help with the famed test ride

[lostmyshape]

i'm going in to test ride two bikes in a couple of days and need some help. this will be my 1st road bike, so i'm not sure what to check for (i'm currently riding an old, too-small-for-me, hand-me-down fuji, so i don't really have anything to compare with).

how should a test ride go? should i bring my pedals/cleats, shorts, etc.? what am i looking for other than fit and comfort? should i just go with what "feels" right?

btw, i'm looking at a felt f45, and a Airborne Thunderbolt with ultegra and race-lite wheels, both in the $1450 range.

thanks for your help!

 

[Allen H]

This is a good primer for what to bring, what to expect, how to compare bikes, what to look for, etc.:

http://www.chainreaction.com/roadbiketestrides.htm

 

[pudster]

I would go to a shop that starts out by measuring your saddle height and then position on the cranks and then looks at your stem length be fore you ride. This shows you that the shop is capable of sizing you right. When they size you up they should tell you that stem is too long or short or right on the mark so that you know how the bike is going to fit when you go out for a ride.