I want to buy a road bike. My current bike is a Trek 7.2 hyrbid, and I've never ridden a road bike before today.

I went to two different bike stores, and at least on paper, a cannondale Synapse 6 is the ideal bike, so I went to two stores that sold cannondale to talk to the salesmen. What I found odd is they had way different ideas on what size I should get. The first store recommended 61cm, the second store recommended 56cm.

I'm 6'2 1/2", so I'm a tall guy, so I would think 56 cm would be way too small. The dealer that recommended a 61cm frame didn't have the bike assembled, as it just arrived. I did ride a 56cm frame and the bars seemed too low. If that was the only problem I don't mind getting a longer stem. They didn't have a 58 mm in stock to try to ride.

I'm just wondering what size seems best to you. I fully realize that having never meet me, you can't tell me exactly what fit I should be, but I just found it odd that their size recommendations would be so much different.

Another problem is I've never been on a road bike before today, so I don't even have an idea on how it should feel when properly fitted. I know it did feel faster and more efficient than my hybrid, but it didn't seem like the 56cm was relaxed at all. It felt too aggressive. I just don't want to spend 1400 on a bike only to realize the fit is off.

I do plan on renting a giant defy 5 next weekend, and putting about 30-40 miles on it, so at least I'll have a bit of experience on a road bike and have something to compare it to. (the defy 5 is the only road bike model they rent)