Steps Involved In Buying A Bike. Which Order??

For me it would be:

- Price (within wide pricing brackets, there's no need for me to be looking at $6,000 bikes)
- Feel (more important than price within a price bracket, I'll pay a few hundred more for a good feel but I can't pay a few thousand more for the perfect feel)
- Frame Material (carbon, aluminum, etc.)
- Components
- Weight
- Brand
- Color

For the person who said fit, fit, fit, why does it matter between the different bikes if you get your correct frame size (eg 57cm is my size so I just get a bike in 57cm and I'm good to go).

How would it make a difference if they are all 57cm I'm looking at?

because the geometry of 57 cm frames made by different manufacturers will be different. One of them will likely be a better fit for an individual rider than the others.

So try out all the different brands in the 57 and see which fits best then go from there?

Buy whatever takes your breath away and makes your heart beat faster...... assuming of course that it fits and it is within your price range.
Hmmm........guess thats not really very helpful huh?  Thats how I bought my tri bike though.......just fell in love with her ........

So kind of the same as finding a girlfriend? Hehehe

No.  In one brand you may need a 57 cm frame.  In others it may be a 55, a 58, a medium, or a large.  They are all different, and the only way to know what you need is with a good fitting by someone who understands your needs for the type of riding you want to do.  My suggestion is get the fitting, then buy the bike that best fits your body, type of riding, and budget.

I hope I'm adding to the discussion, and not hijacking the Post.  How do you find a bike that fits?  Do you get a bike fit, and let the fitter suggest a frame?  I don't know a lot about bike fitting, but I could tell my LBS was putting me in a frame that was to small because that's what they had.  Also, I am very limited in what bikes are available to test in my area.  How can you tell if the bike fits well, if you haven't been fitted on the bike?  Maybe one is set up better than the other?