I decided to look for a Cervelo RS because it has a relaxed geometry, I wanted a stiffer, lighter bike, and not too many people have them around here. I thought that I might need a 56, but the first shop measured my inseam and said that I needed a 57. He then figured out that they don't come in a 57 so we settled on a 56 (at this point I didn't have much confidence in the guy). But they didn't have any in stock to test ride so it was a moot point.

So I called another Cervelo dealer and they said that they had a 56 to test ride. I go there and they measure me and said that a 54 would be a better fit. Because of my long legs and femurs, the saddle has to be moved back a bit, but to avoid a long reach, I'll need a short stem. He also gave me good reasons why a 51 ora 56 wouldn't work. He also carried Scott, BMC and Orbea, but he thought that the RS would be the best for me. I had a lot of confidence that this guy knew what he was doing. So, I ordered a 54.

The bottom line is that you need to find a LBS who you have confidence in. Ask a lot of questions. Their answers will give you a clue if they know what they're talking about.

I bought my first bike at Performance and got it "fitted" there. I've never had any serious problems (probably because I only ride for 2-3 hours), but after three years, I think that they did a poor job and that I'm too stretched out.