by myself - no stoker and you can really fly. It really is about where you plan to ride and what feels good to you. When the grade kicks up I'm very thankful for my 24 - 28. I may not go very fast, but my knees (they're 20 years older than the rest of me) will survive to get me to the top.

Sorry for the long, ranty ramble. I just want us chicks to be informed consumers and buy what is right for us - whatever that may be. Not what some 20something guy (that's my LBS I wish I could shop where Pedalfaster works) or folks in my club try to push me toward. "Do you really need a third water bottle? That's so much extra weight." Said by the guy who later ran out of water.

Veronica