So, I started out here asking about a cruiser for my Mega-Clyde body, and then got talked into looking for a hybrid instead. Since I'm no longer really looking at cruisers, and still looking for a bike, I thought I'd start a new thread (hey, they're free ).

After work yesterday, I stopped by the nearest branch of my LBS. I was really liking the Trek 7.3 FX Disc, and wanted to talk about frame sizes and also check out the Kona Dew Deluxe. It turns out they were sold out of the Dew and Dew Deluxe a month after they came out, and everyone's out of them until next year. Not the end of the world, as I'd nearly settled on the 7.3 Disc anyway.

We talked about frame sizes, and figured that I'm right between a 20-in and 22.5-in, and could probably go either way. So I rode a 21.5-in Fisher MTB to get an idea whether a 22.5-in 7.3 would be too large or not (they didn't have a 22.5 there), and felt pretty comfortable on it. The 21.5-in Fisher has a longer top tube than the 22.5-in 7.3, so I figured that the 22.5 would be right for me.

Well, let's do it! Order me a 22.5-in 7.3 Disc!

Hmm. None left. Anywhere. 7.3 Disc or non-Disc. No 20-in Discs either. Grr. Wait until next year's models come out?

I left discouraged, my visions of hitting the road hard with my new ride temporarily crushed. So, I went home, looked at my '99 GT Ricochet (FS MTB), took it for a short ride, and thought about my options. I could take a drive to a less-remote area and hit the shops, but I'd prefer to get one through my LBS (free saddle, tire, stem, bar swaps; free initial tune-ups). As I rode, I realized that I didn't really hate my MTB on the road as much as I thought I did. The stem is wrong, the tires suck, and the front suspension is heavy and inadequate for my Mega-Clyde heft. But the frame geometry isn't too far from the 7.3 I was ready to buy. And I can fix the other things...

So the current plan is to haul it into my LBS today, and talk to them about a (suspension-compensating) rigid fork, 1.5-in or 1.25-in slicks, a shorter stem with some decent rise, and probably a tune-up. It won't be free, but it'll be cheaper than a 7.3 Disc that I can't buy anyway, and in the end I might end up with a nice hybrid/commuter. Wish me luck.