I am wondering what the deciding factor is when considering bike fit. I just test rode three different bikes so I am hoping I can describe the feelings enough and others can chime in with suggestions for my decision.

A little background, the only bike I have recently been riding is a Cannondale Hybrid 600 that is way too big for me and HURTS just to sit on it!

1. '09 Giant Avail, size 54cm: This was the first bike I road. I came back thinking "wow! No pain!" and I felt like I was sitting in a "nook." Does that make sense? Like I just had my "place" and I wasn't going forward, backward, I just felt supported.

2. Giant (something men's), size 54cm: Within 3 minutes the area between my shoulder blades, right below the base of my neck, was starting to hurt. I am assuming this was because the reach was much too long for me and bike store dude and I nixed the bike out of the options.

3. '08 Specialized Dulce, size 56cm: While I was just sitting on it in the store it was very comfortable and I remember thinking it just felt better than the Giant Avail- at least while sitting on it. The test ride was nice. It felt easy to control, maybe not quite to responsive as the Giant but I attribute that to the slightly larger size. It is definitely comfy but I didn't have the safe "nook" feeling like I had with the Giant Avail.



Do the descriptions of the Avail and the Dulce make sense? Bother are pretty much the same in price. I still would like to test ride a Felt, but those won't be in for another couple of weeks. Would anyone be able to hypothesize how the Felt ZW3 would feel compared to the Dulce and the Avail? This will be my first road bike so everything is new territory to me. Originally I wanted to spend as little as necessary but I do have funds available if I wanted to spend more. I guess I am just hesitant because I really want to make sure this is something I want to stick around with. But then, I think, if I do end up sticking it out - wouldn't something like the Felt ZW3 (so long as it fits) work better in the long run?


Thank you for helping this newbie out!