Originally Posted by
cycles3215
Guys, what about buying online without actual testing? have you done it? would you do it?
Measure your current bike (assuming it's comfortable) then compare that to the geometry of the bike you want to purchase. Use this
Surly blog post as your guidance. Any minor adjustments can be done later by swapping the stem and making adjustments to the saddle position.
That should take care of the size. Now, whether you're going to actually like the ride is highly subjective. You may want different grips, saddle or pedals (the three "interface points" where your body touches the bike) or fatter tires. So factor in another $100 in the purchase price for eventual tweaks you might need.
Originally Posted by
a1penguin
There are SO MANY different specs listed in a bike size. Personally, I can't tell if a bike is going to fit me or not. If you buy the wrong size online, you will eat shipping costs returning it for a different size (make sure you can return the bike). I prefer to test ride prospective bikes before buying.
It's not that difficult. Read the Surly blog post I linked to above. If you have a bike that fits you then you can use it for reference.