BIKE DILEMMA.

Yesterday, while still off work, after the graveside services, and other things to attend to, I decided to stop by a bike shop I had intended to stop at last week, before my life was so untimely interrupted. I found out recently that this shop carries Felt bikes, something I wasn't finding anywhere else in the area, and a bike brand I have been very interested in. The problem, if there is one, is that this shop caters to mountain bikers, but they do carry a full line of Felts, or as a dealer can order anything one chooses. They also carry Raleigh bikes. My old bike was a Raleigh make (Univega), so I found that a coincidence, since I haven't seen that make in town since I bought my bike back in 2000.

Again, the problem, if there is one, is that this shop does not do bike fits. They feel they can size you up well enough without the "custom" fit, the fit that costs $150 at the shops that offer it.

My ex-brother-in-law works there, which I wasn't sure of anymore, but figured it might be a bonus in maybe getting a discount on something. He whispered to me too that they were having a sale next week, so wait to buy something.

Okay, here's the dilemma. First, do I forego a bike fit to get the bike I really want, meaning a Felt versus a Specialized? Second, do I choose a road bike over a tri bike? The reason I wonder about the road versus tri is that they do not seem to make a women's specific tri bike with 700 cc wheels, something I want. (650 tubes are hard to find around here) I don't understand this, since I was pretty sure I found one online somewhere in the last few months. Now, nothing. Just men's.

And the thing about men's bikes? Well, I just found out that my 47 cm bike I have been using for the last 6 years, the one that never seemed to fit no matter what they did with it, was a men's bike. All this time, I never knew that. I couldn't believe it when they had me stand over a women's road bike, 50 cm. and it felt like a toy. Then a light dawned in my brain. So if this is what a women's bike is like, it is very obvious I had a men's bike before. The difference was plain to see: while I felt like I towered over a 50 cm women's bike, I actually had difficulty standing with my old bike for long. It was one of those things where if I didn't concentrate, I would topple over--easily. Because I was trying to balance on something too big for me. So I'm thinking now too is there any way that "47 cm" bike was really maybe 52 cm? Or is there indeed that much of a difference in men's and women's bikes? According to the bike shop people, there is a huge difference in men's and women's bikes.

So the search continues, and I have to wonder if I really need to spend $150 for that bike fit if all I really need is a women's bike! Your answers quickly please!