meursault said:
The thing I wanted advice on are other similarily priced bikes to test ride while I'm out trying the CAAD9. Thanks in advance. I'm 5'9" maybe 5'10" and roughly 150lbs-sh
Bikes similar to the CAAD9 include, in no particular order, Specialized Allez Comp, Felt F75, Trek 2.3, Giant Defy 1. The CAAD9 and Felt have the most race-like geometries, the Defy the most comfort-oriented, with the Trek and Specialized somewhere in the middle. Personally, I favor the CAAD9 and the Felt. Base your final decision on availability and fit.
Regarding fit, I don't believe lack of a fitting system should be a deal-killer for a recreational cyclist. Shop associates who are riders and are familiar with various needs and body types are usually all that's necessary to get a rider started. Coaching and fitting sessions should start when the rider is ready to invest time and money optimizing the system, swapping parts, and buying new equipment.
It's funny that 39 years ago I walked into a bike shop. The owner said the 23.5" Raleigh Super Course would be a good fit, so I bought it. After 39 years of fussing, riding and co-coaching with friends, getting coached, and one professional (one that I paid for) fitting, I now ride 3 bikes that are roughly the same size as that old Raleigh. The stems are a little longer and lower, the saddles are set back a bit, the cranks are 5mm longer, and the handlebars are 5mm wider. Handlebar width and crank length owe as much to availability and fashion as to my ergonomic needs. That shop owner did a pretty good job fitting that bike to me without so much as a tape measure.