thanks so much guys!

erik, thanks a lot, but i'll pass on that 58. for a good reason or a bad reason, i feel like any 58 would be a goofy fit for me.

fietsbob, i guess i can't just look at the height of the frame, i also gotta look at the length. which is why i really feel like i gotta try bikes out first. and of course, ZERO bike shops carry my size. what do i do?

marqueemoon, i guess it has decent tubing, everyone always said it did, it's a super heavy steel frame with 700x28 gator skin tires, and it's been rocking hard since the 80's :-).

2005trek1200, very interesting. but soma only sells frames, not bikes, right? if i bought a 62, and built it up, it might just not fit me, and then i'd be 1000+ in the hole. what are my options?

thanks!!