Touring - Help!

Hey, my bf (wiles9) has posted already about our trip from Barcelona to Belfast. We have been looking for bikes for the past few weeks now and have been having some problems, touring bikes are very hard to come by in Barcelona!

Steve has just bought the Cannondale touring classic, i was interested in the specialized tricross but after reading reviews ect it seems to be trying to be doing to much at once and is not really the best option. The problem now is that the only option for me seems to be either Steve´s bike, the Trek Pilot 1.2 (which i really dont like) or ordering something off the internet.

I phoned Trek spain and was told that the 520 is not availible in europe and i was also looking at the Dawes Audax Supreme which seems nice but you cant seem to get Dawes out here at all!! In my head buying off the internet seems a bad idea because of sizing and how it feels to ride but i dont no what else to do, any advice? If i was to measure myself is there any way of ensuring that a bike is going to fit me well?

There are many threads on sizing, and a search will turn them up.

One frame (I'm not sure about the full bike) that is available in Europe in the Surly LHT. I ordered mine from http://www.bike-components.de/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=492d56d77cc793a22fda481ee0948c8e&keywords=long+haul+trucker&x=0&y=0

Also check out SJS cycles in the UK.

You can use Sheldon Brown's website to figure out how to size yourself. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html

Or, find a bike in the shop you like, and ask the guy what size it is. A bit cheeky, but it will get the job done.

And worst come to worst, just remember that seats can be raised and lowered and adjusted, and you could also make sure that your bike has an adjustable stem so that you can get the handlebars exactly the way you want them too.

well i got measured on the specialized bike, the 54 was to big and was told that the 52 would be perfect but am worried that a 52 in a different make will have a different fit! I´m 5ft6 but not sure about inseam, il have to go measure but does 52 sound roughly right?

Would any of you buy a bike from the ne that you had not tested out if you had to?

well i got measured on the specialized bike, the 54 was to big and was told that the 52 would be perfect but am worried that a 52 in a different make will have a different fit! I´m 5ft6 but not sure about inseam, il have to go measure but does 52 sound roughly right?

Would any of you buy a bike from the ne that you had not tested out if you had to?
I buy most of my bikes as frames unridden, but I also know exactly what I like in a frame.

All in all, if you manage to figure out online what size is best for you you'll probably be okay ordering sight unseen. It's not like you have too much of a choice! :)