With all due respect.
While test-riding the bikes is obviously crucial, my dearth of technical expertise in this area makes surfacing as much input as possible necessary so that I can learn about what to look for as well as what to feel. My local bike shop is run by one guy, who is extremely busy and does not have all day to spend educating me. I am also looking at a long-term investment here, not the typical bicycle purchase that merely allows one to understand which bicycle they will really need next and soon. By asking all these questions I have already been able to eliminate bicycles to test-ride.