Originally Posted by webist
It interesting how an "expert LBS fitting" so often results in a recommendation for a bike that is:
a. In stock.
b. Already assembled.
c. Priced higher than mid-range among all bikes in the shop.
d. Is a stripped bike requiring the purchase of at least pedals.
It is curious how one day a 54cm bike is perfect and a few weeks later a 58cm is right on!
Beware of LBS fitting when the selection bikes is small.
a-c: you need to find a different LBS - that's not even close to normal in my experience. Within most brands, you should be able to at least test a bike that's a higher/lower spec but with the same frame geometry. If you have a full fit done, a good LBS will suggest bikes from the brands they carry that closely fit your gemetry needs. If there's nothing that fits, then they should suggest custom.
d: Not many road bikes come with pedals (especially pedals that are intended to be used for much more than test riding). A lot of people buying a non-entry level road bike already have a pedal preference, so why make them pay for something they'll just throw in their parts bucket?
When you don't know what you want/need, it's always going to be a good idea to go to shops with large selections so you can test ride many different geometries. If they keep giving you inconsistent sizing advice, run...