Hi everybody. I have been reading this forum for a few weeks now and have gotten tons of info out of it. I am currently trying to find a new road bike to do some triathlons, but I am a dental student and am in some serious debt already! I currently ride a circa 1982 Takara 10 speed that weighs about 35lbs.

I want to buy a bike from a local store so there is some support if anything goes wrong, and also to build a relationship for future purchases. The problem is that when I go into these stores they have jack for selection and they never run any deals, even on last years models. I went into the local Trek store and they did not have one 50 cm frame in ANY of their bikes. What the heck am I supposed to do, try and mount a 56cm frame and take a test ride without damaging my goods (I'm only 5'4")? The only store that had a decent selection and was helpful was the specialized store. They had two bikes that were 50cm, both about $500 our of my price range. How am I supposed to buy from them and not from ebay or craigslist? Thanks again for sharing your knowledge of the sport with the new guys.