My boyfriend says that I am too sensitive about being treated "like a girl."

I just went in for a basic bike fitting with the new mountain bike - mostly because I knew a lot of things felt a little off when I was test-riding it. I actually probably wouldn't have bought it except that the bike I test-rode at the shop was the same frame, but felt way better (in other words, I knew mine was fixable).

I walk in - the guy says oh, I thought you needed a road bike fitting. Mountain bikes don't really need fitted, they have a lot of wiggle room and it's just about what feels good to you.

I understand this - but - between my back, and how weird the bike felt, I wanted some help. I explain this.

He asks my height (5'7"). Asks frame size - suggests medium? large? No, small - 15.5". He observes that it's a 29er. He says the bike is too big.

Umm..ok, why don't you see me ON the bike first? Because I think I could probably have been ok on a medium frame too.

They set the bike up on a trainer on a plywood platform. Ask me to stand over it. Note that I have no standover clearance - the bike must be too big. Well, duh, of course I have no standover - you elevated the bike 2 inches, but my feet are still on the floor. If I was a guy, I would be pretty uncomfortable right now.

So we play around with seat height and saddle position, and he must've said 50 times that I just need to go ride it and see what feels right. He does eventually concede that the bike is the right size, and that it's a nice bike.

Am I expecting too much to have help making the bike feel right before I go ride it? Is there some reason that a 29er is really that big of a deal for a girl? Why the instant assumption that it will be too big? I mean, I may be a "petite" 5'7" " but I think I'm tall enough for big-girl wheels!

They offered to cut the bars down if I bring it in next week, but I just feel so uncomfortable going back. But I feel obligated, b/c they didn't charge me anything for the fit-tweaking. Ugh. The most helpful bike person I've met out here (least condescending? most agreeable?) works for the Trek store, so I can't bring this one there for help. But maybe all of this is just in my head, and I'm making myself feel uncomfortable at bike shops?